1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 / I Love My Church!
Thessalonians: A Prayer of Endurance • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 36:56
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1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 / I Love My Church!
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 / I Love My Church!
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
Brotherly Love is a practice taught by God
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
“Concerning brotherly love ...”
philadelphia - Relationship naturally befitting between siblings.
Not always “best friends” but always got your back.
Care enough to tell you the truth (IN LOVE)
Enduring (through trials)
Loyal
Challenges growth (get the best out of you)
Follow your lead blocker
Freshman year of HS - football summer practice
I’m playing full back (was used to being big enough
Wasn’t following my lead blocker
Brother (Shane) playing nose guard - warned me.
Next play he hits me so hard I black out
When I Come to - “Follow your lead blocker.”
Brotherly love is just different. You don’t need to question it. There are times you may need some correction … but the love is there and you know it.
“You have no need for anyone to write to you …”
Some things are so fundamental to Christianity, it doesn’t require special teaching, deep spiritual growth.
Necessity of Brotherly Love is one of those things.
“… For (because) you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.”
How have they been taught by God?
Scripture
(For us) Holy Spirit
Working through scripture
Through live experiences
The lessons learned in the context of a church family are invaluable and cannot be experienced on your own.
Selfless Service for others
Tolerance of differences
Patience in trials
Brotherly Love is for the universal church.
10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more,
Not only were they showing brotherly love toward each other
But also to OTHER churches.
People they may not really know.
People that likely do not “benefit” them.
The Church as a business
Competing with other churches for “customers”
Marketing tactics to attract them to our church
Not because it’s what is best for them.
But we want to swell our numbers.
Our church will be the most healthy when we are living all for God and we are the size that is ordained by Him.
Don’t be afraid to attend other churches occasionally.
Find a person in another home church and pray for them regularly.
Attend events of other churches.
Don’t plug your home church while you are there.
If it will get them plugged into another church family, be willing to direct (or even take) a guest or new believer to another church!
Brotherly Love is intended to be a core value.
11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
How immensely practical is this advice?
Directed toward showing brotherly love...
Live quietly - avoid causing drama.
Mind your own affairs - we know what that means
That person who can tell you everyones story...
They are telling your story also...
Why are they telling me this - can I help or is it Gossip.
Work with you hands - earn you own living.
Christians should want to help (benevolence)
Shouldn’t be a welfare state.
Don’t expect your wealthier brothers/sisters to take care of you just because they can.
12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
walk properly before outsiders
They need to respect what they see from us.
Your witness often times starts with you walk.
To shamelessly exploit the charity of other christians is disgraceful.