Before we come to 1 Thessalonians 2 - our text this morning - I’d like to begin with some perspective on this topic of missions by looking first at Acts 1:8. In Acts 1:8, Jesus says to His Apostles, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

One of the men standing there, listening to Jesus, was the Apostle Bartholomew - who 11 years later would travel to the remote land of Armenia to share the Gospel there. Through Bartholomew’s missionary work - and the work of the disciple Thaddeus - many Armenians came to trust in Jesus as their Savior.

The church in Armenia - despite persecution from the rulers of Armenia - continued to grow and share the Gospel with others. We know that - through a miracle of God’s working - in 301 A.D. Armenia proclaimed Christianity as its national religion. This year we’re celebrating the 1700th Anniversary of that proclamation. Armenians became missionaries - first in their own Jerusalem - sharing the Gospel and bringing the conversion of the Armenian people. Then Armenians went out - to their Samaria and other parts of the world. Missionaries were sent to Georgia and Albania. Wherever Armenians have gone they have established churches.

The Armenian alphabet was created by Mesrop-Mashdotz to bring the Bible into the hands of the people. In Georgia Mesrop-Mashdotz created the Georgian alphabet so that the Georgians could read the Bible for themselves. In fact, two of the most ancient Bible translations are a direct result of Armenian missionary work.

This missionary zeal of the Armenian Church was found in our evangelical forefathers. On July 1, 1846 there was one Armenian Evangelical Church with about 1,000 adherents to the evangelical movement. 6 months later - as a result of their zeal to share the gospel - 6 months later there were 4 churches with over 19,000 adherents. 68 years later - just prior to the massacre - there were 137 churches with almost 51,000 adherents.

A few years ago, the late Rev. Movses Janbazian - at the 80th Anniversary Banquet of the AMAA - in his speech Rev. Janbazian said this, “A missionary organization or program is effective and successful when it is faithful to its Biblical mandate of preaching the gospel to all people in all lands.”

The same is true of the Church. Without a passion for missions - without the personal involvement of the congregation in sharing and proclaiming the Gospel - the church cannot be successful in fulfilling the mandate given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. And, looking at Church history - a church without evangelism - rather than living victoriously - will ultimately turn and focus on itself. It will atrophy and die. It may be full of people. But, spiritually it will die.

The same is true of individuals. If we’re actively sharing our faith - we will grow and thrive and live victoriously as Christians. If don’t share - we’ll slowly die spiritually.

This crucial passion for sharing our faith is what we want to look at this morning. If you haven’t done so already, I invite you to turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

This is a great chapter. The Apostle Paul is sharing from his heart - sharing his own passion for missions. It’s the same passion that we need to be victorious in missions.

1 Thessalonians 2:1: “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.”

First, a passion for missions is a PASSION FOR GOD.

Before Paul came to Thessalonica - Paul, Silas, Timothy, and Luke went to Philippi - a Roman colony about 100 miles northeast of Thessalonica. When they arrived they went to a Jewish prayer meeting - right outside the gates of this city - down by a river. There they joined the meeting and shared the Gospel. In time, a number of Jews and gentiles began trusting in Jesus as their Savior.

Also, in Philippi there was a slave-girl who had been possessed by a demon which spoke through her - and this demon would tell people’s fortunes. The slave girl - possessed by the demon - was owned by some men who were using her “talent” to make a fortune.

One day, when Paul and Silas were heading to the prayer meeting, this slave-girl began to follow them and she kept crying out, “These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation.” Which was true. But annoying. Because, this went on for days. Until finally, Paul had had enough and so he turned to this woman and said to the demon, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!” And the demon left her.

If you remember this account, you’ll recall that the owners of this slave-girl were not too happy that they’d lost their income. So they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the market place - the main square of the city - dragged them before the authorities. And they made all kinds of false accusations against Paul and Silas. They said, “They’re Jews who are attacking our customs. They’re traitors to Rome.”

A mob rises up against Paul and Silas. They’re stripped naked - beaten with rods. Paul’s rights as a Roman citizen are violated. Finally, humiliated and hurting they’re thrown into prison and their feet are locked into stocks. Its brutal and inhumane.

