This is a part of a sermon series in the book of 1 Thessalonians. You can watch more here.
Introduction
This morning we are closing up our series in 1 Thessalonians. We saw the
Apostle Paul start off with encouragement in chapter 1, “You’ve been an
example to followers of Jesus around the area!” Chapter 4 we saw the
continued challenge, “Excel still more!” Isn’t that interesting?
God’s Word teaches us that when we come to faith in Jesus’ life, death and
resurrection that we are complete in Christ, it is finished, we are going to
spend eternity with Him!
And at the same time, we are going to go through this life with ups and downs,
joy and pain, celebrations and hardship, until we are faithfully brought to the
end with Him. It is finished and we’re in process.
That’s what we are doing with one another this morning. As followers of
Jesus, we are on this journey together. There are going to be moments where
things are going to make sense, there are going to be moments where things
are confusing, but Jesus is going to carry us to the end.
It reminds me of this scene from the Hobbit when the group is going through
the Forest of Mirkwood, and Gandalf told them not to go into the Forest of
Mirkwood, because the Forest of Mirkwood is dark and scary, but they don’t
listen to Gandalf.
As a result, they get discouraged, they get frustrated, so that Bilbo climbs the
trees the top and he has this powerful moment of seeing sunlight, fresh air,
butterflies, and it gives him hope to continue in the journey. Do you know this
scene?
It’s a powerful moment of encouragement for Bilbo, but eventually Bilbo has
to climb back down the tree into the dark forest and fight some giant spiders,
and this morning God’s Word is going to give us a “Bilbo in the trees type
moment” to remind us that when we are with Jesus, we can be confident, He
will finish. Let’s look at verses 12-13:
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, “12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor
among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very
highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.
In verse 12 we see a description of “those who diligently labor among you.”
It’s a reminder that when we are in Jesus, we are on this journey, and along
the way there are spiritual leaders of a local church in Austin, or what we
might call pastors or elders in a church family who are there to spiritually
guide and support us along the way.
In our church family, we have 3 elders who are the spiritual leaders of our
non-denominational church in Austin. At the beginning of every sermon I say,
“I am one of the pastors” and sometimes people will get confused, because
they only see me on stage on a Sunday, but we have two other men in our
church family, Jac Greene and Roberto Moctezuma, who serve as elders in our
church family who “diligently labor among you.”
The word “labor” in verse 12 means to toil, work hard, fatigue, sweat, so we
need to be asking, “What does it look like for spiritual leaders to sweat on our
behalf?”
First, we want spiritual leaders who study God’s Word and communicate
God’s Word, so that the local church is becoming stronger in God’s Word.
It’s why we see the emphasis on “providing instruction” at the end of verse 12,
so that the spiritual leaders are “equipping” the local church to understand
God’s Word, so that the local church is learning how to share God’s Word with
others. This is the goal!
It isn’t about entertaining us on Sunday morning. It isn’t about an
inspirational quote to motivated us. It’s about equipping the local church in
God’s Word.
It’s why verse 12 uses the word “labor.” It’s hard work to study God’s Word.
It’s hard work for a church family to make a commitment to learning God’s
Word.
Some of you know I have been dabbling in stand-up comedy. It would be
easier to have some comedians come in this morning and tell jokes. It’s a lot
of fun, and I hope our time on Sunday mornings is fun, but we are also here to
work.
When we go to groups throughout the week, we aren’t studying for SAT’s, but
we are there to put in the work of digging into God’s Word and digging into
our relationships with one another, so that we are growing and equipping one
another in our faith in Jesus. Amen?
The next area of “labor” for spiritual leaders is leading. We don’t just want
spiritual leaders who communicate God’s Word but we want spiritual leaders
who are challenging us, encouraging us, and sometimes poking us, so that
over time our church family is growing stronger and healthier as we make this
journey together.
Personally, I think this is one of the best parts of our bible church in Austin,
because in general it would be so much easier to sit in an anonymous chair at
another church where you could slide in and out, but many times you tell me,
“I am here because I want to be challenged, I want to stay sharp, I want to be
involved in the kingdom of God, I want to be around others who want those
things as well,” and by God’s grace we are a people who want to be challenged!
Praise God!
The next area of “labor” for spiritual leaders is serving, which basically means
we want spiritual leaders who are willing to get their hands dirty.
It’s possible some of us have seen examples of spiritual leaders who like
having titles, so they can boss people around, but God’s Word describes
spiritual leaders as servants.
This is why the spiritual leaders in our church family will meet with people in
the hospital to encourage and pray for them. They are servants. Our spiritual
leaders will stack chairs, clean up coffee, whatever it takes! They are servants.
