Approved by God - Entrusted by the Gospel - 1 Thessalonians Series

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

Throughout the ages, Christians have asked a simple question in many different ways in many different places.  This is the question that followers of Christ keep trying to answer: Who is authorized to communicate the Gospel?  Who has authority to communicate the Good News?

Now as you hear that question, you may be asking, “What do you mean Dean? In our church we teach all believers that they can and should share the Gospel of Christ. In fact, we teach all believers to communicate the Good News with their family, friends, and neighbors.  Who can communicate the Gospel? Every believer, everyone who knows the Good News, can share it with others!  Good News is for sharing!”

Of course your answer is a very good answer to the question, “Who has authority to communicate the Gospel?”  But your answer, my fellow church planter, may not be the answer everyone around you would give.  Some people think that only ordained clergy can share the Good News. Some people think that only those who have been formally trained in a theological seminary are authorized to share the message of Christ.  Some people who attend your church may be thinking right now, “I could never share the Gospel, I would not know what to say.” Or, “I might make a mistake if I shared the Gospel; I better leave that job to experts like my pastor.”

The Apostle Paul and his two disciples Timothy and Silas told the new believers in the recently planted church in Thessalonica, “We speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel.” As men entrusted with the Gospel, they rejected flattery, deception, and greed. They boldly stated in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, “We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or from anyone else…”  

So, how did Paul, Silas, and Timothy know they had been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel? They knew they were approved to share the Gospel because God in has grace had allowed them to hear and understand the Good News. They knew they were approved to share the Good News because by faith they had discovered its incredible worth, its amazing power to change lives.  They knew they were approved to share the Good News because they honored the Gospel as a sacred truth given to them as stewards to pass on to others.  They knew they were entrusted to share the Gospel because they had been commanded by Christ to make disciples of all nations by sharing Good News.

What about your people? Let me encourage you to help your members discover the incredible worth of the Gospel, by teaching, by testimony, and through worship. Remind them that no other message brings salvation; help them to honor the Gospel. Help them to know the story of Jesus and his love very, very well. Remind them that they too have been approved by God. They too have been entrusted with the Gospel to share it with others.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? 1T-14

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