A Loving Church

Introduction

Well, good morning!

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend…I hope you soaked up the sun this week…enjoyed the last several days of summer…because I hate to the be the debbie-downer here this morning, but I’ve lived here long enough to know that winter’s coming, right? The leaves are changing…the mornings, they’re getting just a little bit nippier…It’s coming…and so, my hope, its that you enjoyed this beautiful weather we had here this weekend.

Alright, let’s recite our mission verse together this morning…Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 and 20. If you’re ready…I’ll get us started, you finish us up.

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

[Prayer]

Alrighty…if you’d take your Bibles and turn with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2…1 Thessalonians chapter 2. If you’re visiting with us this morning, we’ve been walking through the two letters that Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica. We’ve been walking through it verse-by-verse, chapter-by-chapter for about five weeks now. And the purpose of this study, it’s to show us how we can live in a culture that’s completely against us…in a culture where there’s a ton of uncertainty.

And the model we’ve been looking at, it’s the model of these Thessalonians. These Thessalonians, they understood what it meant to walk in uncertain times…they understood what it felt like to live in a culture that was completely against them. And listen, they understood that the only way they could overcome those challenges, it was to embrace what God had given them. It was to find community with those God had called them to…those God had united them to.

And so far in our study, we’ve seen how these Thessalonians were an impacted church. Right? They were impacted by the gospel together…And listen, I know this kind of goes against the culture’s mentality but not everyone can be a member of God’s church…this community, this family, it’s only for those that have been impacted and changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can’t be a member of FBC or any Bible-based church for that matter without first being reborn. You see, you can’t receive a new family, until you’ve first received a new life. And part of the problems that exists in American churches today is that many of the members, they’re not believers…they’ve not been impacted by the gospel…And so, that’s the first thing we saw about these Thessalonians…they were an impacted church.

The second thing, it was that they were a contagious church. When the gospel had impacted them…it changed everything about them…their passions, their desires, their ambitions…and they fell so deeply in love with the gospel, that it was contagious to those around them. They fell so deeply in love with the gospel, that the world around them…the real problems they faced because of their culture, it didn’t concern them anymore…they found contentment and hope in the gospel…and that outlook, it made them contagious.

The third thing…we saw they were an authentic church…they learned from Paul that part of advancing God’s kingdom…it meant they didn’t just share the message of salvation, but that they were willing to share their lives. They were willing to be a living sacrifice for the people around them. They were real…they were open and honest…they were authentic. The gospel had made them an authentic church, because why on earth would they need to be something else?

And then last week…we saw how they had become a transformed church. They heard God’s Word, they believed God’s Word, they allowed God’s Word to change them and shape them and mold them. They allowed their belief in God’s Word to impact their affections and their direction. They were a transformed church.

And so, this morning, we’re gonna finish up chapter two and chapter three together…and what we’re gonna see, its that they were also a loving church. They zealously loved each other…and we’re gonna see that it was that love they had for one another, it was that love that allowed them to walk faithfully in uncertain times.

Listen, I think it’s safe to say that all of us have had some kind of experience with someone who claimed to be against organized religion, right? Maybe they had some kind of bad experience at a prior church…maybe their feelings had gotten hurt…but whatever the case, church, it just wasn’t for them.

For others, church is more about a “take it or leave it” mentality. They don’t necessarily have negative feelings toward the church…but they also don’t see it as having a meaningful place in their lives. They’re not against it but they’re not for it either. For these kinds of people, church, it’s simply a place where they may or may not go on Sunday mornings…it’s more about a place or an event or something they do. And I would even say there’s some of these kinds of people with us this morning.

But let me say this…God never intended the church to be either of these things. He didn’t send Jesus to die so that we would find community alone…and He didn’t send Jesus to die so that we could attend a church once a week…or when we felt like it…or when it was convenient. Church wasn’t meant to be some kind of weekly family tradition…it wasn’t meant to be just another social affiliation that fills up our calendars. Jesus didn’t establish His church just so that it’s congregations could keep the lights on or keep the piano tuned or pay the preacher. And listen, deep down we all know this…we all know that somethings missing in the church today because we know that God desires so much more for His people than for us to just come, and sing a few songs, and listen to a sermon, and give an offering. We know there’s more for us here…we know God intends more for us.

