A Parental Ministry

Good morning Church! We will be in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 as our text this morning if you would like to be turning in your copy of the scriptures. We will be continuing in Paul’s letter to the beloved church at Thessalonica.

Throughout scripture we see how God has given us examples and instruction on spiritual leadership. From the very beginning of creation, when Adam was set to name all the creatures that were created, and to care for the garden, to lead His family, and be responsible to God for HIs family, and the decisions He made. We look to the prophets that God established over Israel throughout the Old Testament, to the example of Jesus as He chose 12 disciples to follow Him, and then to go out as His final command, and make other disciples of all people. We see the structure in the early church, that certain men were chosen to be elders over the churches that had been spread from Jerusalem, and to help lead the people in the way of Christ.

We see Paul use metaphors for leaders throughout his letters, as a steward or household manager, as a bond slave, a herald, a teacher, soldier, or farmer. Even the most popular that many would recognize as that of a shepherd. That Christ is the Great Shepherd, and Pastors or Elders can be seen as under Shepherds to care for the sheep that Christ brings into the fold. Here in our passage today, Paul uses a different metaphor. While all of these metaphors paint vivid images of the different qualities required in leaders, Pauls example here paints a much more intimate picture.

I read this in the previous message, but thought it bears repeating this week as well. John Stott when writing of 1 Thessalonians 2 - 3 tells us that:

The Message of Thessalonians Introduction

Part of the abiding value of

Paul uses the metaphors of a mother and a father in this section of scripture. A much more intimate example, that demonstrates the heart a leader should have for the people that God has placed under him. It shows an example of the type of spiritual care that a leader should provide.

In his letter to the Galatians Paul used the metaphor of a mother also:

Galatians 4:19 ESV

19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

That just as a mother labors for hours in childbirth, and bears pain and great discomfort, Paul labors in the same way spiritually for the believers that He cares for so greatly.

In 1 Corinthians 4:15 Paul uses the metaphor of himself as a spiritual Father.

1 Corinthians 4:15 ESV

15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Paul was the human source that had taught them of spiritual life, and as a leader, God had placed him as a protector and teacher, just as a father is to be the protector for his family and teach his family.

These metaphors are something that hits home so much more to me now with having my son here. I talked about this before, but now we ensure that I lead our family in Family worship at night before bed. Some nights may look different than others, but I read a passage of scripture, I read from the catechism and the confession of faith, and I recite one of the historic creeds that speaks of our faith before praying over my family.

It is different now because I realize the role that God has given me as the spiritual head of my family more than ever before. It is my responsibility to pray the protection of God over my wife and my son every night. To lead them in the truth found in Scripture, and to ensure that I do not allow false teaching or doctrine that contradicts God’s Word to be in my house or influence them incorrectly.

It is Jessica’s role as a mother, to raise our son and teach him the truth of scripture as well. To be willing to give of her life to protect and care for him. To partner with me to raise him to follow God with all his heart, soul, and mind.

These images Paul paints of a Mother and Father role in how the leader cares for God’s people is intimate, and personal. It would have influenced the people in Thessalonica and shown the heart and passion that Paul had to care for them. The same passion that should be seen in the lives of anyone called to pastoral or spiritual leadership.

Paul spoke in the first 6 verses of this chapter of the virtues that He, Timothy, and Silas had shown as leaders in their lives. He spoke on tenacity, integrity, authority, accountability, and humility, but now Paul turns to the outward functions of the leader. The way the leader operates to minister the Gospel of God’s Word.

Charles Spurgeon called this an “All Round Ministry.” This meant a well rounded ministry of the Gospel. When looking at those that God has called into leadership, these traits and this caring attitude spoken about by Paul here, should be evidenced in their lives. I have been a part of multiple different churches over the years, I have been in leadership at churches over the years, and unfortunately I have seen a lack of this in many churches. I am so thankful for where God has placed me and Jessica now, that we have leaders that remind us every week they are there to serve us and care for us. That you have leaders leading this congregation, that care for you deeply and want to see you grow in Christ. Its not just a position or something that they feel they have to do, but they truly care for you.

