The Good We Pursue

some serving by leading, others serving by holding the rope and guiding, others doing work or ministry and trying to be faithful, still others needing a little help

Over the last few weeks, we’ve gleaned a bit about the environment in which the church at Thessalonica was founded - pressured by intense persecution, but flourishing with a genuine faith. Upon news of their faith, Paul has been writing to encourage in their walks and instruct them in how to live.

As he nears the end of his letter, Paul transitions into what seems to be general instructions that he has given to many of the other churches in varying degrees of detail. Essentially these instructions seem to communicate that Christians should...

Theme: Patiently pursue that which is good for one another, outsiders, and your spiritual life.

We sort of see this theme in the central part of this passage (v. 15). And yet the good we pursue will look different depending on the object or the direction of that good pursuit whether toward leaders, toward the struggling, and toward the Lord. If we could boil his teaching down into three words, we might see these instructions as

Honor

Help

Humility

Let’s begin where Paul does by how we should pursue good in how we show ...

Honor toward spiritual leaders (12-13)

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 ESV

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

In this young church, there were some who rose to positions of leadership, not because of their wealth or social status, but because of their work in the Lord. Paul doesn’t address this here, but it likely included their own spiritual gifting.

These leaders demonstrated or proved themselves in two ways:

Labor -or service to the church - people who sacrifice time and energy for the good of the congregation, and

Admonition or instruction - in other words, people who guide and teach the congregation. It could be that Paul was writing to subtly encourage them to honor Timothy or whatever other young pastor he was sending to help them.

So who are these people?

Whether these are people with official roles like Elder or Pastor or Deacon or Teacher or simply discipler/spiritual parent - these are people who have given evidence of their devotion to Jesus and his church by how they live and serve.

So in response to their service and involvement in the lives of the Thessalonians, Paul urges the congregation to do two things in an attitude of love:

respect - or acknowledge them for their work

esteem - or honor them.

Now, this is not to puff them up, but to acknowledge the weighty and important work that they do.

Now, it seems self-serving to preach on this passage, but let me affirm you. I appreciate the way that you respect and esteem all those who serve - whether elders, deacons, ministry leaders, community group leaders, worship leaders, and more.

Speaking specifically as elders - we are not perfect but are seeking to model what we teach and prayerfully seek to lead our church in a way that leads toward flourishing and growth in a variety of ways. Thinking specifically of this transition to community groups - I appreciate the ways that some of you have expressed concerns and even frustration, but have also been willing to give it a shot. Thank you. You demonstrate obedience to what Scripture reveals here.

new leaders, elders, deacons - a good thing to desire (1 Tim 3:1)

if you are interested in pursuing being an elder let me know

In addition to asking the Thessalonians to show honor toward their spiritual leaders, Paul turns the conversation to each other and transitions from a request to a command - “urge” - instructing them in how they should pursue the good in how they...

Help toward the struggling (14-15)

It seems like there will always be times when we will find people in our community of faith who are struggling in a variety of ways. Paul here provides some instruction in how we should handle those who may need a sort of hand up.

1 Thessalonians 5:14–15 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Paul categorizes these people in three different groups:

the idle or unruly

the fainthearted

the weak

In each of these, Paul provides a specific way that we are to act toward the struggling brother or sister.

Instruction for the idle

These are not necessarily lazy people. There are some translations that refer to the idle as those who are disruptive, unruly, disorderly, or irresponsible. The point is that these brothers or sisters are acting in a way that is not helpful or edifying for the body as a whole and may be destructive to their lives individually or to the church as a whole.

Paul’s imperative here is that we instruct or admonish them. This is not necessarily a lecture, but a gentle rebuke, given in love. The idea is that we help them to see that their actions (or inactions) have consequences.

I think it’s also important to note that it’s not the leaders alone who are providing this admonition. Paul is addressing this to the church as a whole. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we have the sacred privilege and duty to help each other to live out the life that God has called us to.

While personal correction has almost become anathema in the church today, ancient opinion was that correction by others was profitable for a person’s well-being.

Gene L. Green

Providing this instruction will take a bit of courage, a lot of love, and a measure of grace.

Receiving this instruction or admonition will require humility. If any of us end up on the receiving end of this kind of instruction/admonition, we need to receive it with humility.

In addition to providing guidance for how to address the idle, Paul urges that we provide...

Encouragement for the fainthearted

This encouragement could also be a form of comfort - a coming along side to walk with someone toward holiness or godliness. Encouragement can have a profound impact in the lives of others.

Encouragement is the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.

Larry Crabb

Another author has said:

Encouragement is oxygen of the soul.

There is something about encouragement that can give us a boost to get started on something we’ve been putting off or to confront something we’ve been to timid to address.

Paul finally includes the command to...

Support for the weak

Where the “fainthearted” might lack the courage or will to take action, the weak lack the ability. This “support” is literally holding on to someone. We get to see this visibly each week as Jim provides this kind of support for Anabel or Kim provides the guiding support that Nancy needs.

Spiritually speaking, there may be areas in our lives where we are too weak to act. Maybe it’s an illness or physical limitation that needs accommodation. Maybe it’s a “besetting” or entangling sin that need someone to help us untie the knots. Maybe it’s a lack of understanding regarding how to live the Christian life - which may simply mean some time together - reading the word.

One to One Bible Reading Resource - in the Book Nook

Accountability relationship

Now, one of the challenges in Paul’s teaching here is that as we instruct, encourage and support others, it’s quite possible that others won’t receive the instruction well, may discount the encouragement and may refuse the support. I think it’s with these considerations in mind that Paul writes that we should have...