And so, what’s that intention? What are we meant to be as a church? I love what Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9:

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

I love that…it’s a description of what God’s called us to…it’s a description of what He intends for us. But listen, we can only get to that point, when we’ve first learned to love each other zealously.

And that’s what our passage is all about this morning. Paul’s writing this…and we see this profound love he has for these Thessalonians. He desired nothing more than for them to grow in their love for one another and for them to mature in their walk with Jesus. And as we walk through this together, you’re gonna see that nearly every word of this passage, it revolves around their love for Jesus, and Paul’s love for them, and their love for one another. And as we’ve already looked at…where there’s no love…where there’s no genuine love…love willing to go the distance…a love that’s willing to fight and labor for one another, there’s really no chance for gospel advancement…and there’s really no chance any of us can stand in a culture that’s completely contrary to Jesus. And what we’re gonna see from Paul and from these Thessalonians, its that love within a community, its defined by that community’s togetherness.

And so, with that…let’s stand together as we read our passage this morning. Starting in verse 17, it says this:

1 Thessalonians 2:17–3:13 (ESV)

But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.

And then chapter three:

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Thank you, you can be seated.

Listen, as we’ve already discussed, Paul and his companions, they’ve been separated from these Thessalonians…and they want more than anything to get back to them…But as Paul mentions here…Satan’s done everything in his power to prevent this…and so, Paul, instead, he sends Timothy to get an update and to check on them.

And what we see here, it’s a picture of what a loving church really looks like.

You know, I’ve been to many churches…and I’ve meant many believers…and it’s funny because when you’re asking people about their church, like what defines them…you get things like, “Well, we’re definitely a loving church…or we’re a praying church,” or whatever, right? And typically, believer’s will say this and they have no idea what all that actually means.

Well, in our passage this morning…Paul, he defines that for us. And what he says…it’s that a loving church…it’s all about togetherness....they walk together, they sacrifice together…they suffer together…they pray together.

I. Do You Walk with Us? (vv. 2:17-20; 3:6,8-9)

I mean just look back at chapter 2, verse 17 with me again. Paul, he gives you a glimpse of his heart here…and it’s this profound love he has for God’s church.

Listen, just about anyone else, given Paul’s circumstances, they would’ve given up on the Thessalonian church by now. I mean, no one would’ve faulted Paul here…he certainly had bigger fish to fry. He had his own problems to worry about.

But listen, we don’t see that at all with Paul here. His concern, even as Satan’s making things difficult for him…he’s facing all kinds of persecution, his concern its still for the Thessalonian church. He knows they can’t walk this journey alone. He knows they need each other…They were walking together, and Paul, he wanted them to have that assurance. He wanted them to know, he hasn’t given up on ‘em…he needed them to know, they were in it together. And even though he was facing some difficult things, he wanted them to know, he longed for them…that his concern, it was for them.

And I love what Paul suggests here…even though he wasn’t with them physically, even though they had been torn apart…his heart was with them. That word “torn away,” it literally means to be orphaned. Being separated from these believers, it made Paul feel like a parent who had lost a child. For Paul, the church, it was the furthest thing from some kind of corporate entity…it was a family knit together by love. And when that family couldn’t come together…when they were separated, it was agonizing. That’s the picture that Paul paints here. They were meant to walk through life together and when they couldn’t, it was difficult to bear.

He said, we long to be with you again…face to face. They desired that more than anything. And we see that same idea again in chapter 3, verse 1…and again in verse 5. He had this longing to be with them. And he says, that longing, it’s so great…he couldn’t stand it any longer. This wasn’t just a pastoral love Paul was demonstrating here…it was a deeply rooted love.

And listen, this wasn’t just Paul’s feelings toward the church…they felt the same about him and about each other. Again, they had a concern for each other…it wasn’t one sided…their love for one another, it caused them to walk together in this. Verse 6, it shows us just how much they too longed for Paul.

I mean what a picture of the church. It’s far from a take-it-or-leave-it mentality…this was a church that wanted to be together. They longed for it. They didn’t have this mad dash for the parking lot when the worship service was other. They wanted to be with God’s people. They wanted to walk together as a church.

