Introduction:

I think it would be rare if anyone would say that they never had a role model in their life. It is natural for people to look up to other people. Who is your role model? Is it your boss, your mom or dad, an athlete, a celebrity, a teacher, or friend?

This last week I wonder how many of you thought about what kind of role model you were being. Did you want your children to look up to you? Do you want the young people of this church to emulate your example? Do you want fellow Christians to model themselves after your behavior?

Like it or not, people are looking at you. You may not think so, but it is true. I pray that all of you take seriously the task of being a good role model. I also want to encourage you to thank God for good role models. The Scripture lesson for today gives us the examples of the Apostle Paul, the Thessalonian Christians, and the Lord.

1. The Apostle Paul

"You know how we lived among you for your sake." That is how our lesson starts for today. I am confident that Paul was not bragging about himself. He wasn't boasting about how good he was. Paul only boasted in the power of the gospel. With these words the Apostle was pointing to the things that God had done through him while he was with the Thessalonian Christians.

What sort of life did the Apostle live while he was with this young church? He wrote that he lived among them for their sake. He was there to bring the gospel to afflicted sinners. In the following chapter of this letter, Paul describes how he worked day and night, how he became close with the believers, and how he preached the gospel.

That was Paul's example to the Christians in Thessalonica. What was the result? They believed Paul's message, not as the word of men, but as the very Word of God. Paul delivered the unchanging truth of the gospel to lost souls. For at least three weeks, the Apostle Paul preached about Jesus' suffering and resurrection. He proclaimed Jesus as the Christ - the one who was promised to remove the sins of the world.

The Thessalonian congregation believed and they suffered for their faith. Acts 17 tells us that some of these Christians were rounded up by angry mobs and thrown in jail. But through this suffering, these believers also spread the gospel to others. They became evangelists in time of persecution.

Praise be to God that this group of people were brought to faith through work of Paul. Paul became the role model. However, this was not Paul's congregation, just as this is not Pastor Koehler's church or Pastor Keller's church. Martin Luther said that a Christian is subject to no one, while at the same time a servant to all. Paul was there role model in faith and in service.

2. The Thessalonians

The Apostle Paul continued with, "You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia-- your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead"

Following the example of Paul, those Thessalonians became role models themselves. They became imitators of the Apostle. They mimicked the hope that Paul had in Jesus Christ. They held onto the gift.

The Thessalonians were also imitators of the Lord. Through Jesus, they had been made children of God. Now they were reflecting that adoption with their own lives. They modeled themselves after the one who saved them and had become role models for us.

Their model is very important for us to follow in our lives. First of all, in faith, they stopped their idol worship. In the shadow of Mt. Olympus, those believers gave up their Greek gods. We aren't tempted to follow Zeus, Apollo, or Artemis, but the money, culture, and selfishness can just as easily become our Gods. The Thessalonian Christians are good examples for us to follow.

They are also a model as "the Lord's message rang out from [them]." Just like the tolls of St. Stephen's bell ripple through Adrian at the beginning of our services, their gospel example rang out near and far. Their very lives made their faith in Christ known to everyone.

Those Christians also modeled their faith in another way recorded for us in 2 Corinthians. The Thessalonian Christians were held up for the Corinthian Christians as examples of extreme generosity. Thessalonica, a church in Macedonia was very poor, but those people gave as much as they were able to, even beyond their ability. They actually begged Paul for the privilege to give their money for the work of the church.

Thank God for role models like the Thessalonians. They gave up the ways of the world. They spread the gospel under persecution. They gave generously to the work of God. They are shining examples for us to follow.

3. The Lord

God has provided Paul and Thessalonians as role-models for us to follow, but this Scripture lesson brings us back the center of the Christian life with the following words in verse 10: "Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."

Jesus is no ordinary role model. He is not just a good teacher for us to follow. He is so much more than that. Jesus is the Christ, the one promised, who bought us back from Satan and rescued us from the coming wrath. Ever since the fall into sin, the wrath of God was coming for all human beings including you and me. Our inherited sin doomed us. Our disobedient lives damned us to hell.

Often people don't want to be role models because the feel their guilt. They know they are wretched sinners. Even the Apostle Paul revealed himself as the chief of sinners. We all know and feel guilt.

But Christ has removed guilt forever. He fulfilled the law with his sinless life. He defeated Satan when he endured our punishment and died on the cross. Christ finalized our confident hope with his resurrection from the dead. Christ removed our guilt forever and set us free for heaven and set us free to serve him. He is now before the Father interceding for us. He is reminding us through word that we are forgiven of our sins. Christ is keeping us safe until he returns to take us to glory in heaven.

Christ is our role model, but he so much more than that. He is the one who rescued us from the coming wrath. He humbled himself to serve us and save us. He guides us and leads us with the Word. Give thanks to God for this great example of love!

Conclusion:

We want to give thanks for all good role-models that God has given to us - the Apostle Paul, the Thessalonian believers, and the Lord. We should also include the modern day role-models given to us - the faithful Christian that week after week takes his or her favorite pew in church, the elderly person who suffers honorably through their disease with a smile on their face, the generous believer who freely gives money to the work of the church with love, and the father and mother who diligently share the gospel with their children.

Praise God for the people who are setting the example all around you. Thank God that they remain steadfast in this troubled life and serve as role models for you.

Let us also strive to be model Christians ourselves. Flee the idols this world. Share the gospel. Give your gifts generously for the work of the church. Christ will return to take us to be in heaven with him. Wait patiently for that day and serve him as good role models. AMEN.