Imitators
- Jonathan Balmer
- 17 hours ago
- 2 min read
This is a sermon preview for the fourth week of our “Walking in Wisdom: A Lenten Study of Proverbs” series.
Visit FBCM’s Church Center Channel to view video live stream or audio version of sermon (published week after).
"You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit."
-From 1 Thessalonians 1
My daughter is one and a half years old. It's hard to believe. So much, she learns from imitation. Her new favorite phrase is "Oooooh Noooo!" Often when she says something, Kendall and I think: "Where did she learn that!" Often (and sometimes to our horror) the answer is simple: us! Of course, we are reasonably, and I hope not vainly, proud when she tries and tries and imitates something we have been trying to teach her successfully.
Imitation is a way of learning. And it shows up prominently in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians (perhaps his first letter, if some scholars are accurate).
Paul is eager to write this encouraging letter to the church in Thessalonica. Among Paul's letters, this one reads the most positively. A picture of the church actually doing something right - hurrah!
Paul (and Silvanus and Timothy) begin their greetings with gratitude for how the Thessalonian church has the Holy Spirit actively living in them and allows them to be imitators of God.
This has allowed their faith to become well-known. Likewise, FBCM (and all Christians) are called to be imitators of God so that we might be witnesses to Muncie.
Join us as we beigin our series through 1 Thessalonians.