In 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 Paul speaks of a servant about the way in which he, Silas and Timothy served while they were there in Thessalonica.
Saints I think that this is a great thing to look for when considering a church to call home and Paul lists four characteristics to look for:
PURE HEART: Vs. 1 “For you yourselves know”: They had firsthand experience of this fact. That’s a bold thing to do as they had personal knowledge of how Paul served among them; in fact they were his fruit in service that his coming and serving was, “not in vain.”
Ministry is not about getting something from the people, it is about giving to people to further God’s kingdom not your own! In verse 2 Paul wrote that he served “Even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, we were bold to speak the gospel. You can tell he was a servant by the way he sacrificed his life to share the word with them.
PURE MESSAGE: Vs. 3a “For our exhortation did not come from ERROR..” Being on the Egnatian Road, these folks were accustomed to all sorts of false religions who would come through town with false messages to extort something from anyone that would listen. The message Paul brought was pure because it centered around the Word of God.
PURE MOTIVE: Vs. 3b “For our exhortation did not come from…UNCLEANNESS: Not only was his message pure his “motive” was pure as well. The word “uncleanness” speaks of corruption and Paul is saying that this was not a salesman hocking a product. Often people think Christianity is all about trying to coerce people into giving large sums of money. But in verse 5 Paul says that he did not speak using “flattery as a cloak or mask for covetousness”.
PURE METHOD: Vs. 3c-6 “… nor was it in guile”: The word guile here means to “bait the hook”. Paul was not trying to trap people into receiving Jesus. The success of the gospel must never depend upon a slick presentation, it is God’s Word in the Power of His Spirit! Paul didn’t need to “trap people” into receiving Jesus through an entertaining service. His goal was not to see people happy, it was to see them Holy!