That is what we do as the family of God also. I have no doubt of the love that is in this church between each and every person here for each other. I know the love we have between those at our church and I am thankful that it is extended to the blessing God has given in allowing me to have you as part of my church family as well. We are all very blessed that God brings the right people in our lives at the right times, and He creates a family that surrounds us all and supports us all. We are blessed that God brings leadership that exhibits the care that Paul talks about in this passage to lead in all truth, the people of God.

Our text is 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 and

this is the Word of our Sovereign God, to His people:

1 Thessalonians 2:7–12 ESV

7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

This is the Word of the Lord, Amen!

As we see in these verses Paul looks at ministry, and the method of how a leader should be, from the metaphor of:

A Mother (vs 7-9)

A Father (vs 10-12)

A MOTHER (vs 7-9)

“As mothers are absolutely and indisputably essential to the well being of children, so spiritual leaders who minister with a mother’s gentleness, intimate affection, sacrificial love, and unselfish labor are essential for the health of the church.” (John MacArthur)

Paul uses the metaphor of a mother first in these verses. There are different attributes a mother should have towards her children that should be seen within leaders. These attributes enable a mother to care for her children in the way God created her to be, and enable a leader to remain humble and care for the people God has entrusted to him, in the manner that he should.

GENTLENESS

The first attribute that Paul mentions here is that of gentleness. He starts this string with the important adversative, “but”. This is showing a contrast between the conduct of Paul and his colleagues, with the behaviour and conduct of false teachers. Paul is reminding the Thessalonians that instead of being deceptive or abusive in any manner, they proved themselves to be gentle.

Paul compares the gentleness they showed to that of a nursing mother. While I don’t have personal experience with nursing, I have gotten to see the experience through my wife taking care of our son. There is a certain amount of tenderness and care that goes into this act that would have been understood by the people of Thessalonica. Paul uses the phrase “her own children” to emphasize that the people of this church are his. He is not a nurse maid, or someone who is stepping in to care for someone else's children, but he has a real and personal connection and responsibility to care for the people. He felt the same feelings and care in caring for the spiritual needs of the people as a mother who is nursing her own baby.

I get to see and witness this gentleness and care in the image of my wife every day. The act of nursing and caring for our son takes a great deal of gentleness and care. It means that she is constantly giving of herself, and she is giving life itself to our son. The rich nutrients found in the milk that can only come from her give so much more life than anything else could give. She sacrifices constantly of herself, of her time, of her plans, sometimes of her sanity, to make sure he is taken care of first and foremost above her own needs. This image of gentleness in leadership contrasts greatly with that of the world. In the world leaders look to accomplish their own tasks, make their names greater, get their desires through using other people. In the church setting, in Godly leadership, we get the privilege of serving and caring for the needs of others, and seeing God’s desires accomplished in the lives of others. Just as a mother gives life to her child through nursing, the Christian leader brings life to those around them by serving and giving spiritual food.

The verb in this verse that is rendered “tenderly cares”, literally means to warm with body heat. The gentleness of the nursing mother who takes the child and warms it with her own body as it lays against her. This intimate gentleness was to illustrate the nurturing care the Thessalonians received from Paul.

INTIMATE AFFECTION

Paul continues in verse 8 talking about his fond affection for the people of Thessalonica. The natural movement from the gentleness of the mother that nurses and cares for her child, is the very reason for this care, love. The greek word here, homeriomai, is only used here in the New Testament and it means to long for someone passionately and earnestly. It is intended here to express an affection that is so deep that nothing else can surpass it. John MacArthur writes that this term or word was often inscribed on the ancient tombs of dead babies when parents wanted to describe their sad longing for a too soon departed child. This is beyond what the world would call affection. This is something deep that is rooted in the very being of the person. This affection was naturally given by God to the heart of every mother towards their child. God has given this same type of affection, supernaturally through His Holy Spirit, into the heart of righteous spiritual leaders.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Continuing in verse 8, Paul references Sacrificial Love when he states they not only imparted the Gospel of God, but their own lives. Not only did they impart their lives, but they were well pleased to do so. It was not just doing what God had instructed them to do, but they found the highest joy in their hearts because of the love they had for the people. When it says they came to impart the Gospel of God it means to share. It’s not just sharing as we think of giving something we have away and losing that item, but it means that you share while retaining a part. This is what happens when we share the Gospel, we are imparting the knowledge of the Gospel, we are sharing it but we do not lose a single part of it ourselves.

