I am sure you remember the process or game of “Rock, Paper, Scissors.”  This hand game is used to randomly select a person for some purpose – to determine which person or team gets the opening play or upper hand in a situation, game or competition.  The objective is to defeat the opponent by selecting a weapon, which will defeat their choice under the following rules:  Rock smashes – or blunts – scissors – so rock wins.  Scissors simply cut paper – so scissors beat paper.  Paper covers rock and the roughness is covered – so paper beats rocks.  The strategy between players involves using psychology to attempt to predict or influence the opponent’s behavior.  And, deception is considered acceptable. 

            Even though there was a great deal of strategy and deception going on by the opponents to Paul’s ministry – that is - the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul does not play any sort of game with the Thessalonians.  He knows Jesus is stronger than any opponent or deception.  He knows deceivers try to cut through the Christians faith.  He knows they try to smooth over their own rough edges of deceit with more deception. Paul knows Jesus is the objective.  And Paul knows Jesus is stronger.

            Perhaps Paul is concerned that his forced and abrupt departure from Thessalonica might have left these new Christians weak and floundering.  This would make Christ’s church unstable.  Then Timothy reports in with good news.  Paul, a Jew himself, now can give thanks because these believers, so new to the faith, are proving to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ. 

            You might remember (and you can even check it out) Paul opens this letter with a prayer of thanksgiving for the faithfulness which God’s word has worked in the lives of the Thessalonians.  Now Paul repeats that prayer of thanksgiving.   He applauds the Thessalonians yet again.  He expresses thanks to God for their spiritual development.       This time he emphasizes the main thing which has prompted this letter in the first place…their faithfulness in the face of a terrible persecution.   So right at the beginning we see that the persecutors are trying to win.  They try to crush the men and women and their new faith in Jesus Christ. However, the faithfulness of these new Christians is winning.   Paul tells us why.

            When Paul first arrived at Thessalonica he brought the word of God to them.  He did not change it; he did not add or delete anything.  He preached it exactly as God gave it to him. Paul says that it was God’s word when he brought it to the Thessalonians. When he left – it was still God’s word.  None of it could be labeled as human opinion or a human philosophy.  Rather, what the Thessalonians received is exactly what it truly is – God’s own message to them – and to us.   Paul exclaims and rejoices that these men and women have indeed received the word preached to them – as the word of God.  

Paul says this to the Thessalonians by way of thankfulness and encouragement.  He says their lives are changed.  That is the power of God being released through faith in God’s Holy Word.   That is God’s powerful, active, living Word at work in them.  The Holy Spirit is working mightily.  Paul emphasizes this because if it had been a human’s word, with human element of error, the purity of God’s Word would be lost.  Its effectiveness is always greatly lessened or even completely destroyed when we change God’s word to suit us.  Paul’s excitement comes from the fact that mere human words could never have produced the marvelous faithfulness, which it does in these people.  Because it is God’s word, it works.  It works effectively and continually, to sustain their faith.  It works in spite of their constant suffering at the hands of persecutors. 

            Paul tells these men and women, and us, what the author of the book of Hebrews (4:12) says:  The Word of God becomes an active, spiritual energy, cutting like a scalpel

to the depths of the soul.    This is one of the verses the youth in the new member class looked up for homework in week 4.  The homework question for the youth is:  “What is the Word of God?”   Again, the answer:  God’s Word is a “power” – (Romans 1:16) which is “living and active” (Hebrews 4:2) and so works a “deep conviction” (I Thess 1:5) – to the depths of the soul - in a believer’s heart.  Paul tells us the Word of God is indeed, this written, read, spoken, and preached word.  The Word of God is GOD incarnate in Jesus Christ.  This is what Pastor Dave read earlier from the Gospel of John passage.   This is what is meant by God’s powerful, active, living Word at work in them – and us.   

             The proof of the effective working of Jesus Christ is their continued faith, in their daily lives.  This, in spite of the fierce and on-going opposition by the Jews – as well as the Gentiles - there in Thessalonica.   The new believers at Thessalonica immediately identify with Christ and His church in Judea.  It is in their persecution, their suffering that they have become imitators of God’s churches in Judea in Christ Jesus.  The suffering of believers at the hands of Jews, and others, was not anything new.  This is what has been going on from the beginning of the Christian church in Jerusalem and in the surrounding cities and towns of Judea.  The Jews had opposed God’s prophets in the Old Testament.  They had rejected and killed the Messiah Himself.  Following Christ’s death and resurrection and His ascension this opposition continued in the same bitter fashion against His followers. 

            You might remembers, Thessalonian church was largely a Gentile church.  And so early in the life of that new church they experience similar opposition.  But here is the rub.  The opposition comes from their own flank, their own kind…other Gentiles.  That is why Paul says to them, “Before you began suffering, the brothers and sisters over in Jerusalem were already suffering at the hands of their own kind.”  And we remember that at one time Paul was the leader of the persecutors.

            No one sets out to suffer.  But when suffering does come – at the hands of others, or illness or circumstances - it reveals to us those with whom we will identify.  In the case of the new Christians at Thessalonica, when they begin to feel the anger and suspicions of the townspeople, they stood firm in their new faith.   They side with all the others who remain faithful – just like the Jewish Christians had done – and were doing - in Judea.

