The Church Matters

As we continue our study through 1 Thessalonians, we find ourselves in 1 Thessalonians 3 as Paul continues telling these believers that he loves them and misses them. In these 13 verses we see Paul give a defense for how important the church is.

300 Illustrations for Preachers The Growth of Atheist Churches

There’s a movement of new churches rising across the country, and guess what they all have in common? They all don’t believe in God! Yes, atheist churches and even atheist megachurches are becoming more and more popular as people want the warm feelings of a church experience they grew up with, just without God. Sanderson Jones, one of the leaders of Sunday Assembly in Los Angeles, said, “There was so much about it [referencing a Christian church’s Christmas caroling event] that I loved, but it’s a shame because at the heart of it, it’s something I don’t believe in,” Jones said. “If you think about church, there’s very little that’s bad. It’s singing awesome songs, hearing interesting talks, thinking about improving yourself and helping other people—and doing that in a community with wonderful relationships. What part of that is not to like?” Atheist churches, like Jones’ Sunday Assembly, continue to grow in America.

Even those who don’t believe in God understand the power and draw of things he ordains. Singing songs, talking meaningfully to one another, caring for one another, being in a committed community, and doing works of charity to our neighbors—these activities are attractive to everyone. The reason why is because these activities represent who God is and the expression of himself through his human creation. The only problem is that these atheistic churches leave the original source out of it.

On Wednesday evening we concluded our bible study and looked at how the Gospel should impact our church, specifically the local church. Our text tonight looks at this very idea as we see some benefits associated with being involved in the local church as the church provides us with a place to encourage one another, grow in our faith, and pray for one another in good and bad times. Let’s read out of 1 Thess. 3

1 Thessalonians 3 CSB

1 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. 2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 so that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing. 6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you. 13 May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.

We suffer with one another (1-5)

If you remember back to Acts 17, we talked about Paul’s initial visit to Thessalonica and the power of the Gospel message. How some people responded positively to the Gospel whereas others responded negatively and rioted in order to kick Paul and his companions out of the city. From here, Paul travels to Berea where he preaches the Gospel and many people responded positively to the Gospel as well. The Bereans were very serious and noble as they examined everything Paul and his companions said and compared it to Scripture to make sure that what they were saying was in line with God’s Word - as a side note, this is what we should always do as Christians!

If you look down to Acts 17:13, though, you see that there is opposition again as the Jews from Thessalonica found out that Paul was preaching the Gospel 45 miles west and they began to travel to Berea and stir up another crowd of violence which led Paul to Athens. This isn’t good news for Paul or those sharing the Gospel, but we see that Paul was not alone in this regard. There were others with him to share that burden.

Fast forward to our text tonight and we see that Paul thought it was better to be left alone in Athens and sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to help them out. Is Paul on vacation in Athens? Not at all! Athens and its universities were the Harvard and Yale’s of our day. This would have been a very intelligent crowd that Paul was preparing to speak to. Paul was a genius and he was a good speaker, but if there were a time in which Paul would have greatly benefited from having help, it would be here in Athens. Yet, Paul sends his right hand man to Thessalonica to “strengthen and encourage them.” I love what Mark Howell notes in his commentary on 1 Thessalonians as he says, “Paul was willing to adjust his plans to accomplish God’s plans.” This is what believers do, is it not? However, it can be so easy to stay focused only on our needs and wants that we miss out on what God is doing and what He wants to do in the world around us. As Christians, sometimes we have to put our wants and plans later and put the needs of others before our own.

Not only did Paul send his helper to Thessalonica, but he lived with a mindset bigger than his own world.

During a class I took at SBU, I studied about a missionary named John Paton who was a missionary to the New Hebrides Islands in the mid 1800s. Many people in his life told he and his wife not to go to this location because the villagers were known cannibals. Yet, as we’ve talked about in the past, they were obedient to God’s call on their life and went to these islands. While they were there, Paton’s wife passed away. A week after her passing, his son died as well. Paton, though, remained obedient to God’s call and returned after a short time away, with his new wife. They were there for 40+ years and shared the love of Jesus with these cannibals. Fast forward nearly 150 years and 75-80% of the inhabitants identify as being Christians. The Paton’s knew that their life would not be an easy one but they knew that it was what they were supposed to do. In other words, they knew that the rewards awaiting them in heaven trumped the sacrifices they made here on earth.

Paul knew that truth as well. He sacrificed his comforts and his friend in a time of need so that this church could have a leader and encourager. His comforts were secondary to the needs of this church. Because of this, he was willing to suffer.

Likewise, we know that we continue to suffer in some capacity as followers of Christ. While we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, we know that things like persecution, difficulty and suffering continue to exist. As one pastor puts it, the question is not “Will I face trouble? But, how will I respond when I face trouble?”

We all will face trouble and we see that this church was facing trouble and they were tempted to be shaken and deceived. When we face trouble, what should we do? As Christians who belong to a local church, we know that we have brothers and sisters who are there for us. Because of this, we don’t have to suffer alone, we suffer together! We bear one another’s burdens. Paul sends Timothy back and we see in verse 3 that this was done so that these believers would not be shaken by temptation and opposition. One commentator puts it like this, “A prepared soldier is never surprised when the enemy attacks.” Paul knew that the enemy would attack and he wanted these Christians to stand their ground - likewise, we know that we will suffer and have difficulty, but as Christians who are a part of the local church, we have one another to suffer with.

