Everyday

Increase and Overflow: Everyday

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

[slide] Mark Twain:

“It ain’t the parts of the Bible that I can’t understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.” And all God’s people said, “Amen.”

We know what he meant. You can spend years studying difficult Bible passages and come away more discouraged than when you started. Even the great apostle Peter confessed that some things Paul wrote were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:16).

Or you can ponder the simple words of Jesus:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Luke 6:31).

That’s the sort of thing Mark Twain was thinking about. There is nothing tricky about the words. There are no translation problems. It’s the Golden Rule for how we treat other people.

But how do we put the Golden Rule into practice?

We face the same challenge when we come to our text. 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. It teaches us how to love others and how to live intentionally so our lives win the respect of outsiders. We need this message because the church has lost its witness to the world. Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost sight of what we might call “everyday Christianity.” Even though we live in a high-tech world, the needs of the heart have not changed. People still want to know, “Where is the message that can change my life, forgive my sins, and give me a fresh start?”

It’s a simple little passage, but we need to hear what God is saying to us today. How do we Increase and Overflow Every Day? Our passage has three challenges for us today. Let’s jump in!

[slides] Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more (1 Thess. 4:9-10 ).

What Paul gives us here is not a program for religious success, but a vision of sanctification worked out in everyday life. This passage reminds us that God is not only sovereign over salvation, but sovereign over sanctification. He is shaping His people through ordinary obedience—through love, quiet faithfulness, and honest labor. This is what Reformed theology has always affirmed: grace does not merely save us from hell; it trains us to live godly lives in the present age (Titus 2:11–12).

[slide] 1. Have LOVE in a world full of HATE

Paul begins with a simple reminder. Let me read it from the ESV:

[slide] Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you (1 Thess. 4:9a ESV).

That’s a funny way to put it, isn’t it? “I don’t need to remind you about this, but I will anyway.” The word for “brotherly love” is φιλαδελφία. It refers to the love of family members for one another. It’s a compound word – two words joined together.

- philos, which means “tender affection, fondness, devotion.” It’s a word that implies an obligation to love.

- adelphos, usually translated “brother,” literally means “one born of the same womb.”

So the word philadelphia literally means “tender affection owed to those born from the same womb.” It’s easy to understand why Paul chose this word to describe brotherly love. All Christians have been “born of the same womb” through the new birth. Jesus said in John 3:3, “You must be born again.” To be born again means to receive new life through personal faith in Jesus Christ. It means to be “born from God’s womb.”

Everyone who belongs to Jesus belongs to me. I owe all of them philadelphia, tender affection and true devotion.

This kind of love is not natural—it is supernatural. Scripture teaches that we are not born loving one another this way. By nature, we are lovers of self (2 Timothy 3:2). But when God regenerates the heart—when He causes us to be born again by sovereign grace—He places within us new affections.

Brotherly love is evidence of regeneration, not the cause of it. We love because we have been loved first (1 John 4:19). This is not moral improvement; this is new creation life flowing out of union with Christ.

Note three facts about this brotherly love:

[slide] … for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other (1 Thess. 4:9b NIV’11).

1. God is the one who teaches us about this kind of love

This is covenant language. God Himself writes His law upon our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). He does not merely command love from outside us; He produces love within us by His Spirit. This is why Paul can say he doesn’t need to teach them—God already has.

The word translated “taught by God” appears only here in the New Testament. The idea isn’t like a lesson we learn in a classroom but rather a truth learned through relationship.

You learn to love by associating with loving people. Love isn’t taught; it’s caught.

We love because God is love. It’s a family trait. That’s why Paul doesn’t have to teach it. To be a Christian is to enter a fellowship and a family of love.

Look at verse 10:

[slide] And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia (1 Thess. 4:10a NIV’11).

2. Second fact about brotherly love: It reaches out to love all God’s family.

Underline that phrase—“all of God’s family.” That’s not easy to do. Most of us love some of the family, some love most of the family. But all the family? That’s a tough assignment.

Let’s be clear about this. We are to love all true believers everywhere all the time. That’s hard because most of us have some inner reservations.

