Ben Smith, Sr.
Ben Smith Sr.
Originally from Columbus, GA, pastor Ben Smith has served churches in Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia. Ben and his wife Dana make their home in Waycross, GA, where Ben has pastored Central Baptist Church since 2012. Ben and Dana met while students at Shorter University. After completing his undergraduate studies, Ben earned his M.Div. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Pastor Ben preaches each Sunday at Central Baptist. Ben Smith: All for the Kingdom, an audio podcast of his sermons, is published weekly. Pastor Ben also writes a blog, Ponderings.
Faithful gospel ministry must be God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.
In these verses, Paul reminds the Thessalonian church of the circumstances that brought him, Silas, and Timothy to them and how they conducted themselves in the community and among the church. Paul recounts these things not to brag but to testify and remind the Thessalonians that gospel ministry is not about the preacher, the church member, or the church as a whole. The gospel ministry is about God and bringing greater glory to His name. How do you ensure that the work of the church and your personal service to God is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing? This passage teaches three characteristics of a ministry that is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.
The evidence of true salvation is more than words; it is evidenced by a life transformed by God, a rejection of sin, and obedience to God.
One of the struggles for the church in a post-Christian culture is rediscovering what it means to be saved. In a Christian culture, salvation was often assumed rather than evidenced. Now that we live in a post-Christian culture, many are no longer compelled to obey the most fundamental commands of God, like gathering with the saints on the Lord’s Day, but still claim to be saved. Today, the church must rediscover a biblical understanding of the evidence of conversion.
Sermon Notes
Gospel work is motivated by conviction of truth and a desire to honor God.
There have always been those who teach and preach false doctrine or use the preaching of the gospel for selfish gain. There have also been those who, though they proclaimed the true gospel, did not lead the church to faithfully live according to the righteousness of God. Paul reminds the church that his ministry among them was faithful to the gospel and unapologetically led them to live righteously before God. His testimony is not one that is unique to him, church leaders, or those with special giftedness in the church. This testimony is one that every faithful Christian should have.
This passage teaches two testimonies that a life governed by the conviction of truth and a desire to please God will bear.