Look at verse 20 again…Paul says that these Thessalonians, they were his glory and his joy. Meaning, he didn’t just see himself as bound up with people he lead to Christ in terms of service that he offered to Christ…he saw himself bound up with them in terms of his own salvation. They were fruits of his labor and of Jesus’s grace in his life. They were his reason to anticipate Jesus’s return…which if you think about what he’s saying…those are huge words. He was anticipating Jesus’s final coming because it would mean that the Thessalonians’ had reached a successful completion in their faith. Meaning, it wasn’t him that would boast, but ultimately Jesus, who completed the work He started in them. But until that day came, Paul was devoted to them…he desired to walk through life with them…helping to build them up and encourage them.

And the reason he says they can continue to have joy, in verses 8 and 9, even as they’re separated as he’s writing this letter, its because the Thessalonians, they’re walking together…they’re showing a genuine love for one another. And it brings Paul joy because he knows that’s what its gonna take for them to endure the culture around them…its to love one another as they walk together. They get it, they understand it…and he’s thankful and joyful about that mentality they have.

And so, the first question I wanna ask you this morning…do you walk with us? Guys, you can never serve people if you don’t love those people…and you can never love certain people if you don’t spend time with those people. The true evidence of love, its longing to be with the one’s you love. Imagine just telling your spouse or your kids, maybe your parents…that you love them, but you have no interest in spending time with them.

Do you walk with us? What role does FBC play in your life? Do you long to be with us? Do you long to serve with us and worship with us and fellowship with us? Do you long to be with your family? Because what you long for…it demonstrates what you love.

That’s the first thing.

II. Do You Sacrifice with Us? (vv. 3:1-2a)

The second thing…do you sacrifice with us?

Look at verse 1 with me again. Paul says, “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone.”

And so, just a little context for us here. According to Luke, the author of Acts…after Paul and Silas and Timothy had left Thessalonica, they made their way to Berea. And initially in Berea, they received Paul and his companions in a favorable way. Luke describes them as being “more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness.” We see that in Acts chapter 17, verse 11. But according to the account, eventually Paul faced a big problem there as well. This angry mob of Jews from Thessalonica, they had come to Berea and they start causing problems for ‘em there. And so, Paul, he leaves the city, leaving Silas and Timothy behind in Berea to continue the work there. And Paul’s plans, they were to travel to Athens where Silas and Timothy would meet up with him later on. That was the initial plan according to the Book of Acts.

And so, now…reading what Paul writes to these Thessalonians…let’s just take a step back and just consider what Paul’s really suggesting here. Here’s Paul…having just faced this mob in Berea…it had to remind him of everything these Thessalonian Christians must’ve been facing. This situation, it made him think about them…and here he is…all alone in Athens…no companions by his side…he’s alone in his journey…only with his thoughts of those he loves. And even after arriving in Athens, Paul’s heart it was still in Thessalonica. That’s what he said here. And listen, Timothy, he finally meets up with Paul in Athens and he gets a new assignment. Paul says, “I couldn’t stand it any longer…I had to know…I needed to check on you guys…it consumed me…it’s all I could think about,” right? And so, he sacrifices his plans for those he loves…and he sends Timothy to ‘em.

And listen, Paul’s sending Timothy…it wasn’t an easy thing to do. He had his hands full in Athens. This city was the philosopher’s playground, right? It was home to more than 30,000 different gods. It was a university town. If there was anywhere Paul needed reinforcements, it was certainly in Athens…and yet, here’s Paul so willing to engage the enemy all alone if it meant that he could somehow learn the fate of the Thessalonian church.

And look at verse 2 again. Paul said, “we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.” It says Timothy was sent to strengthen and encourage them…the Greek word there it means to “call alongside.” Paul literally sent Timothy for the purpose of cheering them on. He was willing to change his plans ultimately because of his great love for the church.

And listen, it wasn’t just his plans that he sacrificed…but his comforts as well. Again, here he is in this unknown place…this center of education and philosophy…and he sends his greatest source of encouragement away…he sacrificed his comforts for these Thessalonians.