Paul told these believers that affliction was going to come to him and for them as well. When suffering comes, what will you do? Satan would love for us to worry more about internal things and to distract us from our mission to share the Gospel than for us to be focused and care more about our mission than our disagreements. Don’t underestimate your enemy and don’t overestimate your own strength. You need help. I need help. We need one another and this is the purpose of the church. To come together and bear one another’s burdens and to suffer together.

We encourage one another (6-10)

Paul continues in verses 6-10 and talks about how he was encouraged by Timothy’s report from this church. LifeWay research released a study about pastor’s who leave the ministry and nearly 250 pastors leave the ministry every month. There are a variety of reasons as to why this happens, but one of the most prevalent ones is because they are discouraged. They are discouraged in themselves. They are discouraged in their ministry or preaching. They are discouraged in the results. They might even be discouraged with those around them in leadership or with a member. If you ask any pastor or leader if they have ever felt discouraged, they will all say, “Yes.” Likewise, we see in Scripture that many people felt discouraged. Paul was one of them here as we see that he was discouraged that he could not return to this church in person. We all feel discouraged at times, regardless of how strong you are in your faith.

Because we are all prone to seasons of discouragement, we need one another in the church! We need one another for encouragement. Don’t believe the lie that you can do it on your own and that life will be easy, the Bible doesn’t teach that. We have to understand that we don’t have it all figured out and that we desperately need one another in the local church! What better time for us to realize this than now? We are in a season of life where there are so many things going on that can bring about discouragement and isolation. We need community now more than ever!

Paul, in a season where he was discouraged and isolated, was encouraged by these believers and their faith in God. They stood firm and this greatly encouraged Paul and his ministry. Likewise, whenever we do what we are called to do, we encourage one another. Consider how you can encourage someone else this week?

Perhaps it’s with a phone call. Maybe it’s with an invitation to church on Wednesday or Sunday. It could be a simple smile or message that lets the person know that you’re thinking about them and that you care. We encourage one another in the local church and we need one another now more than ever!

We pray for one another (11-13)

Is prayer powerful?

On Wednesday night as we concluded our Bible study and looked at the Gospel and your Church, we looked at how the sum is greater than the parts when it comes to the local church. We gather and grow together and as we do this, the body is strengthened. Not only do we suffer together and encourage one another in church, though, we also pray for one another. Paul begins in verse 10 by talking about his prayer for this church and this concludes in verses 11-13.

Paul prays that these believers would complete what is lacking in their faith. What does this mean? Is Paul picking on them? Kind of, but in a loving way. Paul knew that this church still had room to grow just as we have room to grow as well! We should pray for one another that we would grow in our faith. This isn’t a bad thing or a thing that we do to make people feel bad, rather this is something that unifies and strengthens us as a body as we know that others are praying for us.

Paul continues in his prayer and prays for the Lord to direct their path. We know people who can relate with Paul’s situation here as he longs to be in person to fellowship with these believers but is unable to do so. We know people who want to be here in person but simply can’t given a health situation or something along those lines. What should our prayer be in such situations where it would be easy to be overcome by discouragement? We should pray for the Lord to direct our path. As one commentator put it, “We are not architects for our kingdom; we are ambassadors for His kingdom.” Our prayer for ourselves and for our church is that we are faithful ambassadors for His plan. We pray for open doors as Paul did here, but we also pray for strength to be obedient and faithful when the time comes.

In verse 12 Paul prays for this church to overflow with love for another and for everyone. Isn’t this a great thing to pray for? You and I will never reach a point in our spiritual journey where we have loved enough. We must continue to love others and we certainly should pray that God would give us sensitive ears to hear when people are struggling so that we can extend the love of Christ with them. Just as Paul calls these believers to love one another and everyone, we must do the same. We are called not just to love our friends and family. We are called to love one another.

John 13:35 NASB95

35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

People will know that we belong to Jesus because of our love! We encourage one another and we pray for one another.

Finally in verse 13 Paul prays for these people to have holy hearts that are blameless before the Lord. As we’ve seen in Hebrews 11, you will look different than other people whenever you live out your faith in God with how you live your life! As Paul told the church in Rome, do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind! That is how we should live. We should be a people who are holy and set apart from sin. This should impact the way that we speak to others and act in public.

We should pray for one another to do the same. That we would be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live this type of life. It’s not easy, but whenever we are encouraged and strengthened by one another in the local church, we realize that we are not alone and that there are other people who have our back.

Conclusion

Contrary to what some might say, there is no such thing as a lone ranger Christian. To be in Christ is to belong to the body of Christ. The local church is crucial and it was set up by Christ Himself! The local church is not perfect, but it is important.

When was the last time that you went down your Sunday school class roster and prayed for each person name by name?

We should pray for one another to continue to grow in our walk with the Lord and as we do this, we should be strengthened together as we see that we are not alone in our suffering. We have brothers and sisters who have our back. Paul was encouraged by this church and we encourage one another and lift one another up. Consider how you can lift someone up this week!

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