Elements of Church Culture

in some ways as we read through the epistles we run into the same things. The closing verses can feel like a big litany of topics, instructions, comments.

Just as he did with the previous letter, Paul closes this second letter with several instructions. These instructions seem to be some of the things that should mark the culture of the church. These are certainly not exhaustive, but I think they are helpful. In these closing verses of the book, Paul talks about prayer, performance or conduct, and providence. It’s as though Paul is saying, I’m not sure when I’ll see you, so please do this, know this.

First of all, Paul addresses...

A Culture of Prayer (1-5)

We’ve seen several times in this book and in his other letters where Paul prays for the church. In fact each chapter in this letter is concluded with a sort of benedictory prayer.

But here, in a rare occurrence, Paul seeks prayer. In other words Paul presents ...

A prayer requested (1-3a)

There are times when people assume that pastors and missionaries are people who have a special connection with God. People will ask me to pray for them specifically, assuming that my prayers have more power than theirs. I may have more experience, but I certainly don’t have more power or a stronger connection. I’ve prayed with some of you and wish that I had your power in prayer.

Paul understands innately that we ALL have a privilege of praying. And so Paul asks that they would pray for him.

2 Thessalonians 3:1–3a (ESV)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful.

He has two specific requests in his prayer.

that the word of God would advance

that God would deliver them from evil

The Advancing Word

Paul knows that it’s the Word of the Lord that has to go forward. It’s the Word of the Lord that instructs people about the truth of God and the salvation that is found in Him. It’s the Word that is our guide.

As a church, when we pray in our community groups or here in corporate worship, I think we need to be praying similar prayers for missionaries and other churches. I would ask that you pray for the Elders in this way. It’s easy to get pragmatic about ministry - doing things because they are practical, but not necessarily because they are biblical. Missionaries and Pastors alike can be tempted to do things that are deemed “acceptable” to the world - thereby diluting the truth and power of the Gospel.

Paul’s request is a good instruction for us, because he reminds us that it’s the Word of God that produces fruit. By the Word God created all things. By his word he sustains all things.

Isaiah 55:10–11 NLT

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Unless the Word advances and is honored, or respected, the work we do is in vain. So Paul’s first request is for the Word to advance.

His second request is for

Deliverance from wicked and evil people

As with a ministry based in pragmatism, Paul recognizes that there are people who find offense at the gospel. There are people who want to work against the ways of God. Paul certainly was the recipient of that as he faced beatings, imprisonment, and other forms of persecution. I don’t think Paul is asking for relief from pain, but that the devices of wickedness would not hinder his work for the Lord.

Here in the states, we may not face the persecution and trials that our brothers and sisters in other contexts face, but I do think it’s tempting to do things here that cause compromise because we want to avoid unwanted attention. After all, we’re challenged to pray for our governing leaders in order that we might lead peaceful and quiet lives. And yet there are some people who will do all they can to ridicule and silence those who stand for the Good News of the Gospel. I think there may be a personal element to this as well. Paul doesn’t bring up his own struggles or suffering here, but I know in my own life, the wicked and evil man that torments me most is me. Elsewhere Paul has written -

Romans 7:19–24 ESV

For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

So whether we’re praying for people here or people abroad, may we join in this prayer as well, that God would bring deliverance from wicked and evil people - even themselves.

In addition to asking for prayer, Paul also discusses...

A prayer offered (3b-5)

2 Thessalonians 3:3b–5 (ESV)

He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

Paul begins by reminding them in light of the faithfulness of God, that he will establish or strengthen and guard them. Because God is the one who initiates our relationship with him, it is His word that lays the foundation and raises the protective measures. Once we are his, nothing that the evil one will do can separate us from God. The result of God’s establishing/strengthening work and guarding is life in line with the Word - Paul knows that they will do the work (some of which he is going to address in the next paragraph).

Paul’s prayer is then for the Lord to direct their hearts. But notice the direction - toward the love of God and the steadfastness of Christ. Oh that we would fully grasp the depth of God’s love for us.

God has a holy love and a holy wrath, but not a loving wrath or a wrathful love.

R. C. Sproul

It’s easy to think of God purely as a holy God, a just God, a God who has expectations, but when we truly grasp his love, it changes how we act toward others.

Love of God is the root, love of our neighbor the fruit of the Tree of Life. Neither can exist without the other, but the one is cause and the other effect.

William Temple (bishop)

When we grasp the love of God, our actions and our motivations are not based on obligation but privilege and even pleasure. It’s a change from “I have to do something” to “I get to do something.”

So prayer should be part of our church culture. The next thing we get to see is...

A Culture of Performance (6-15)

There were a few factors influencing the Thessalonian Christians. As we saw in the first letter, there were some who gave up working because they assumed Jesus’ return was imminent. There was also a general disdain in Greek culture for manual labor. It seems that the people who were avoiding work were idle or busybodies. They were disorderly and were not pulling their weight.

In this culture of performance, or we could say, having a biblical work ethic, Paul provides three commands.

First of all, Paul tells them of...

People to avoid: idle or disorderly

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Paul continues a few verses later:

2 Thessalonians 3:10–12 ESV

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

I’ve heard that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people in the church. It’s difficult to know how the percentages may have worked out in Thessalonica, but since Paul brought up this problem of idleness a couple of times, it must have been a significant issue. Not only were people not contributing to the ministry needs of the church, they were not working at all.

Now, I don’t think this is a dig against people who are retired. Paul seems to be talking about able-bodied people who refused to work and were dependent on other people.

The command here is that we avoid people like that. But why? Why would Paul provide such an admonition? I think one reason is that Paul wants these people to feel shame. He even says as much...

