THE TRAINING AND THE PRACTICE OF THE VITAL GROUPS

MESSAGE TWELVE

THE LABOR OF LOVE

Scripture Reading: 1 Thes. 1:3; Col. 1:28-29; 2:1; 1 Cor. 3:8; 15:10, 58

OUTLINE

1. The vital group should press on according to the apostle Paul’s prayer in 1 Thessalonians 1:3:
   1. Concerning the work of faith.
   2. Concerning the labor of love.
   3. Concerning the endurance of hope.
2. The work of faith:
   1. Faith in God and in His power.
   2. Faith in God’s Spirit and in His word.
   3. Not in our ability, method, nor in anything else.
   4. The work of faith is the foundation of our Christian service.
3. The labor of love:
   1. The intrinsic motivation of our work of faith.
   2. The inner life of our work of faith.
   3. The real strength of our work of faith.
   4. The key of the fruitfulness of our work of faith.
4. The endurance of hope:
   1. Hope in the coming Christ with His glory.
   2. Hope in the reward of the coming kingdom.
   3. The endurance of hope is the long life of our work of faith:
      1. Subduing all kinds of disappointments, discouragements, and impossibilities.
      2. Overcoming all kinds of oppositions, obstacles, and frustrations.
      3. Consummating in gaining sinners, feeding the believers, perfecting the saints, and building up the church-the Body of Christ-for the kingdom of God and of Christ.