Sermon Tone Analysis

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 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell* *© 1996

Don't Look Back

 

In *Luke 9:62* Jesus says this about discipleship:  /But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."/ Discipleship costs something - salvation is God's free gift.

But God wants all believers to become disciples and in our text He gives the requirements.

He uses the figure of plowing to make a straight furrow.

The story is told of a man teaching his nephew how to  plow a straight furrow in a field.

I remember well my uncle, many years ago teaching me how to plow straight.

I watched him start the field.

He would first plow a " back furrow " in the middle of the field.

If this back furrow were straight, all the other furrows would be the same.

And then came the time for me to try.

I had seen him make a furrow as straight as an arrow, and he told me the secret.

He said, " Don't look at the furrow you are plowing.

Keep your head up.

Never look back to see how you are doing - look straight ahead.

" Then, when he had put the plow point in at one end of the field, he gave me the reigns and said, " I'll stand at the other end and you keep your eye on me and plow straight toward me.

Don't look down, don't look back - just keep your eyes on me.

" This is the secret of the victorious Christian life.

/" Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

/

Believers must keep their eyes on Jesus Christ who has gone before them.

Paul also said to mark those who walk properly and follow their example.

Discipleship is a two way street requiring the disciples to follow and the discipler to be an example worthy of following.

Paul had preached the gospel to the Thessalonians.

He had also shown the believers what a disciple looked like.

*/Now he sought to encourage them to become disciples, through a sincere follow-up or what we call discipleship./*

The Thessalonians had set their hope in God, but they needed help if they were going to grow in their faith.

Paul followed up on these saints by involving himself in their sufferings and spiritual pilgrimage.

Paul showed five qualities needed in a */Sincere Follow-up./*

The *first *quality of discipleship is: *Sacrifice*

 

Paul was willing to sacrifice his own needs by sending Timothy to them.

Paul sacrificed a member from his own ministry team to help the Thessalonians.

In *1 Thessalonians 3:1* we read:/ Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy our brother and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, /Timothy was a/ brother in Christ.

/Paul probably lead him to the Lord on the first missionary journey.

He then recruited Timothy to full time service with him on the second missionary journey when he was well spoken of by the brethren.

He was also a /minister of God/.

The word translated /minister/ is the Greek word diakono" and means servant.

We derive the word deacon from this same word.

Timothy was a servant who was not afraid of hard work.

Paul knew that a young church with new believers would have problems to sort out so he sent Timothy because of his patience and love.

Timothy is also called /our/ /fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ.

/

/ /

Timothy was a good team man, he didn't try to run the show himself.

He worked with Paul and other believers depending on God's grace to fulfil his tasks.

And he faithfully executed his tasks that Paul had given him.

In sending Timothy Paul was sending his best worker.

Paul said this about Timothy to the Philippians: *Phil 2:20-22*

/For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel./

Application

 

Paul and Timothy were prepared to sacrifice themselves for the sake of the brethren.

A/re you prepared to give up some of your time to meet with another believer and share a Bible study with them?

Are you prepared to let your spouse spend time with someone else who needs encouragement?

/Sacrifice is necessary if we are going to see growth amongst God's people.

The *second characteristic* of a good follow-up is: *Support*

 

Training Oxen

 

When a farmer wanted to break in a new ox, he would place it together with an older ox and they would carry the same yoke.

The older ox would teach the younger impetuous one what to do.

The older one demonstrated to younger one how they were to work together and what was required.

The experience of the older ox helped establish the younger one in ploughing fields.

Similarly Paul sent Timothy to help the younger Thessalonians in their faith.

*1 Thessalonians 3:2* says: / And sent Timothy...to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith,/ He sent Timothy to perform two tasks:  /1.

To establish them.

2. To encourage them/.

Paul wanted to help them in their trials, so he sent Timothy to them on his behalf.

Timothy was a faithful worker who would help the Thessalonians become established.

The word */establish/* sthrizw means */to settle, confirm, to render mentally steadfast/*.

Timothy would give them solid teaching to help establish them.

He would also encourage them.

The word */encourage/* parakalew means */to comfort, to console, to exhort, to cheer up./*

He would do this by pointing them to the Lord.

He would remind them of how others were enduring persecution.

Paul was concerned that these young Christians might be encouraged unless they give up.

When Timothy returns he shows how insightful Paul had been.

The Thessalonians were perplexed about the suffering they were experiencing.

So Paul wrote to encourage them concerning suffering.

In *1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 we read: */that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.

For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

/

 

Paul reminded them of what he'd previously said.

He had said that they would suffer persecution.

And this is exactly what happened to them.

They weren't doing something wrong or being punished for sin.

Their fruitful Christian lives made them enemies of Satan and the world.

They were not to be concerned about their fiery trial, for this was part of God's will for them.

Application

 

/Do you help other believers who are suffering?

Are  you prepared to come alongside younger believers who need help and could gain from your Christian experience?

Do you settle them down and point them to the Lord?/ Suffering is part and parcel of the Christian life.

But that doesn't mean that we can't encourage one another in it.

Let's stand together in suffering*/.

But Timothy was given another task to perform when he visited the Thessalonian believers.

/*

 

The* third *quality of discipleship is: *Surveillance*

 

College Exams

 

While I was training at Bible College I had to sit for many exams.

The exams were the culmination of my grades for the various subjects.

The lecturers try to prepare us as well as they can.

I spent a good deal of time reading and reviewing the subjects.

My wife quizzed on the review questions we had been given on the subjects.

The lecturers test us, to see if we have learned the subject.

We can sit in class for seven weeks, take notes and read the text books.