TEXT:  1 Thes. 1:9-10

INTRODUCTION:

A.      BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF A WORKING CHURCH.

B.      3 THINGS ABOUT THIS CHURCH & ITS MEMBERS.

          1.       Things that made them different.

          2.       Things that their neighbors noticed about their lives.

I.      THEIRS WAS A CHANGED LIFE. "YE HAVE TURNED TO

        GOD FROM IDOLS."

A.      WHAT  IS AN IDOL? - SOMETHING THAT TAKES GOD'S PLACE IN US.

B.      WE HAVE MANY IDOLS TO TURN FROM.

          1.       The idol of pleasure( 1 Tim. 3:3; Phil. 3:18-19 ).

          2.       The idol of riches( 1 Tim. 6:9-10, 17-19 ).

          3.       Men can be idols( 1 Cor. 4:6 - Acts 17:11 ).

          4.       False teachings can be idols( 2 Thes. 2:10-12 ).

C.      GOD MUST COME FIRST( Mat. 6:24;  1 John 2:15 ).

D.      WE MUST TURN BACK TO OUR FIRST LOVE( Rev. 2:4-5 ).

II.     A SERVING LIFE "TO SERVE A LIVING AND TRUE GOD."

A.      WHY ARE WE HERE( Titus 2:14 ).

B.      THE CHARACTER OF THAT SERVICE( vs. 3 ).

          1.       "Work of Faith"

                   a.       What is faith?( Heb. 11:6; 2 Tim. 1:12 ).

                   b.       Faith produces( James 2:24 )obedience( vs. 21-23 ).

          2.       "Labor of Love"( Gal. 5:6; John 14:15;  1 John 3:18 ).

          3.       "Patience of Hope"( Rom. 8:24-25;  Heb. 6:11-12 ).

                   a.       Where does this hope come from?( 1 Pet. 1:3 ).

                   b.       Heb. 12:1-2.

          4.       "Before our God & Father" - in his sight( 1 Cor. 15:58 ).

III.    A WAITING LIFE "TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN."

A.      JESUS PROMISED HE WOULD COME AGAIN( John14:1-3; Heb.9:27-28 ).

B.      WHAT WILL HAPPEN THEN?

          1.       The dead will be raised( John 5:28-29 ).

          2.       The heavens & earth will be burned( 2 Pet. 3:10 ).

          3.       The wicked will suffer punishment( 2 Thes. 1:7-9 ).

          4.  Christians look forward to that day( 2 Pet. 3:11-12 ).

          5.  Why?( 1 Thes. 1:10; 2 Pet. 3:13 ).

CONCLUSION: WHO DO YOU SERVE?