Patience for all

God’s has eternity to do his work in our lives. We get to be his instruments in each other’s lives in that process. Our job is not to fix or solve the problems, but to be instruments in God’s hands as He fixes what needs to be fixed in each other’s lives.

Patience! patience! you are always in a hurry, but God is not.

Charles Spurgeon

Paul also counteracts what may have been a cultural pattern of retribution by urging the Thessalonians...

1 Thessalonians 5:15 ESV

See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

Our natural tendency is to want to retaliate when we are wronged. But elsewhere in Scripture God has said...

Romans 12:19 ESV

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

ILL: Russell Moore Podcast this week - High Conflict - gang violence, vitriol between the left and the right in our nation, Hatfields and McCoys, Montague and Capulet - some conflicts are so entrenched that the constant fighting. The author spoke about how some people have broken the cycle of violence.

This is where we get to pursue the good - for each other (in the congregation) and for everyone - people outside the church.

If non believer - know that you are invited into a relationship with God and a journey toward holiness and godliness, but not alone

So, after asking the congregation to honor those in spiritual authority and urging them to act in appropriate ways toward the struggling, Paul concludes this section urging the Thessalonians and us to demonstrate...

Humility toward the Lord (16-22)

Now, he does not say be humble or have humility in this section, but as we look at what he is teaching, it seems the proper posture toward the Lord is humility. We could see this as humility in the....

Circumstances that God allows in our lives and in our congregation, and in the

Communication that the Spirit makes toward us - in other words, how the spirit is leading.

Paul begins by helping us understand how to demonstrate humility...

In the circumstances that God allows

Paul writes...

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

John Stott notes that Paul may have in mind their corporate worship together as all of these verbs - rejoice, pray, give - are second person plural - in other words - they are for “all y’all.”

Rejoice always

Rejoicing is an activity we choose to do; it is not an emotion. If we choose to rejoice, it means we are choosing not to do something else.

Steven Runge

There are some circumstances in the life of the church when it is so easy to rejoice

new salvations/baptisms - like Grace Harbor church

sending a missionary or mission team

a successful event - the Rise or the OCC packing

meaningful community group gathering

But there are also circumstances in which is practically impossible to rejoice - sickness, financial turmoil, strife with a family member or friend. And yet we are called to rejoice always.

James said

James 1:2 ESV

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,

In the book of Acts, our brothers and sisters in Christ responded to persecution with rejoicing...

Acts 5:41 ESV

Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

Pray continually

Being in an attitude of constant communication with God. There is a persistent element to this - as though we might say - “keep on praying.” Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow as an instructive lesson on perseverant prayer (Luke 18).

But there is also an ongoing element - a constant conversation with the Lord. Everything we do in corporate worship and in church life should be bathed in and accomplished in an attitude of prayer.

Give thanks

when things are good

when times are tough

when sickness happens

when death comes

when finances are thin

when people respond to the gospel

when the good news falls on deaf ears.

in all circumstances.

ILL: Corrie Ten Boom - thanking God for the fleas - finding out later - that’s what kept the guards away.

Notice, he tells us that “this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We saw a few weeks ago how God’s will was our sanctification. Here - it seems that God’s will is our rejoicing, praying, and thanking - in all circumstances. This seems to be a humble acknowledgment that whatever situation we find ourselves in, God’s is at work.

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So, in this, we can rejoice, pray, and give thanks.

Finally, Paul encourages us to demonstrate humility in relation to the...

In the communication that the Spirit makes

1 Thessalonians 5:19–22 ESV

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

I believe that God endows each Christian with His Holy Spirit. We are all equally gifted. We may be differently aware or sensitive to His leading.

In the early church, they likely met in homes and may have had a loose liturgy - possibly a reading or reciting of scripture, a teaching based on that, singing, praying, etc.

Whereas our structure my be a bit more formalized, I hope that it is equally Spirit led.

In Community Groups - there may be times when someone will have a special insight from the Lord - we need to be sensitive to that. We need to test to make sure it’s consistent with God’s word, but sensitive.

It may be that in a group the Spirit might lead Luke to provide a word of encouragement for another brother or sister in Christ. It may be that Kate has an insight or application into the Word that someone else in her group hasn’t seen.

Closing Thoughts

So as Paul closes down this first letter to the Thessalonians, he provides this litany of instructions for them and us, he does so helping us understand how we should act - providing a bit of a lesson in etiquette -

honor toward spiritual leaders

help toward struggling brothers and sisters in Christ

humility toward the Lord

In all of this - Paul seems to be urging us to pursue good- to seek to do good to all.

(closing story?)

Discussion Questions:

Paul asks the Thessalonians to “respect those who labor among you...” On Sunday we summarized this as “honor.” Why is respect or honor an important element in relation to those who are “over [us] in the Lord?

How can we esteem them highly in love (practically speaking)?

Paul urges us to help the struggling. What are the three ways he challenges us to help? Can you think of a time when you have needed that kind of help and how someone assisted you?

What does it look like to “seek to do good to one another and to everyone”? Why do you think Paul provides that encouragement? How can we pursue good when someone gives us evil?

Why is the instruction to rejoice always, pray always, and give thanks at all times important in our relationship with God? How can we do those things and not be fake about it?

What are some ways that we can quench the Spirit? What might it look like to allow the Spirit freedom to speak? Are we doing that? What are some criteria we might use to “test everything”?

Sources:

Constable, Thomas L. “1 Thessalonians.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002.

Holmes, Michael. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Spurgeon, C. H. “The Pastor’s Life Wrapped up with His People’s Steadfastness: A Pleading Reminder for the New Year.” In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, 30:7–14. London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1884.

Stott, John R.W. The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL; Intervarsity Press, 1991.

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