There will always be points of difference among God’s people. Believers have disagreed on important issues for the last 2000 years. I don’t believe we must abandon our doctrinal or cultural distinctives. But if we take Paul seriously, then we must seek to love other Christians who may see the world quite differently than we do.

The love of God is not limited—not by nation or tribe or tongue or custom or clothing or race or politics or caste or any other human condition. When the love of God captures us, our hearts will be as big as his—reaching to the ends of the earth.

Look at the last half of verse 10:

[slide] Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more (1 Thess. 4:10b NIV’11).

3. The third fact about brotherly love: it should always be increasing and overflowing.

Increase and Overflow!

What does it mean that our love should increase? It means that we should overflow in our:

Sympathy for those in need, Patience for those who are struggling, and Tolerance toward those with whom we disagree.

The most powerful recommendation for any church is this–that the members love one another! When the unchurched are asked what they want in a church, the answer is always the same: They are looking for a caring church. Not just a friendly church or a relevant church or a church with plenty of programs for the kids. And not just a church where the Bible is clearly taught. Don’t misunderstand me – all those things are important, even essential! BUT, as good as those things are, they don’t touch the heart cry of this generation for a place where they can be deeply loved.

As Baptists, we are a confessional people. We care deeply about doctrine, church membership, and the ordinances. But sound doctrine must always lead to sincere love.

We do not unite at the expense of truth—but neither do we weaponize truth at the expense of love. Reformed theology teaches us that God has one elect people, one bride, one redeemed family spread across cultures, denominations, and traditions. If Christ shed His blood for them, we must open our hearts to them.

C.S. Lewis once said that “we may talk so much about loving people in general that we love no one in particular.” So, let’s get particular.

Man, we are right in the thick of another political season in America. America is deeply divided: politically, philosophically, and morally. And many Christians seem deeply divided. Some Christians can’t fathom how other Christians could support or vote for “that person.” In this case, “that person” might be the winner or the loser. It depends on how you vote! Some of this comes with the territory. We shouldn’t expect Christians to always agree on how to vote. But in times like these, when feelings run deep and tempers are short, we must extend grace to each other. Even though I may not understand the way another believer votes, if you are my brother or sister in Christ, we share a common faith that runs deeper than who happens to occupy the White House.

[slide] Renew Graphic

Ebc: our political allegiance is clear. Allegiance to King Jesus is the core allegiance of our lives. We made that decision when we were saved into Christ. We pledged that, from that day forward, we would think the way King Jesus teaches us to think, we would say what King Jesus leads us to say, and we would do what King Jesus commands us to do. We pledged full allegiance to King Jesus above all others.

And that kind of clarity is essential in a political climate that tries to make your political views the most important thing about you.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not at all neutral about how the Lion of Judah will lead us to vote. Politics have consequences, and there is not a moral equivalence when it comes to different political views, whether it be about abortion, human sexuality, religious freedom, health care policy, inflation, border policy, the appointment of judges or what’s best for the poor.

But we are more convinced than ever that our biggest national problems (and there are many!) run much, much deeper than the Democrat or Republican platform can reverse.

Jesus is not only better than the elephant and donkey, but He’s also better at changing things for the better than the elephant and the donkey are capable of doing. Way better.

Our daily choice must be to place our faith and hope in the Lion of Judah and to increase and overflow in our love for one another, just as God has taught us!

a variation of an old Chinese proverb,

If there is Jesus in the soul, There the Holy Spirit will be in the person.

If the Holy Spirit is in the person, There will be godliness in the house.

If there is godliness in the house, There will be more righteousness in our communities.

If there is more righteousness in our communities, Jesus and his ways will be the hope of the nation.[1]

So vote. And vote as you believe Jesus would have you vote. And we will not despair, will not lose heart, we will trust in the Lord, and we will love as Christ loved us.

There is a second exhortation we must take seriously.

[slide] … and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you (1 Thess. 4:11 NIV’11).

[slide] 2. Live QUIETLY in a world full of NOISE

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. The NLT says, “Make it your goal.” This is such a strange message to our ears. How many of you just think about life and you go, “My ambition is to live a quiet life.” the biblical doctrine of vocation—the truth that every lawful calling is a calling from God. God is glorified not only in pulpits but in workshops, kitchens, offices, classrooms, and fields.

