Growing Faith & Abounding Love: How to Stand Strong in a Culture of Compromise

2 Thessalonians 1:2, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.

The two most important factors to an authentic and fruitful life in Christ are faith and love. It is ironic that the two most neglected factors to an authentic and fruitful Christian life or faith and love.

Paul commended the Thessalonians church for their growing faith and abounding love.  He did this for two reasons: 1) he wanted to encourage the people regarding the goal of living a lifestyle of love and faith. 2) he highlighted the importance of faith and love in the midst of a Greek culture that was full of counterfeits and selfish examples of faith and love.

The evidence of growing faith is a greater sense of the presence of God and an increased willingness and boldness to do great things for God.

The evidence of growing love is that our thinking and focus shifts from self to God and to others. We become clearer that love is not only words and feelings, but deeds and truth.

I John 4: 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him[b] because He first loved us.

1. Is universal and not selective
2. It is sacrificial and not selfish
3. It gives and doesn’t take