Jesus Is Coming- Part 3

First Thessalonians, Chapter number two. … For ye are our glory and joy.

Scripture Reference

Primary Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews,

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men,

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

20 For ye are our glory and joy.

Introduction

Title: “Jesus Is Coming – Part 3”

Preacher: Dr. Terry LeQuieu

Paul’s message to the Thessalonians is practical, pastoral, and prophetic. In the midst of trials, persecution, and spiritual opposition, the apostle commends a church that receives God’s Word and imitates faithful witnesses. As we study 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 we discover how a church prepared for Christ’s coming cares for, challenges, and cherishes one another. This passage calls us to be a people who invite the Word, imitate godly examples, and invest sacrificially in each other’s salvation and growth.

Me, I’ll go ahead and apologize up front if I end up coughing and things. I’ve this afternoon been battling a bunch of congestion, things going on. So it is what it is this time of year.

Quote from Preacher

This quote above is the introductory statement taken verbatim from the sermon transcript. It sets a humble, pastoral tone and reminds us the preacher is human while we receive God’s message.

Outline

Invite the Word: The Word Must Be Invited (v.13)
1. Receive the Word as God’s Word
  Paul thanks God because the Thessalonians did not regard his message as mere human opinion but as the truth—the Word of God. Young Christians: this is a central discipline. Come to church expecting God to speak. Don’t treat preaching like background noise or mere opinion.
2. Invite the Word into the heart
  Receiving is active: it is an invitation. We decide whose counsel we accept. Scripture and godly preaching must be desired, welcomed, and applied. The Holy Spirit then works effectually in those who truly believe (v.13).
3. Practical help
  Take notes, pray, ask God to speak before services, and compare what you hear with Scripture as the Bereans did (Acts 17). Growing Christians habitually invite God’s Word.
Imitate the Witness: The Witness Must Be Imitated (vv.14-16)
1. Following faithful churches and saints
  The Thessalonians were followers of the churches in Judea in Christ Jesus. Imitation of godliness is biblical: we copy those who model obedience to Christ.
2. Expect persecution when you live godly
  Paul is candid: living faithfully brings harassment and hostility. The world may oppose or legally forbid the gospel. That opposition is not proof of failure but often validation that truth is dividing light from darkness.
3. God’s judgment and responsibility
  Those who resist the gospel face God’s wrath. Believers must persist in witness despite opposition, knowing God sees and will act. Our imitation should be bold, faithful, and self-sacrificing.
Invest in One Another: Desire Salvation and Growth (vv.13-16, 19-20)
1. Twofold desire—salvation and growth
  We must long for both that the lost be saved and believers be matured. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to both receive the gospel and grow in holiness. Your interest in a fellow Christian should include prayerful urging toward deeper discipleship.
2. Personal responsibility in spiritual investment
  Paul and early Christians labored at personal involvement. The church does not “happen” only on Sunday; it’s built Monday–Saturday by investing life into one another.
3. Practical actions
  Notice someone missing—call. Offer to pray and help. Teach and disciple with patience. Encourage accountable friendships, small groups, and one-on-one study of Scripture.
Include the Seeing and the Greeting: Desire to See and Greet One Another (vv.17-18)
1. Eager anticipation to be together
  Paul’s heart was with the Thessalonians even when absent. Desire for fellowship should be earnest; physical presence matters. We are united in Christ even when separated, but we should seek to be together often.
2. Recognize hindrances—spiritual opposition and practical barriers
  Satan hindered Paul’s travel. Some hindrances are demonic, others are human choices. Identify what prevents fellowship and remove avoidable obstacles.
3. Be intentional in greeting
  Make it a habit to meet people, learn names, hear stories, and greet visitors. Small acts of kindness and attention communicate Christlike love and help keep people from slipping through the cracks.
Rejoice in One Another: Expectant Jubilation (vv.19-20)
1. Believers are the preacher’s joy and crown
  Paul’s greatest reward was seeing those he ministered to standing before Christ. Preaching and discipling are not for worldly fame; they are investments for the glory and joy of Christ’s coming.
2. Sacrificial investment for future generations
  Parents and teachers who labor for children’s spiritual good share Paul’s heart: sacrificial, long-term investment that yields eternal joy. The church who prepares others for Christ’s coming will count those people as crowns of rejoicing.
3. Practical encouragement
  Commit to being part of others’ crowns: teach, pray, encourage, and labor so others stand ready to meet Christ.

Summary

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 challenges us to be a church that receives God’s Word as God’s Word, imitates faithful witnesses even under persecution, invests sacrificially in one another’s salvation and growth, and eagerly longs to see and greet one another. Paul’s ministry model was not self-seeking but other-centered: he invested, endured, and rejoiced in those he had led to Christ. A church prepared for the Lord’s coming will be a people who invite truth, imitate holiness, include one another, and invest in the eternal welfare of the flock.

Quote to Ponder

We ought to be interested in what God has for us. I remember many times as a teenager and even when I was in Bible college, getting with different young men that were accountability partners in life, getting with different young men and spending time praying before the service for God to speak to our hearts.

Application for the Week

Below are concrete, practical steps to move from hearing to doing. Pick a few and commit to them this week. Small, steady obedience builds a church that will be ready when Jesus comes.

Invite God’s Word each service
Before every meeting this week (Sunday school, morning service, evening service, midweek), pray: “Lord, speak to my heart.” Bring a notebook and write at least three things God says to you. Compare any questions with Scripture later.
Imitate a faithful believer
Identify one mature Christian (pastor, teacher, older saint) you respect. Ask if you can meet them for coffee or a walk this week. Request a few practical habits they recommend for spiritual growth (Bible reading plan, prayer time, accountability).
Invest in someone younger or newer
Choose one person (a youth, a new visitor, a new member) and intentionally encourage them during the week: send a text, call, or invite them for a short visit. Ask how you can pray for them and follow up in a few days.
Practice greeting and learning names
Make it a goal to learn three new names this week and one personal fact about each person (job, hometown, school). Greet them by name when you see them and use that fact in conversation—people feel known and loved when remembered.
Be alert to hindrances and pray against them
Identify one hindrance to regular fellowship in your life (busyness, poor scheduling, discouragement) and take one corrective step. Pray daily that Satan’s hindrances be broken and that God would grant open doors for gospel work.
Encourage your pastor or disciple-maker
Write a short note or speak a word of thanks to someone who invests in your spiritual life. Tell them why you are thankful and commit to be a faithful part of the ministry team through prayer, service, or consistent attendance.
Pray for revival in personal and corporate life
Set aside a dedicated 15–30 minute time this week for focused prayer asking God to revive your heart and your church: pray for hunger for the Word, boldness to witness, protection from the enemy, and growth that prepares people to meet Christ.

Let us be a people who prepare for the coming of Christ not merely by studying prophecy but by living holy, loving, and sacrificial lives for each other. If Jesus is coming, what kind of church will He find here? Let us be found faithful—receiving, imitating, investing, and rejoicing together.