A quiet life is not an insignificant life. It is a life submitted to God’s providence, trusting that He places us exactly where He wants us for His glory.

Because most of what I hear and see is people who say, “I wanna speak to the crowds. I have a message to the world. I have a voice that needs to be heard.” And then Scripture says, “make it your ambition to live a quiet life.” What's he talking about here? Because we're living in a time when it's assumed that the virtuous thing to do is get bigger and bigger crowds, a bigger platform and then you're a successful believer, you're a great Christian because of all these people you're leading.

Now, I'm not saying not to proclaim the gospel. Because Paul has already pointed out how the Thessalonians faith is being proclaimed all around the world. But then, to the same group of people he goes, “I want you to make it your ambition to live a quiet life.”

This is the answer to the problem of restlessness. We need this admonition because our ambition tends to be noisy, to make a splash, to make a name for ourselves, to get ahead, to rise above the crowd.

Eugene Peterson translates this phrase with two words: “Stay calm.” It means to be less frantic and more settled in your life. I ran across the following quote: “You will never be happy until you learn to enjoy what you already have.” Those are good words for us to hear. We spend thousands of dollars seeking happiness when the answer is learning to enjoy what God has already given us.

We live in hurried times, with little sense of stillness and rest. We work harder to achieve less. We are a generation of hyperactive, overgrown kids who stay perpetually keyed up on Adderall, caffeine, sugar, and constant streams of entertainment.

We live in a hurry-up, get-it-done-now, and go-on-to-the-next-thing world. We measure our success by how much we accomplish each day. No wonder we’re restless, anxious, tense, nervous, and easily distracted. We talk but have nothing to say; we listen without hearing a word.

Peter Marshall was Chaplain of the United States Senate in the years just after World War II. He is remembered for his prayers that opened each session. Here is the prayer he prayed on May 8, 1947:

Help us to do our very best this day and be content with today’s troubles, so that we shall not borrow the troubles of tomorrow. Save us from the sin of worrying, lest stomach ulcers be the badge of our lack of faith. Amen.

Then, Paul says, “Mind your own business.” Matter of fact. I love that.

This is the answer to the problem of meddlesomeness. We all know people like this. They are busybodies who feel called to mind their own business–and yours too. They believe they have a right to invade your privacy. This is a perverted view of brotherly love. One commentary said “the busybody’s compulsive itch (is) to set other people right.”

If I take proper care of my own affairs, I won’t have the time or energy to worry too much about what others do or say.

Then Paul tells the believers: “Work with your hands.”

This is the answer to the problem of idleness. Paul practiced what he preached. He worked with his hands as a tentmaker so he could support himself while he preached the gospel. Even though he was highly educated, he didn’t mind hard work, and he didn’t find manual labor embarrassing.

The upper classes of Greece despised manual labor. That’s why they owned so many slaves. But Christianity brought in a new ethic based on personal responsibility and hard work.

Let me ask you: What did Jesus do when he was 23? All we really can deduce is that he was a Carpenter? What about 25? What about 28? I mean we're talking about Jesus – how is it that we don't know what he was doing when he was 23, 25 or 28? It’s almost like he made it his ambition to live a quiet life and to work hard with his hands. The Son of God spent the majority of His earthly life doing ordinary work. That should forever silence the idea that only “spiritual” labor matters.

Work is not a result of the Fall; it is a gift from God. Sin made work hard, but Christ redeems it. When we work honestly and diligently, we reflect the character of our Creator.

Someone said, “Those who get up in the morning with nothing to do but be religious are generally a great nuisance.” Who makes a real impact for Christ in the world? The person who gets up in the morning, goes to his/her job and works all day with honesty and integrity. Or the mom who pursues her daily tasks at home, raising/teaching kids with joy.

There is no greater testimony than the Christian mechanic at his bench, the Christian teacher in the classroom, the Christian secretary at the desk, the Christian nurse at the hospital, or the Christian accountant keeping the books with honesty, integrity, faithfulness and diligence.

Most of us don’t see our daily work as a way to worship God. But it is. What you do on Monday is just as sacred in the eyes of the Lord as what you do in church on Sunday.

