Defining Success

July 27, 2025 Elwyn Johnston

1 Thessalonians 2:1 - 12

Verse of the Week: “We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

1. God does not define success the way the world does.

“some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot.” Acts 17:5

“Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea.” Acts 17:10

“You yourselves know…that our visit to you was not a failure.” 1 Thessalonians 2:1

• “Failures” are a launching pad, not a landing pad.
  
  “God gave us the courage to declare His Good News to you boldly, in spite of great opposition.” 1 Thessalonians 2:2
  
  “A righteous person may fall seven times, but they get up again.” Proverbs 24:16


• “Failure” can be a great teacher!


• Our goal is to please Christ, not culture.
  
  “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.”         1 Thessalonians 2:4

“We didn’t seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else” 1 Thessalonians 2:6

2. Society defines success by riches. God defines success by relationships.

“we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother gently cares for her own children” 1 Thessalonians 2:7

“We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives” 1 Thessalonians 2:8

“we were exhorting and comforting and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children” 1 Thessalonians 2:11

“Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

“Don’t you remember, brethren, how hard we worked among you?”               1 Thessalonians 2:9