I mean just imagine for a second we traveled to some third world country and everyone that was with you was sent away and you were left all alone there. That’s your source of comfort, right? But for Paul, that was a small price to pay for those he loved.

And so, what’s all this mean for us? Well…do you sacrifice with us? Or better yet, do you sacrifice for us? When it comes to the gathering together of the body…do you sacrifice your plans to be with us…because you long to be with us? Do you sacrifice your family time…do you teach your kids to sacrifice hobbies or sports or whatever to prioritize the family of God? Are you willing to postpone a vacation or a planned event because your brother or your sister is in the hospital or they’re struggling? Do you sacrifice your plans for us?

Or, what about your comforts? Listen, this can be financially…it can be with your time or your presence…it can be places God calls us to go…are we willing to be uncomfortable for those we love…those here at FBC…in this body God’s called us to? Because guys, if we’re not able to be uncomfortable for the people here…if we’re not willing to sacrifice our comforts for each other…we’re certainly not gonna sacrifice those comforts for the gospel.

And listen, I know Paul’s talking about himself here…but again, these Thessalonians, they were imitating him…they had the same love for each other…they were doing the same things for each other.

And so, that’s the second thing…do you sacrifice with us? Because what you’re willing to sacrifice for…it shows what you care most about.

III. Do You Suffer With Us? (vv. 3:2b-7)

The third thing…do you suffer with us?

Look at verse 2 again with me. Paul says, “2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

He continues, “6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.”

I think the first thing we learn as Christians, when we’re given new life…its that while we might be forgiven…our problems don’t somehow go away. Instead, we experience a new set of problems, right? We start seeing the world for what it is…and we start really seeing the spiritual warfare all around us. And we begin to understand that persecution, hardship, difficultly…they’re all expectations for the Christian believer.

When we become believers, the question isn’t will I face trouble? But instead, its, how will I respond when I face trouble? Right? That’s why in one of the very first letters given to the church, James tells them in chapter 1, verses 2 and 3, “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”

And so, what James is saying…its that when we’re faced with this kind of trial or hardship, first…we should count a joy and second, we should stand firm.

And listen, that’s what we see from Paul here…but we see more than that from this passage when it comes to suffering. First, when someone in our family’s suffering, we hold them up.

Listen, Paul he didn’t pull any punches…he just told it like it was and he even says here, “I told you that I would suffer…I told you that this would happen…it’s not a surprise.” But when he thought that Satan was tempting them and when he thought Satan’s stronghold in Thessalonica was too much for the church to bear, he sent Timothy to hold them up in their own suffering. That’s the first place his mind went too. And all he cared about was holding them up so that they could continue to grow and thrive in their walk with Christ. He was willing to suffer so that they wouldn’t.

We also see that we’re called to pick each other up through our suffering. Again, in verses 6 and 7…even in their distress and affliction, they were comforted because of the Thessalonians…they were comforted because of their faith and because they longed for them as well. The Thessalonians hadn’t given up even through their own trials and they hadn’t forgotten about Paul…and while Timothy was sent to be their encouragement from Paul, they flipped that and became an encouragement for Paul. They picked him up. It was a give and take between Paul and the Thessalonian church…both of which were encouraged by one another. And this model, it shows us exactly how fellowship and vulnerability work in the church…it shows us what we’ve been called to…we share our doubts and we share our discouragement…and we pick each other up.

And so, do you suffer with us? When’s the last time you even heard about discouragement or suffering from someone in this family? Listen, if you haven’t recently, its not because it’s not happening. It’s happening, all the time…Satan’s trying so hard to discourage and to unravel and to divide the people of God…and we have to keep our eyes open and watch for suffering within our body and we have to be willing to hold one another up and be willing to pick each other up.

Do you suffer with us? Because what you’re willing to suffer for, it really defines what it is you love.

That’s the third thing.

IV. Do You Pray With Us? (vv. 3:10-13)

And then the fourth and final thing…do you pray with us?

Look at what Paul says in verse 10. He says, “we pray most earnestly…night and day.” And he says he does that because he wants to see them face to face again…and then he says that his prayer, its that God would grow them in their walk and in their love for one another…that they’ll become even more blameless and more holy as they wait on Jesus’s return together.