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 ESV

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

I know, there are some people who have things that truly prevent them from working. There are safety nets in our society and even a bit in the church for people like that. As a church we are urged to avoid people who think that work is beneath them.

However, in contrast to the idleness of some, Paul suggests...

Principle to follow: work

We are to carry our own weight as much as possible.

2 Thessalonians 3:7–9 ESV

For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.

Paul notes that they could have expected to be waited on - food provided, housing provided, etc. But instead, Paul, Silas, and Timothy did what they could to provide for their own means. Paul was known as a tent-maker. He would often seem to set up a shop in the local market in order to provide for his means.

In many ways, work is an act of worship. When we use our God-given abilities to work, we are stewarding God’s gifts. We are not only providing for our own livelihood, but we are honoring him.

Sinclair Ferguson noted...

Man was made to work, because the God who made him was a ‘working God’.

Sinclair Buchanan Ferguson

In addition to discussing people to avoid and a principle to follow, Paul concludes this section with some...

Practices to persist: good work and good discipline

Sometimes work is exhausting. Sometimes work is thankless. Sometimes it can feel like you’re getting nowhere. But Paul provides this encouragement.

2 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV

As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

This is similar to a charge he gave to the Galatians

Galatians 6:9–10 ESV

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Whether this is good work for home, good work in ministry, good work serving our neighbors - we are urged to do good. John Wesley took this to an extreme by stating:

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, to all the people you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can.

John Wesley

Some of the good work that we do will take the form of good discipline. Looking again at verses 14-15 - Paul seems to suggest a sort of church discipline that should take place for those who are not working properly.

So Paul seems to note a culture of prayer and a culture of performance in the church. Finally, Paul illustrates...

A Culture of Providence (16-18)

In his closing benediction, Paul helps us see the involvement of God in the church.

2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 ESV

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Paul’s blessing has a three-fold demonstration of God’s presence in our lives and in our church.

First of all he asks for...

Peace from God

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.”

God is the God of peace. (1 Thes. 5:23). He is the God who provides a peace that passes all understanding. He provides a peace that guards. (Phil. 4:7)

There is a sense of calm that we can have, even in the face of the most difficult circumstances, because of God’s blessing of peace. God may allow true times of peace - i.e. times without any conflict - though history tells us that only 8% of the time has there been without wars - but He will provide peace in the midst of conflict.

I realize I’ve been using a lot of examples lates from WWII - in part that’s because of some of what I’ve been reading and listening to. I’ll try to move away from this, but I do want to note one more. When Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and theologian in Germany in the 1920s, 30s, and early 40s, was arrested, the charges against him were rather vague. Nevertheless, he went into prison willingly. He didn’t protest. Many of the guards and other inmates noted how calm he was through the process. When he would sit in his cell he would read, pray, write. When he was out, he never worried about what would happen to him - he simply trusted in God’s sovereign plan. God had provided him peace.

This culture of Providence is not only experienced with peace from God, but also the...

Presence of God

Paul writes in verse 16 - “The Lord be with you all.”

God is with us. He is Omnipresent - which means that He is everywhere. The Psalmist understood this, writing...

Psalm 139:7–12 ESV

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

But it’s not only His omnipresence that is with us, it is himself through his Holy Spirit. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus assured his disciples that they would not be alone. We are not alone.

John 14:16–17 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Beloved, know that God is with you. When times are going well, He is with you. When it seems that your world is about to end, He is with you. When conflicts are high, he is with you. When it feels like you are the only Christian you know in your class or office, you are not alone.

So in this benediction, Paul has discussed peace from God, the presence of God, and finally, the...

Grace from Jesus

…that resides with us.

Grace literally means “a favorable attitude toward someone or something.” So in this case, the Grace of Jesus is the grace that we receive from Jesus.

This is favor that we don’t deserve.

There is a difference between grace and mercy. God in his mercy does not give us what we do deserve, and God in his grace gives us what we don’t deserve.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Charles Hodge noted...

The doctrines of grace humble a man without degrading him, and exalt him without inflating him.

Charles Hodge

Friend, if you are not yet a follower of Jesus, know that when Jesus came to earth (the very thing we will celebrate in a few weeks at Christmas) it was an act of grace. His perfect life demonstrated just how far short we fall from God’s holy standard. His death and resurrection mercifully took the punishment for your sin and mine. He offers salvation - as a free gift of grace. Will you receive it?

Closing thoughts

Over the last few months, we’ve observed in the letters to the Thessalonians encouragements for a church that is facing difficult times. Here in this closing chapter, Paul has helped us to see a bit of the role of prayer, performance, and providence in our lives. May we be people who pray for our leaders and each other; people who persist in doing good work, and people who find peace in the presence and grace of God.

Let’s pray.

Benediction

2 Thessalonians 3:16 ESV

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:18 ESV

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Discussion Questions:

Read 2 Thessalonians 3

What observations do you have from this text or from the sermon?

What does Paul ask the Thessalonians to pray for him? Who should we pray that kind of prayer for?

Paul responds to his request for prayer with a sort of prayerful confidence regarding God’s work in the lives of the Thessalonians. What does he see that God is doing or will do? How is that manifested in the lives of the Thessalonians?

What is the love of God? How does Jesus demonstrate steadfastness? Why do we need our hearts directed toward the love of God and the steadfastness of Jesus?

In discussing our performance or how we should live, who does Paul urge us to avoid? Why? What is the example that Paul wants us to imitate?

What are the three ways that Paul concludes this passage regarding the Providence of God? How do those impact the daily life of a Christian?