            Through all this Paul says that by trying to suppress the gospel truth the opponents want to cover up their own rebellion and hatred.  As they try to cut out the truth of Jesus, the Jewish, and Gentile, persecutors are agents of destruction.  By trying to prevent the spread of God’s saving grace, they become enemies of all people.  It has been said that “if the Jews had opposed only the conversion of Jews to Christianity, there would have been at least a little rhyme and reason to their opposition.  But for them to try to prevent the conversion of Gentiles shows how bitter and unreasoning their actions are.  The only explanation for such hostility toward the gospel, even when it was preached to Gentiles, whom the Jews despised, was a characteristic rebellion against God’s will.” 

            Paul explains the Jewish opposition to the gospel and to Christ in a few words.  “They displease God!”   Now there’s an understatement!  All persecutors are of the same ilk – the same mentality.  They are part of the war between good and evil which fills every page of history.  This is rebellion – again and again - against God – in spite of the love and mercy which God showers on each generation, including ours.

            Paul acknowledges the similarity in the suffering of the Jerusalem believers and the Gentile Christians here in Thessalonica.  But Paul now thanks God that this similarity goes further and deeper than the suffering.  The depth is that it is God’s word that is at work in them to preserve them in their faith.   Paul reminds them of this powerful foundation of truth on which their faith is built.   Persecution is discouraging, especially when it comes from your own people, your own family.  When you and I take a stand for Christ, we may face opposition.  This bitter and unreasoning disapproval, and ridicule can come from neighbors, friends, work mates and school mates and even family members.   What is your foundation of truth?  What is the foundation of your family?  With whom will you side in adversity?

             Earlier in the service you were introduced to new members.  Bil Thompson and I facilitated the Youth class, during same weeks the Adult class met.  As in each class, these youth are our future leaders – both within the church and in the world.  Are they going to be persecuted because of their faith – quite possibly?  Which way will they bend when trouble comes their way?  Which way will the adult new members lean?  How will they know if something being said to them is not of God?  Do they have what it takes to lean on and rely on Jesus Christ and other Christians?  Do you?

            As you – as current members already know – the adults AND the Youth must complete personal statements about faith and why they want to join MPC.  I’d like to share with you some of what these young people say about joining MPC and their faith in Jesus Christ.  I am not using their names, and in a few cases I have combined more than one statement.  But all statements are from this class.

            “I want to become a member because … joining the church can strengthen my relationship with God.  I may be able to better know Him.” 

“Jesus Christ is – my savior.  He is my friend and Lord.  I know I can trust          

Him with everything. … He is the One who will never stop loving us no matter what we say or do.”

“Jesus is God’s Son and our savior.  He saved humans from sin.  To do so he died

on the cross.  He must love us all very much to have done this for us.”  

            “Jesus is our Lord, He is also a man.  This shows that God loves us enough to limit Himself and become less than He could be if He wanted.  The greatest thing He did to show His love was to die on the cross to save us from sin and death.” 

            “Choosing to follow Jesus Christ means- that I will open my heart fully to Jesus and let Him lead me on the right path in my everyday life.  Following Jesus is following His word…. Following the Lord means following His path and not the path of false or negative images that the world has placed before our eyes.”  And the last one.

             “Choosing to follow Jesus Christ means to go to church, to believe in God and read my Bible, and follow what the Bible says, and learn more about how He wants me to follow Him.”

            What a strong and powerful foundation the young people already have.  The Living Word, Jesus Christ, has already begun such good spiritual things in these young people.  How will these young people mature in their faith?  How will that foundation be strengthened?  How will these young people know what more the Bible says?  How will you and I know what the Bible says?  I will tell you, it will not come to us by osmosis.  I have Bil’s permission to tell you what he said at least twice during the new member class.  As he stood there holding up the Bible, proclaiming it for what it is – God’s holy and living word…He challenged each one of the youth there to be reading the Bible, every day,  learning the few verses required for the classes and then keep memorizing.  He said, “Sit around the house reading – the Bible.”  Then Bil said, “If your parents aren’t sitting around at home, reading their Bibles, ask what’s the matter with them.”

            So parents, all of us actually – I suggest you don’t give your kids a chance to be asking, “What the matter?”  I suggested we read the written words of the Bible.  I suggest we dwell on the living Jesus Christ.  Read the Bible to each other.   If you or your children are not participating in one of the Sunday School classes – it is not too late.  The Sunday School and TNT programs under the direction of Laurie Loring are a powerful key and basis for your children’s Christian Education.  The Junior and Senior High programs are energy-filled – to say the least.  And the children are learning about the love of Jesus Christ and the love of one another.   Yet, the model and foundation begins at home.  Family time in the Bible and small group participation for adults and youth are important for our discipleship.

            The world will try to crush us every chance it can – and do damage like a rock. Persecutors – be they strangers, acquaintances or family and friends – will try to cut through the truth of our faith or try to smooth over their deceit and rebellion toward God.  Jesus is the power.  His influence builds up, does not tear down.  His power binds us together, not divide us.  His foundation strengthens us.  He does not want our destruction.

            I guarantee it not too late for any of you or any of the children to learn something that will strengthen your faith; open your hearts; teach you how to cope in the everyday stuff of life, and have the assurance of the promise of the gospel message of salvation.  Receive the word as the word of God.  Let Jesus become the active, “spiritual energy to cut like a scalpel to the depths” of your soul.  Start today….read God’s word, regularly.  The objective is to defeat the opponent.  The objective is to trust in Jesus Christ and have a deeper faith.  Get to know the living incarnate God through Jesus Christ.