Spring is the season you begin to see flowers bloom. It’s the evidence that the hard work of planting and caring for the seed in the Fall and winter was worth it.

The Apostle Paul spent many seasons planting and caring for the seed of the gospel in the lives of people. His spring time was seeing the gospel bloom in the lives of those he ministered to. It was the evidence that all his hard work of planting and caring for the seed in the fall and winter was worth it.

In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul gives thanks to God because he’s beginning to see the gospel bloom in the lives of the Thessalonians.

I wanted to share each of these evidences of gospel bloom b/c I think they are great markers for us to look at, desire, pray for, and strive towards.

GOSPEL BLOOM #1: People not only KNOW the content of the gospel, but they’re being CONVICTED of the truth of the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 1:5…because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

• We know the difference between studying for a final and cramming useless information into you brain in the hopes that you will retain it for 3 hours vs hearing a life changing message/words of advice/movie that will forever be etched in your mind going forward and will forever be a part of you. So it is with an understanding of the gospel.

GOSPEL BLOOM #2: People have a deep desire to be like Jesus- turning from idols to serve the living and true God

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord…

1 Thessalonians 1:9 …and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God…

• People who get the gospel are not here just to get a “get out of jail free” pass while they live their lives however they want. When the seed of the gospel begins to bloom, they will want to know, “how can i be more like Jesus? How can I be more like the one who gave his own life for me? How can I turn from my old life and serve the true and living God?”

GOSPEL BLOOM #3 Affliction does not deter the person from wanting to know God more.

1 Thessalonians 6…for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit…

• I discourage easily. A long line will normally deter me from eating at a restaurant or when purchasing a product. But why did I wait 2.5 hours to eat at a sushi restaurant and stay up all night to go wait in line during the launch of the iphone 6? B/c I valued it so much that I was willing to endure any suffering on my part to receive the prize. When the seed of the gospel begins to bloom, our value of Christ will be such that we will be willing to endure anything to receive Jesus.

GOSPEL BLOOM #4: People begin to share the gospel.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 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.

• When a plant blooms, it grows flowers and fruit, and the pollen from the flowers and seed from the fruit begin to scatter around.
• When the seed of the gospel begins to bloom, the person begins to share Christ through his word and life.

My prayer is that the seed of the gospel is planted in your lives, and as it begins to bloom that it would begin to demonstrate its vitality through these avenues.

My prayer is that one day, people like the Apostle Paul in your lives would be able to say this about you:

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 …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.