[slide] … so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody (1 Thess. 4:12 NIV’11).

[slide] 3. Make a DIFFERENCE in a world full of SKETPICS

Paul wraps up our passage with a word about the impact this kind of life makes.

1. You will win the respect of outsiders

The watching world is skeptical of Christianity—but they are still watching. A persevering, faithful, humble life gives credibility to the gospel we proclaim.

This is not salvation by works—but it is salvation that works. Good works do not save us, but they do adorn the doctrine of God our Savior (Titus 2:10).

Remember, you are the only Bible someone will ever read. You are the only Christian someone will ever meet. What do people read, hear, and see when they look at your life?

The lowliest occupation becomes a powerful sermon when it is done with dignity, honesty, and faithfulness. The common man who does his common job with uncommon grace and uncommon energy will never lose his self-respect and will win respect for the church of King Jesus.

When we show that our faith makes us better workers, truer friends, better neighbors, kinder men and women, then we are really preaching.

2. You will not be dependent on others

There is a good kind of independence we should all strive for Biblical independence is not self-sufficiency; it is stewardship under God. We work not because we trust ourselves, but because we trust God to supply our needs through faithful obedience.

. It’s the kind that comes from paying your bills on time so you don’t have to steal, borrow money, or run up a huge credit card debt. There is nothing wrong with accepting charity in a time of need. But to come to depend on it and to think it is owed you is a terrible sin.

If we are dependent on God, and care for one another as God’s church family, the results will be freedom and well-being. We will be free to live our lives as God instructs, and healthy because we are not following the same self-destructive patterns in the world.

The Christian life is not about spiritual fireworks—it is about faithful obedience fueled by sovereign grace. When God’s people love deeply, live quietly, and work diligently, the gospel is put on display.

This is everyday Christianity. This is Increase and Overflow. And this is how God uses ordinary people to bring extraordinary glory to His name.

If we increase & overflow every day as God’s family: loving well, living quietly and working diligently – then we stand to make an impact on a watching world.

ALTAR CALL – “Come to Christ”

Brothers and sisters, before we leave today, we must respond to what God has said to us.

This passage has shown us what everyday Christianity looks like—loving deeply, living quietly, working faithfully. But let me be clear: you cannot live this life apart from Christ. This kind of love does not come from willpower. It flows from a changed heart.

The Bible says that by nature we are dead in our sins. We are not born loving God or loving others the way we should. But God, in His mercy, sent His Son—Jesus Christ—to live the life we could not live and to die the death we deserved. On the cross, Jesus bore the wrath our sins earned. And on the third day, He rose again, proving that sin and death had been defeated.

Salvation is not found in trying harder. It is found in repenting of sin and trusting fully in Jesus Christ alone.

So today, I want to speak to three groups of people.

1. To Those Who Have Never Truly Come to Christ

You may attend church. You may know the language. You may even admire Jesus. But if you have never turned from your sin and trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior, today is the day of salvation.

The Bible says:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

If the Holy Spirit is stirring your heart, do not resist Him. You don’t clean yourself up to come to Jesus—you come to Jesus to be made new.

In just a moment, we will stand and sing. If you need Christ, I invite you to come. I would love to pray with you and show you from Scripture how you can know you belong to Him.

2. To Believers Who Have Grown Cold or Distracted

Some of you know Christ, but your love has grown thin. Your life has become noisy, restless, distracted. You’ve been saved by grace, but you’ve drifted from joy, contentment, and faithful obedience.

The Lord is calling you back—not in condemnation, but in mercy.

If God has spoken to you today about loving more deeply, living more quietly, or working more faithfully, this altar is open. Come and ask the Lord to renew your heart and strengthen your walk.

3. To Those Who Need Prayer or Church Commitment

Some of you are carrying burdens you weren’t meant to carry alone. Some of you need prayer. Some of you may be sensing God leading you toward baptism, church membership, or obedience you’ve been delaying.

Don’t ignore the voice of the Lord.

Church, salvation is the work of God—but God uses invitations. He uses moments like this. He uses the preaching of the Word and the prompting of the Spirit.

So as we stand and sing, you come. Come to Christ. Come for prayer. Come in obedience.

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 3:15)

Let’s stand together.