A Real Preacher

“A Real Preacher”

(1 Thessalonians 2)

Introduction:A little over two years ago, when I was coming to fill the pulpit here at Pine Grove one Sunday, our youngest son asked as we were driving down on Saturday if we would be eating dinner with the preacher after the Sunday morning service. Angie explained that you all didn’t have a pastor, and so daddy would be the preacher on Sunday. Jonathan thought about that for a moment, and then said, “So they don’t have a real preacher?”

According to Paul’s own testimony in 1 Thessalonians 2, he exemplified what it was to be a real preacher. I have always been hesitant to proclaim my own qualities and my own accomplishments as a preacher, but in this passage, in a spirit of honesty joined with humility, Paul enumerates his own character and conduct as a preacher. Our conclusion in reading these verses is that Paul was the genuine article and the real McCoy as a preacher. He was a real preacher.

Now you may be thinking this morning, “Pastor, this message doesn’t apply to me because I’m not a preacher.” Perhaps, but in a sense we are all ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, so we must all strive to be real and genuine in our service for Christ. In this passage, Paul points out...

I. His Entrance As A Preachervs. 1-2

A. It Was Not Empty (vain)vs. 1

B. It Was Not Easyvs. 2

II. His Exhortation As A Preachervs. 3-8

A. It Was Genuinevs. 3-6

B. It Was Gentlevs. 7-8

III. His Effort As A Preachervs. 9-12

A. He Talks About His Messagevs. 9 & 12

B. He Talks About His Mannervs. 10-11

IV. His Effectiveness As A Preachervs. 13-14

A. The Word Was Acceptedvs. 13

B. The Word Was Appliedvs. 14

V. His Expectation As A Preachervs. 17-20

A. He Wanted To See Them Herevs. 17-18

B. He Wanted To See Them In Heavenvs. 19-20

Conclusion:The unsinkable legend of Pinocchio has its roots in Italy, where it was born over 100 years ago. The tale sprung from the imagination of Carlo Collodi, a soldier, journalist and political satirist who decided in the 1880s that he wanted to give up his life in politics in order to do something far more important: write stories for children. In 1881, the first chapter of Collodi’s Pinocchio appeared in a popular children’s magazine. By 1883, the complete Pinocchio was published in book form and was immediately snatched up by Italian families. Pinocchio is the story of the puppet master and the puppet that wanted to be a real live boy. He finally became a real live boy through the power of truth and courage.

I’m not a puppet this morning. I’m a preacher, but I want to be a real, live preacher; and I can become that through the power of truth and courage in Christ.