Paul and Silas begin to pray and to sing and to praise God and share their faith with the prisoners. Do you remember this? There’s an earthquake - the jail collapses - the jailer and his household come to trust in Jesus as their Savior and are baptized. Finally, in the morning, Paul an Silas are asked to leave Philippi. (Acts 16:12-40)

From Philippi they go to Thessalonica where they begin all over again. First, meeting with the Jews in the synagogue and the conversions of Jews and Greeks. Then, the customary riot and mob - the false accusations - and finally they escape at night to go on to the town of Berea. (Acts 17:1-10) Where, Paul and Silas went to the synagogue and began the whole process all over again. (Acts 17:11-15)

In 1 Thessalonians 2:2, Paul simply says we suffered and were mistreated in Philippi - and were opposed in Thessalonica. But, you know that we had boldness in God to speak the Gospel to you. The shame - the suffering - the humiliation in Philippi didn’t matter. We didn’t water down the Gospel. We didn’t play down the message or sneak into town. We used the same tactics - shared the same message - and with confidence in God - boldly proclaimed the Gospel to you. That’s passion for missions.

Notice where it comes from - verse 3: “For our exhortation - our sharing - does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit” This passion doesn’t come from some false philosophy we have - or from some false motive in our hearts. Why would Paul endure all this if it was only for personal gain?

“But - verse 4 - just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel - called by God to share the gospel with you - so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts” who knows our motivation.

Paul is passionately devoted to serving the God who met him on the road to Damascus - who changed his life forever - from Saul the persecutor of the church to Paul the proclaimer of the gospel.

We share our faith - in boldness - regardless of the consequences - because we want to please God who has saved us through the broken body and spilled blood of His Son Jesus. We passionately serve God who has entrusted us with this privilege of sharing His gospel. We share because we have passion for God.

So first, a passion for missions is a PASSION FOR GOD.

Second - a passion for missions is a PASSION FOR PEOPLE.

Notice what Paul says about his attitude towards the people of Thessalonica - going on in verse 5: “For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed - God is witness - nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.”

Thessalonians, you were there. You heard us. There was no guile or flattery - no greed or seeking after personal profit. There was no ego or pride.

Paul didn’t come into Thessalonica and immediately go to the rich people and try to butter them up. He didn’t come into town and say, “Look! Thessalonians! I’m Paul. That’s, The Apostle - Paul. And, I’m on a mission from God. I’ve chosen to come here and bless you with my presence. I deserve your honor and respect. I need a suitable place to live and all of my needs met - to be wined and dined and entertained - and whatever I say you need to listen to and obey. Maybe we’ll even build a church building here and call it something like, The Cathedral of Paul the Apostle.” That just wasn’t how did Paul did things.

There are many religious leaders today - just as there always have been - who really get their egos inflated by all the flattery and the distinction of their so called “position.” All these degrees and honors and elevations and titles are a disaster for the mission and ministry of the church. The passion gets focused on leadership and individuals and buildings not on the people who desperately need to hear and respond to the gospel.

So many people today suffer from guilt - loneliness - misery - spiritual agony. So many people are going to be lost to hell. People who have never heard the truth about God - the salvation and healing and life and inner warmth - strength - encouragement that comes from God. They’ve never heard because the church is passionate for the wrong things.

Paul goes on - verse 7: “But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.” Not pride or ego - but gentleness and affection - passion for people.

Verse 9 - notice how Paul’s passion for people is demonstrated in his actions: “For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

Paul made tents. It was how he supported himself. By day he taught in the market place - in the synagogue - in homes around the city. Late into the night he made tents. As the Thessalonians listened to Paul - perhaps they noticed his hands - rough - swollen - strong - the hands of a laborer who worked at his trade - out of love - to be able to share the gospel with them.

Verse 10: “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

This is a tremendous statement of what Christian fatherhood is all about. First, there’s our own behavior before God, our children, and the community: devout - upright - blameless. Second, how we act towards our children: exhorting, encouraging, imploring. Third, the goal - what we’re laboring for: to produce children who themselves will walk worthily - following God’s calling for own their lives.

That’s how “father” Paul acted towards the Thessalonians. The goal of Paul’s fatherly passion? That the Thessalonians would also live in obedience to God - knowing Jesus as their Savior - following God’s calling for their own lives. That they themselves would have a passion for God and for sharing His gospel with others.

It would be so easy to dismiss all of this and say, “Well, that was Paul and that was back then.” But, the Bible tells us that every believer is in ministry. Every believer is a preacher - a missionary.

On Palm Sunday - as Jesus was entering Jerusalem - amidst the crowds and celebration and singing and joy - as Jesus comes to descend from the Mount of Olives He looks out over the city - seeing the spiritual poverty of the people - the future ruin of the city - Jesus weeps. (Luke 19:29-41) That’s passion for people. Passion that drives one even to the cross.