1:3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by FAITH, your labor prompted by LOVE, and your endurance inspired by HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. NIV    Mt 5:16 Eph 2:10 Col 1:10

I. Healthy Faith in God & His promises produces a transformed life as well as rewardable works/service

Heb 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God..must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

1:16 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers 9  how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Mal 3:14

2:11  as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 you received the word of God...you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 17 great desire to see 19 what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20  For you are our glory and joy. 

3:2 sent Timothy, our brother and servant of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions 5 I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 6 brought us good news of your faith and love10\perfect what is lacking in your faith
                                                                                                                                          
1Cor 15:2 received, stand...by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you----unless you believed in vain 1Pt 1:9

II.  Healthy Love produces labor in helping others have Healthy Faith

1Cor 3:8 15:58  Heb 6:10    Mt 24:12 Rev 2:4
Love is self-sacrificially doing what is in another's highest interest like Christ did for us  Jn 15:12 love one another as I have loved you

3:12 may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you 13  so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God (Eph 1:4) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. 4:1 we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3  For this is the will of God, your sanctification
4:9   concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another
5:11 Therefore encourage each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
5:14  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort/parable the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
5:6 let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night 8 let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.

5:21  Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22  Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. Healthy Hope produces joyful endurance that embraces difficulties along the path of Faith and Love

Heb 6:10 God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister 11 diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 not sluggish, but imitate those who thru faith and patience inherit the promises. 19  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil

4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 16 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18  Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Rm 5:1 having been justified by faith, we have peace with God thru our Lord Jesus Christ, 2  thru whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;4  and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint ...
Rm 15:4..before were written for our learning, that we through the steadfastness and encouragement of the Scriptures might have hope
Rm 15:13 may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
Ps 33:16  No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength. 17 a horse is a vain hope for safety; Nor shall it deliver any by its great strength. 18  Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His hesed/loyalty, 19  to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. 20  Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. 21  For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name. 22  Let Your hesed, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You. 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

               Acts 17:11 noble minded = searching Scriptures?conviction

1. Do all believers have a healthy faith, hope, and love? Why the difference? What are the consequences? How does one get healthy?
2. How does one serve God? What does He like, dislike, or want? Why does He want us to serve Him? What happens if we don't?
3. Do we tend to put more or less effort into serving God than other things that give us value: job, food, home, appearance, entertainment?
4. If our hope is nebulous, how can it be healthy? If our faith doesn't produce anything, what value is it? If we just love ourselves are we healthy?
5. How can you plan to develop and maintain the health of your faith, hope, and love this year? To what resources do you have/need access?