Sermons
Peter Lenehan - 28 September, 2025
His Faith Known Everywhere
In this sermon from 1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 and Isaiah 12, Peter Lenehan launches a new series on what makes a church effective. He shows how the Thessalonian believers were known everywhere because the Lord’s message rang out from them, not for their own reputation but for God’s glory. An effective church, Peter explains, has its foundation in God (v.1), engages in work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope (v.3), and shares the gospel with deep conviction, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and accompanied by God’s power (vv.4–6, 9–10). Challenging us to move beyond being “benchwarmers,” he calls every believer to find their place of service, guard against burnout, and step out with the gospel so that Christ is made known in our community and beyond. ________________________________________ 5 Questions to Think About: 1. How does being “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:1) shape your identity as part of the church? 2. What does it look like in your life for work to flow from faith, labor from love, and endurance from hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3)? 3. Which of the four convictions in verses 9–10 (turning from idols, serving the living God, waiting for Jesus’ return, believing he rescues us from wrath) do you most need to strengthen? 4. How might fear of failure cause us to “quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19), and what does it mean to “test everything” instead? 5. Are you actively going out with the gospel in your daily life, or more often waiting for people to come in? ________________________________________ 3 Takeaways from the Message: 1. Foundation matters — an effective church is rooted in God, not just activity or reputation (1 Thessalonians 1:1). 2. Faith, love, and hope drive ministry — true gospel work is sustained not by guilt or obligation but by these eternal motivations (1 Thessalonians 1:3). 3. The gospel must go out — with words, conviction, the Spirit, and power—because only then will it ring out to our community and beyond (1 Thessalonians 1:5–10).
Scripture References: Isaiah 12:1-6, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