The Gospel of God is a full doctrinal statement that encompasses justification, sanctification, and glorification. I have heard it said as, God has saved us, is currently saving us, and will ultimately save us. God has saved us, is currently saving us, and will ultimately save us.

Through the power of the Gospel we have been justified before God. He has saved us. We are saved by grace alone and faith alone. We stand justified before God because Christ paid the penalty for our sins and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. He has saved us.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

God is currently saving us as we are working through the process of sanctification. We talked about this process a lot as we went through the letter of James. God is continually working in our lives to make us more in the image of Christ every day. He is continually working in our hearts, creating in us new hearts and new minds that seek after the things of God rather than the things of the world. Our actions and our words should continually be changing for the better, as we are sanctified, to be more like Christ.

Romans 8:29 ESV

29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

God will save us. Not only has God justified and sanctified us, but He will glorify us in the final day. God will finish the work that He has started in each of us, and will bring us to a completed state where we are with Him, and we are glorified in new bodies, and a new heaven, and a new earth. There will be no more sickness, no more pain, but we will be whole and complete in God.

Philippians 3:20–21 ESV

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy didn’t just share the Gospel, but they shared their entire lives. Just as a woman, who fulfills the Biblical role of motherhood, gives constantly of herself for her child. She sets aside her own life for the sake of her child. The nursing mother provides nourishing milk for her child and a mother takes care of every need her child has. Paul ministered to the people with this same attitude and intent because he writes, “they had become very dear to him.” This adds to the viewpoint of Pauls heart as a pastor, and the heart that leaders should have towards their church.

UNSELFISH LABOR

Paul finished the metaphor out pointing how labor and hardship summarize the ministry he had at Thessalonica. This reflects not just the love of a mother, but the toil and concern a mother carries for her child. When you think of all the things a good mother does for her child. She feeds them, changes them, takes care of every cut and scrape as they grow, she helps lead and teach them, and so many other things that we could probably name for hours what a good mother does for her children.

John Calvin said; “a mother….reveals a wonderful and extraordinary love, because she spares no trouble or effort, avoids no care, is not wearied by their coming and going, and gladly gives her own life blood to be drained.”

A mother does so much for her children, and doesn’t expect them to pay her for her services. She doesn’t write up a bill for everything she does and hand it to them with a due date to be paid. She does it because she loves them. Paul points out that they have done the same for the church at Thessalonica. They have labored and toiled and given every bit of their life to the church, and they did not ask the church for money for their labors.

Instead Paul made his living throughout his ministry making tents to be sold. He says he worked night and day to support himself and those that traveled with him. He received money from the church at Philippi to help with expenses as well. Paul knew that the church did not have the resources needed to support him. The church gave as generously as they could to help others, but this church specifically did not have great resources to call upon. Paul ministered to this church out of the love he had for them, no matter what it may cost personally.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy were pictured by Paul, as spiritual mothers because they showed gentleness, intimate affection, sacrificial love, and unselfish labor to the people of Thessalonica as they proclaimed the Gospel to the people. This is a model that is laid out for the minister even to this day. Wether it be a pastor, or a lay leader ,these are traits that God develops in those He calls to lead. There is something many don’t realize about ministry.

