Date: SUN 11:30am 26th October 2025
Preacher: Rev. David McLaughlin
Bible Reference: 1 Thessalonians 3:10
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
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Sermon Summary: A Prayer About Loving One Another (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)
Text Focus: 1 Thessalonians 3:12 – “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you” (King James Bible).
Introduction
The sermon, delivered from 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, centres on the Apostle Paul’s heartfelt prayer for the Thessalonian church, emphasizing the importance of increasing and abounding in love. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote this epistle from Corinth after receiving a positive report from Timothy about the Thessalonian believers. The sermon highlights Paul’s pastoral longing to return to Thessalonica, his prayers for the church’s spiritual growth, and the centrality of love as a mark of true Christian faith.
Context
Paul founded the Thessalonian church but was forced to flee due to persecution. Despite his absence, his love for the believers remained strong, and he prayed fervently for their faith and love to grow. The sermon notes that while Paul’s desire to return was not immediately fulfilled, God eventually answered his prayer during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:21). The passage reflects Paul’s reliance on divine guidance, addressing God as both Father and Lord Jesus Christ, who directs the paths of His people.
Main Points
The sermon is structured around three key aspects of Paul’s prayer for love:
- The Production of True Love
- Origin: True Christian love originates from God through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5 states that “the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost.” This love is not human-made but is produced through the new birth (John 3:7).
- Nature: The sermon emphasizes that God is love (1 John 4:8), and believers, as partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), reflect God’s qualities, including love, truth, goodness, and holiness. This love is distinct from worldly affection, being holy, pure, and rooted in God’s grace.
- Transformation: Titus 3:3-5 illustrates the transformation from a life of malice and hatred to one of love through God’s mercy and regeneration. Believers love Christ, His Word, the Sabbath, the church, and others because of the Spirit’s work in their hearts.
- The Power of True Love
- Growth and Overflow: Paul prays for the Thessalonians to “increase and abound” in love, meaning to grow and overflow in their affection for one another and all people. This is evidenced in 2 Thessalonians 1:3, where their faith and love are said to grow exceedingly.
- Manifestation: This love is active, not static, and is seen in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), with love being the primary grace. It manifests in practical ways, such as encouraging, serving, forgiving, and bearing one another’s burdens (John 13:34-35).
- Examples: The sermon references biblical figures like Andrew, Philip, and the Samaritan woman, who demonstrated love by sharing Christ with others. It also recounts an anecdote about Samuel Rutherford and Archbishop Ussher, illustrating the commandment to love one another as a hallmark of true faith.
- Motivation: Believers love because they are bought by Christ’s blood, born of the same Spirit, saved by the same Saviour, adopted into God’s family, and united in the body of Christ. This love extends to the lost, compelling believers to share the Gospel out of a burden for souls.
- The Possession of True Love
- Purpose: The ultimate goal of Paul’s prayer is holiness (1 Thessalonians 3:13). True love leads to sanctification, establishing believers’ hearts as “unblameable in holiness” before God.
- Holiness: The sermon stresses that genuine love motivates a hatred of sin and a pursuit of righteousness. A lack of desire for holiness raises questions about the presence of God’s love in one’s heart.
- Application: This love makes believers patient, less boastful, less arrogant, less argumentative, and more prayerful and Christlike. It is sacrificial, committed to Christ’s service, and evident in times of trial and suffering.
Application
The preacher challenges the congregation to examine whether God’s love is evident in their hearts through:
- Love for the Saints: A genuine affection for fellow believers, regardless of differences.
- Love for Souls: A burden to reach the lost with the Gospel, through actions like sharing testimony, giving tracts, or visiting those in need.
- Love for Christ’s Service: A commitment to serve Christ sacrificially, especially in times of affliction.
The sermon calls for prayer to grow in this love, warning that many churches lack a true evangelistic spirit, which reflects a deficiency in love. Believers are urged to pray for opportunities to share Christ and to live holy lives as evidence of God’s love working in them.
Conclusion
The sermon concludes with a call to apply God’s Word personally, praying for increased love for the saints, the lost, and Christ’s service. The preacher thanks the congregation for listening and encourages ongoing prayer for spiritual growth, emphasizing that true love leads to holiness and glorifies God.
Tone and Style
Delivered with pastoral warmth and urgency, the sermon uses the King James Bible for its authority and weaves personal anecdotes, biblical examples, and practical applications to engage the congregation. It balances theological depth with accessible language, urging believers to reflect on their spiritual state and live out God’s love.