Sometimes our spiritual leaders will meet with people to help them walk
through a difficult spot in their marriage. I wish I could tell you these
conversations take 3-minutes and everyone leaves happy, but sometimes
those are hard conversations where our elders are laboring for wisdom and
clarity, so that the people are being pointed to Jesus over and over.
Listen to me, the spiritual leaders are never the hero of the local church. The
spiritual leaders are servants pointing everyone to Jesus, so that we are in awe
of Jesus. Amen?
You never want to be in a local church in Austin where Jesus isn’t the primary
focus. None of us are here today to hear what a spiritual leader thinks about
some event in the news. The spiritual leader’s primary responsibility is to
teach, lead and serve in a way, so that Jesus is the focus!
The last area of focus of “labor” for a spiritual leader is prayer. Remember,
this is all from verse 12 “remember those who diligently labor among you.”
For me personally, I set aside time on Tuesdays and Thursdays where I pray
for our church family. Sometimes I will send you texts where I say, “Praying
for you!” Most of the time people don’t know what to say, so sometimes I will
get a “thumbs up!”
You don’t have to say anything. God’s Word reminds us that our battle is not
against flesh and blood, therefore, we desperately want and need spiritual
leaders who pray for us, and I can assure you that our elders pray for our
church family.
This is why, the Apostle Paul writes, “regard them highly in love” because the
pastor or elder is the one who is spiritually fighting for you, “diligently
sweating” on our behalf, so that in our non-denominational church in Austin
you have always done a great job of expressing your appreciation.
I hear stories of pastors, their wives, and their children who go through
painful experiences, and over the last 15-years you have been a joy to pastor.
Let’s look at verses 14-15:
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15, “14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the
weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that
which is good for one another and for all people.”
In verses 14-15 we see the spiritual responsibility isn’t just from the spiritual
leaders, but we are actually seeing God’s Word teach us to take responsibility
for one another. Do you see that in verse 14, “We urge you, brethren” as in the
body of Christ!
The reference to the “unruly” are those in the local church in Austin who
aren’t wanting to strengthen the body of Christ. Does that make sense?
There are times we are going to give into gossip, slander, jealousy, and as a
church family we want to squash that as quickly as possible.
The local church isn’t about a passive engagement as we watch one another
from afar. The local church is about taking “spiritual ownership of one
another.” It’s more of a co-op than a country club. It’s mutual ownership.
Let me pause there for a second to help us process, because this means as a
follower of Jesus we aren’t just being spiritually led by pastors or elders, but
we are also called to spiritually lead one another.
Your pouring into me spiritually, I am pouring into you spiritually, we are
pouring into one another. You with me?
Look at verse 14 again, “We urge you, brethren, brothers and sisters,
admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak (spiritually,
physically, mentally), and be patient with everyone.” This is our call!
When you see the word weak it’s possible we might whence at the idea of
thinking of ourselves as “weak” but this isn’t a critique for being weak. There
are areas of all our lives where we are weak and areas where we are strong.
It’s okay. In the same way, there are seasons of our life when we are weak and
seasons of our life when we are strong. It’s okay.
The context of 1 Thessalonians is men and women who are growing in their
faith, but at the same time they are getting distracted and they need one
another to correct, encourage, challenge, pray, and be patient!
The Thessalonian church are a people who are struggling with idolatry and
sexual immorality (Chapter 4), so these are regular men and women who have
some areas of weakness, and God’s Word is encouraging them to help one
another grow stronger in their faith in Jesus, because one day we are going to
be with Jesus! Does that make sense?
The local church in north Austin isn’t just about what we can get in the music,
teaching, coffee, or children’s ministry, but the local church is also about what
we can give to the people. Do you see that in our passage? Isn’t that cool?
Listen to me, this is a monster challenge for the American church. We are at a
point in history where it is so easy to keep our distance from one another.
Especially over the last few years, because we are at a point in history where
random people are giving their hot takes on “immigration reform” while
getting some coffee. That’s a lot to stumble into while getting coffee! That
wasn’t happening 5-years ago!
We are at a point in history where people are talking about different economic
strategies (socialism, capitalism, communism), and which one is more biblical.
What!
Like 5-years ago that the majority of our conversations revolved around
sports and weather, and as a spiritual leader I had to challenge our church
family to go deeper in our conversations!
Now, people are like “That’s deep enough!” I will just stay home! And, I wish I
could tell you, stay home, just wait till the dust settles, pretty soon we will be
back to sports, weather, and celebrity crushes like the shallow Americans we
are, but I think we are raising up a next generation where it is normal to talk
about differing opinions and philosophies about life. I think that’s the
direction we’re going! Don’t you feel that?