“The Ministry is a constant dying while the minister lives; the ministry is full of sorrow, yet at the same time full of rejoicing. The ministry is a walking contradiction. We might see with our eyes what looks to be very glamorous and exciting, but what we do not see is the sorrow, what we do not see is the dying; what we do not see is the agonizing. Paul writes as a mother who gave life and who gives of her own self to sustain life. In the same way the minister gives himself for the life of others.” (From the Pen of Pastor Paul, pg 85, Hyde)

A FATHER

Paul did not stop with the metaphor of the mother to show the traits of an effective, Godly, spiritual leader. He also describes the leader as a Father in verses 10-12. A true Godly Father is someone that will be a true man. We find the definition of what a true man is in 1 Corinthians 16:13.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

A true man is watchful and stands firm in the faith that God has given Him. He acts like a man, and he is strong. This doesn’t necessarily mean physical strength, while that is something we should strive for as men also, but he is strong in his convictions, he is strong in his work ethic, he is strong as a man of his word. The verb here to act like men, means to conduct yourself in a courageous way. This clarifies what Paul means by be strong. Be courageous. Don’t be afraid to stand for what is right and to fight against things that are evil. To be a Godly and effective spiritual leader, these are traits that should be seen. There are three areas that Paul points as a metaphor through a Father for how a spiritual leader should be.

THE FATHER AS A MODEL (vs 10)

The first in verse 10 is the Father as a model. Paul says both they and God are witnesses to the way he, Silas, and Timothy acted while they were there. That they were devout and upright and blameless. They set a standard of integrity to follow. They demonstrated what it meant to be a real man. This is the responsibility of the spiritual leader also. They should be a model of what God commands us to be, and should live out their lives to honor God. This is why Paul outlines the requirements for elders and deacons in 1 Timothy 3. There is a higher standard that someone is held to when they are used by God to lead and to be a model for others. This is once again why it was said in James that not many should be teachers. I have said it multiple times and will continue to say it over and over, when I step into this pulpit, or I stand before you ready to deliver the Word of God, to the people of God, there is a higher standard that I am held to.

There are many that do not hold the sacredness of the position of the pulpit in the view that they should. There is nothing holy about this piece of wood my Bible rests on, but there is something holy about the position that it represents, and too many fail to recognize that when they step behind it. I am not a great scholar, I am not a mighty man, I am nothing but a servant of Christ, and when I step into this position I have to remember that. It is only God working in and through me that makes any of this make sense. I am simply placed here to serve, not be served. That is the role of a Father as well. They put their family above themselves. They put their spouse before themselves. It is about what their family needs and their spouse needs before they handle what they need. They live out their lives to model a life of blamelessness, of integrity.

I think of this even more now that I have a son. I want to live a life that models for him what it means to be a man. What it means to follow God with all that I have. What it means to care and take care of his moms needs and his needs before my own.

There is a country song that I really love named, “Watching You” by Rodney Atkins. The song talks about him having to hit his brakes in traffic, his kids happy meal goes flying and he hears this little four year old say a “4 letter word.” When he asks his son where he heard that word the response is I’ve been watching YOU dad, I want to be like you. The singer gets back home and goes to the barn to pray for God to help him do better, then that night at bedtime his son kneels and prays talking to God “like he’s talking to a friend.” The man asks his son where he learned to pray like that. He tells him I’ve been watching you.

The spiritual leader should be a model for how the believer should live. The people they are leading should be able to look at them and see someone following Christ. This is why Paul said to imitate me and I imitate Christ. We don’t put our trust in man, we know that no one will be perfect, we don’t put our preachers or pastors or leaders on pedestals to be looked upon in awe, but we expect them to be models for how we as believers should live and conduct ourselves.

THE FATHER AS TEACHER AND MOTIVATOR (vs 11)

Paul continues in verse 11 that just as a father should encourage and instruct his child in things, Paul, Silas, and Timothy were doing the same for the church at Thessalonica. The Father should not just model behaviour but he should instruct or teach it and encourage his children in it.

There are the three verbs that Paul uses here to convey what Fathers do. Exhorting literally means “to call alongside” and is related to the noun used for the Holy Spirit in the Greek which means “one who comes alongside.” The father and the spiritual leader actually walk along side helping, and directing as they instruct. They do not leave the people to hear instruction and do it alone, but they walk alongside.

They also encourage them. This is extremely important in the life of the Christian. We go through our week surrounded by a world that hates God and the things of God. We may be stressed about finances, job, family, and a multitude of other things. We need encouragement daily. I don’t know about others but I have a tendency to brow beat myself, and put myself down often on things I do. I am blessed with a wife that corrects me on that, and encourages me that I am doing a good job.

