1 Thessalonians 1:3-10 – remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Acts 2:42-47 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

A. Principles in a Gospel-Centered Christian and Church

1. Work of faith: Obedience to God’s Word – 1 Thessalonians 1:3
2. Labor of love: Motivation for obedience to God’s Word – 1 Thessalonians 1:3
3. Steadfastness of hope in Christ: Sustaining power of obedience to God’s Word – 1 Thessalonians 1:3

B. Characteristics in a Gospel-Centered Christian and Church

1. Gospel-transformed lives leading to Gospel-centered lives – 1 Thessalonians 1:5
2. Spirit-empowered lives leading to Spirit-empowered mission- 1 Thessalonians 1:5
3. Willingness to pay the high cost to fulfill the Gospel-mission – 1 Thessalonians 1:6
4. Boldness to engage the world with the Gospel – 1 Thessalonians 1:8
5. Encoraging affirmation of being on Gospel-mission – 1 Thessalonians 1:8

C Practices producing a Gospel-Centered Christian and Church

1. Fellowship of prayer among believers – Acts 2:42
2. Centrality of Christ in message and ministry – Acts 2:14-36; 3:12-20; 2 Corinthians 2:1-3; 2 Corinthians 4:5