Therefore, as a follower of Jesus we are having to find courage to invest in
relationships. Courage to not give up. Perseverance to keep trying. We
discernment to know what’s pivotal to our faith in Jesus, when to draw a line,
when to stand our ground, and we need wisdom learn what’s a throw away
comment that doesn’t really matter, because we need one another. Amen?
We need spiritual leaders who are equipping us along the way, and we need to
be leaning into one another along the way, because we weren’t meant to make
this journey alone.
God has designed us to be in the lives of one another. And, we are going to
experience the best of what the Lord has to offer when we are in relationships
with one another. Let’s look at verses 16-22:
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, “16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is
God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not
despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain
from every form of evil.
Remember, we’re on a journey together. We know the “Day of the Lord” is
coming. We don’t know when, but we know it’s going to happen.
We know there’s going to be some ups and downs. We know there’s going to
be some highs and lows, so that God’s Word makes it really simple; rejoice
with one another, pray for one another, give thanks while we are with one
another. Isn’t that good?
Typically, in our non-denominational church in north Austin our size
everyone is related and looks like one another, but our church family has
some diversity.
We have people from different countries. Different political views. We have
different levels of education. We have different economic standings.
Why would this rag-tag group of people gather on a Sunday morning to sing
songs, listen to Gods Word and stumble through some relational
conversations with one another? Why would we do this to ourselves? It’s the
glory of God working out in His people!
In verses 16-22 this isn’t just a pastoral responsibility or even church body
responsibility, but this is getting into the individual responsibility of the
church family. Does that make sense?
When the individual in our church family is moving from “observer” to
“owners” at the individual level, it’s a game changer. Anyone can gather
people on a Sunday morning, but we are praying for men and women who are
going to take “ownership.”
We would do well to break down these words, dig into their application, but
for the sake of time I want to give us some diagnostic questions for us to ask
ourselves and help us move toward “ownership.”
1. How are you taking time throughout the week to rejoice in the Lord, even in
hardship?
2. How are you taking steps to stretch your prayer life?
3. Are you excited to gather in worship on Sunday mornings? Are you preparing your
heart to hear God’s Word and connect with God’s people?
4. In what ways are you recognizing and confessing sin in your life and repenting of it
by the power of the Holy Spirit?
5. How is your heart and mind bending to the joy of following the Lord instead of
following ourselves?
6. How are you participating in God’s plan for the church through biblical
relationships?
7. How are you committed to loving the Body of Christ through serving the local
church?
8. Where are we investing our treasures?
These are questions I ask myself, and we really want to set a reminder on our
phones right now to come back to these questions, and ask the Lord to help us
take individual responsibility for our personal growth in the Lord, because as
we grow in the Lord we will want to help others grow in the Lord and as
others grow in the Lord, so our church family will be growing in the Lord.
Amen? Let’s look at verses 23-28:
1 Thessalonians 5:23-28, “3 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and
soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He
who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy
kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you.
As we look at the weight of this challenge it would be easy for us to feel
overwhelmed. Right? It would be easy to feel like this weight is on our
shoulders as we make our way through this journey, but look at verse 24,
“Faithful is He who calls you.”
The reality is that there are going to be spiritual leaders in our life that are
great and some are going to flop. There are going to be church communities in
our life that are magical and some are going to bring great frustrations and
pain.
And, there are going to be moments when we are taking responsibility for our
spiritual growth, but there are also going to be moments where we are going
to spiritually drift into dark places like we talked about last Sunday, but the
key that holds our journey together is in verse 24, “Faithful is He who called
you.” Amen?
He’s been faithful to our church in Austin. We just went through a season of
asking all these questions, and the Lord showed up in ways we could never
imagine. He’s faithful in our families as we navigate seasons of marriage and
raising children. He’s faithful in our economy! It’s like every other month we
are told we’re all going to die and we’re still here! He’s faithful!
He’s faithful in those prayers that never get answered the way we want them
to be answered. In those moments, life isn’t unfolding the way we want life to
unfold, but it doesn’t mean He isn’t faithful. Write it down. Faithful is He who calls you!
North Village Church
This sermon is brought to you by North Village Church, a non-denominational church in Austin. established in 2009 and built around Jesus and Bible teaching.
Are you looking for a church in Austin? At North Village Church we put Jesus at the center of our church family. We worship together every Sunday at 10:30am, encourage Christ centered fellowship through groups, and host special events such as Bible studies and Theological Training, to ensure that we are rooted in in God’s Word. We also serve our local community in association with several Austin based organizations.
North Village Church is made up of professionals, married couples, singles, and families who are wanting to experience the life-transforming power of Jesus. If you are a family with children or teens, we can support you with either or both our Kids Ministry and Youth Ministry.
You are welcome to contact us if you would like more information.
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