Just as she encourages me, how much more should a father be encouraging his child as they learn and grow. We celebrate the milestones as they hit them, we encourage each new skill they learn, and we encourage them to walk with God and live for Him. When they feel they are not meeting the mark we encourage them and lift them up. We lift them up when the world knocks them down. This is what a spiritual leader should do as well. They care for their congregation and they should strive to lift them up and encourage them.

This is one reason I strive in every message I preach to remind you of the power of the Gospel, and God’s grace and mercy. We should not leave church feeling like we have been beat up and beat down. We should not leave time spent with other believers in community group, or wherever and feel discouraged. We should be constantly reminded of our hope in Christ and that HE HAS ALREAD COMPLETED THE WORK! We are called to walk in the completed work of Christ and to find our rest in Him. Jesus told us:

Matthew 11:28–30 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

We should be encouraged to lean in and find our rest in Christ, and to keep walking on the narrow path that leads to eternal bliss. Paul also reminds here that not only has he exhorted and encouraged them but that he has implored each one. Singling each person out individually. This word imploring in the Greek, is usually translated as testifying or witnessing. That Paul warns and implores each one individually not to stray from the right path, and to not walk the path that leads to destruction.

THE FATHER AS A PRODUCER (vs 12)

Paul concludes the Father metaphor with the product of all that a Father does for his child. That they would walk in a worthy manner. Paul says all of this is to produce a life in the believers under his care, that would be worthy of the God they serve. That their daily walk would reflect the grace and mercy of God, and bring glory to the God who had chosen them, who had looked through the ages and elected them, to be His sons and daughters. God through His grace grants faith and salvation and the result of that is entrance into God’s kingdom and His glory.

CLOSING

This world is not our home. As the old song says, we are just a passing through. Our goal, the product of our lives, is to enter into that kingdom of which God has already made us citizens, even though we have not seen it. The goal of Godly, spiritual leadership, is to lead the people of God in a way that leads them to this goal. There is a balance that Paul shows in these passages. Too often we see leadership that is not balanced in this way. The leader is either too loose or too strict. They may be compassionate and tender and gentle, but they may not lead lives that are blameless and pure and uncompromising. There must be a balance. There must be the traits seen here in the mother as well as the leading, exhorting, encouraging, that is seen in the father. Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

“These efforts lead their congregation to live in a way that honors God, who has called them to His eternal kingdom and glory. (John MacArthur)

The minister serves God, and the people of God, by proclaiming the Gospel message and by loving people. It is never to point to ourselves, if someone is claiming to be a leader and their ministry points to themselves, instead of God then they are a wolf in sheep's clothing, and you should run far from them. It is all to point to Jesus Christ and His work. He is the chief Shepherd.

Christ has done the work, He has completed the task, and He has obtained salvation for all that the Father gives Him. That is our rest, that is our hope, and that is what we proclaim. We seek to glorify God and not ourselves and the heart of the pastor, the heart of the leader, should reflect what Paul has shown us here in how they interact and lead the people of God, to know God more, and to follow Him with all they have.

Lets pray

PRAYER

Father, I thank you for those you have placed in our lives, whether it be Pastors, evangelists, small group leaders, lay leaders, whoever it is that pours themselves into our lives and our spiritual walk. Thank you for giving us those that care so deeply for us. I pray that You would keep Your hand on every minister that proclaims the truth of Your Gospel, and that You would strengthen and lift them up to continue to lead Your people. Father, let us encourage each other, and be Your hands and feet in each others lives to love and care for each other, while also encouraging each other to stand firm in our faith. Let our lives that we live be a testament of Your grace and mercy to the world around us. Don’t let us fall into paths or practices that bring dishonor to You, but keep us on the path You have set before each one of us, to follow You with all that we have. Let us fix our hearts, minds, and souls on the things of You and You alone, in Jesus name. Amen

BENEDICTION

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Let us go from this place today and as we go through our days and our weeks, encourage and exhort each other to stand upright and true, and to hold to the faith that has been entrusted to us. Amen!