Attributes of an Above Average Church (Part 3) by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4.... We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: In part 3 of this message, we continue to look at the attributes of the Thessalonian believers. They had exceptional growth in their faith. It grew exceedingly. They also had abounding love for one another. On this point, we look at eleven ways we can love others. We also look at the example of endurance these people displayed while they were persecuted and suffered. Christians throughout the centuries have suffered for Christ with valiant courage and faith. In the 1530s in the Netherlands, churches were sprouting up all across the nation that believed a person should be baptized after they had trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior and that baptism as a baby had no spiritual value at all. These re-baptizers were called Anabaptists. Emperor Charles V viewed these churches as a threat to the Catholic church. On June 10, 1535, he issued a decree that anyone who baptized others and did not recant would be burned at the stake. If you helped an Anabaptist by hospitality, your head would be chopped off or you would be drowned if you were a woman. Hundred were martyred for their faith in Christ. Yet, the more these Christians were martyred, the more impressed the public was by the peace, the joy, and the faith these people had as they faced death. Many people trusted Christ as their Savior because of the courage, peace, and faith of these martyrs. Tertullian lived during the time of Roman persecution and said, "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church." He was right. Understand beloved, that God allows trials and suffering into our lives to develop and strengthen our faith and character. This 31-minute message was preached on Sunday night, June 5, 2022, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Church & Fellowship
• The Church