And so listen, real quickly…I just want you to think about three things when it comes to asking yourself…or evaluating how much you truly love the people God’s called you to here at FBC.

When it comes to your prayer life. Typically, again, we talk to God about the things we care most about, right?

Well, first, do you passionately pray for the people here at FBC? I mean that’s what Paul does here, right? You can just feel his heart in these verses…just how badly he wants the things he’s praying for?

Secondly, do you persistently pray for the people here at FBC? Look at what Paul does…it says he prays day and night…its persistent, right? Again, it shows his heart here.

And lastly, do you purposely pray for the people here at FBC. He didn’t just pray for them but he was specific in his prayers for them. He prayed for spiritual growth, he prayed for open doors, he prayed for increased love. Are you purposeful in your prayers for the people here. You know what that takes? It takes us getting to truly know each other…it takes us building a strong relationship with each other, one that becomes our priority.

Closing

And so, in closing…let’s bring everything back to the main idea…love within a community, its defined by their togetherness. It’s recognizing that we’ve been called together…to walk the same journey, together. It’s understanding that we’ve been called to suffer together and sacrifice together for each other. To be in Christ Jesus, its to be a part of His church. And it’s not just affiliating with the church, it’s becoming the church, longing for the church, loving the church more than anything else because that’s ultimately the heart of Jesus. A genuine love for Jesus, it produces a profound love for the church and the people he’s brought you to.

And that’s exactly why Paul could speak so affectionately about the Thessalonians and why they demonstrated such a great love in return…because they understood that when they were given new life, they were given a new family…and the love they had for one another…it was unshakeable…and it was that love they had that allowed them to be so successful in advancing the gospel to those around them.

And so, as you close your eyes and bow your head with me this morning…I just want you to ask yourself, do I love FBC in this same way? Do I long for the people here? Am I willing to sacrifice for the people here…Am I suffering with them and praying for them? Does this passage describe my same affections for the people God’s given me?

And guys, however the Spirit convicts you in answering that question…I encourage you, ask Him to give you whatever it is you’re lacking so that you can learn to love us…this is where you’re meant to find fulfillment…this is how you’re meant to grow and flourish as a Christian. Guys, ask Jesus to give you that heart.

Maybe you just need to slip out of your seat and come to the steps this morning…maybe you just need to humble yourself and seek Him in this. Would you do that?

But listen, if you’re here this morning and you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior…then I want you to listen to me for just a moment. For some of you…you’re here but you’ve not been changed by the power of the gospel…and so you don’t understand some of things I’m talking about here…you can’t love the people here because you’ve not experienced the love of Jesus yourself.

Listen, the Bible tells us that every one of us…we’re all sinful…we all fall short of God’s glory and goodness…and that’s not His fault…He created us in the beginning to be good and perfect. It was our choice to fall…and that fall, it separated us from God. And in that separation, we experience death because that’s the punishment of our sin. But listen, in God’s great love for us…He gave us His Son, Jesus…and His Son, He came, He lived a life just like us…except He was holy and righteous, one without sin…and He did all that so that He could go to the cross…a cross met for you and me…and He took our place…He died in our place…and with His death, He took on our punishment. The very God that created us…became the very One to die for us. And the Bible says, He rose again…showing us that He had conquered life and death…and that everything He taught, it was true. Jesus is God…and Jesus paved the way to our restoration…and the most beautiful thing about that message, it’s that He gives us that as a free gift. We don’t have to do anything to receive salvation…except repent and believe…and He’ll do the rest. He’ll take up residence in you…and He’ll begin to change you.

And so listen, I challenge you to take these next several minutes and just respond to that message. Repent and believe…place your trust and your faith in Jesus and let Him change everything about you this morning. And listen, you can do that right where you’re at…you don’t need to move…you can pray to Him right there…or you can come talk to me, I’ll be down front…but whatever you do, don’t leave this place today separated from Christ.

And so, whoever you are this morning…whatever you’re struggling with or whatever the Spirit’s placing on your heart…you take the next several minutes and just respond and we’ll close in just a moment.

[Prayer]