Healthy Excellence

Responsibilities

ILLUST: Rowing team (IMAGE)

READ 1 Thess 5:12-14

The Church, believers with the H/S - God’s outreach to the world

The visible presence of Christ today

Task? Make disciples, grow spiritually

Who are you here for?

You, or others?

The rest of this chapter/book - encouraging a church to grow

For a church to excel (like rowing team), need

Leader - Christ is the head, we got that

The tool (oars, boat) - We have the Word

A team, a working team - that’s us

Focus here - the people in the church - can’t grow/excel without people

The assumption is that a common goal is in view

Ownership, growth, community, responsibility

To “excel still more”

Start with? Appreciate the leaders in the church….

That would be easy to just say from here, but…

1) Responsibilities of Leaders

(Specifics not given here, generalities)

Work hard

Diligently labor

Work ethic, desire to do a good job

Support self

To not be a burden to a church

Most churches today are <100 people

47% of independent churches like ours, bi-vocational (work outside of the church)

(pastoring is NEVER the second job added for money)

Love the flock

Selflessness

The church (and its spiritual health) is typically more important to the pastor than to anyone else

Peter is told to, and tells other pastors to, “shepherd the flock among you…”

1 Peter 5:2 NASB95

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

Much here - shepherds were selfless, hard workers, not forced to do the work, serving God

For selfless reasons, they did not get wealthy doing the work

And did the hard work eagerly

Some days were easier than others

Instruct/Admonish - same word in v. 12 as in v. 14 (to give you instruction)

To “admonish/instruct” is to teach, with a depth led by the Spirit

noutheteo

noutheteo = corrective, caring communication

To guide toward understanding, with the purpose of being Christ-like

This is NOT punishment, it is corrective discipline

This IS the heart of Biblical counseling (nouthetic)

POINT - I am to give you instruction, based on God’s Word, to communicate correction in a caring way, to guide you toward Christ-likeness

And…Remain qualified - See 1 Timothy 3:1-7 (read and discuss each)

1 Timothy 3:1 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

God’s challenge to me

2) Responsibilities to All

Appreciate the leaders/pastors in the churches - this is a SINCERE REQUEST

Know what work is being done

Take opportunity to understand what goes into ministry

The thoughts, choices, decisions, purposes

Prayerfully follow the instruction and teaching

Respect the leaders

Hold leaders in high esteem - with love/selflessness

Admonish others - You now, admonish others - this is now URGED (stronger word use)

And it is brethren who are urged…

Be taught, so you can teach

Admonish who?

The unruly - those who demonstrate disorder, who are undisciplined spiritually

Teach them, caring, communicating correction

Encourage others - the fainthearted

Many think this Christian life is too hard, not worth it

They need YOUR encouragement

Who needs encouragement? Those who are DIScouraged

That is any one of us

Help - the weak, morally and spiritually

Offer and provide assistance

Be patient - with those you like most…NOPE

With everyone!

Long-tempered, not short-tempered (v. 15 will lean on this next time…)

God is patient with you...so…

3) Working Together

“Live in peace with one another” - easy, general, enough said??

Leaders - not rulers

Church members - prayerfully supportive

The Thessalonians needed reminders

Hope

Comfort

Paul was thrilled that the church was remaining strong in the middle of their world

They needed hope, and reminders of the Lord’s goodness

They needed encouragement, to keep going

And to be examples to others

To do all this

They needed to work together

?? ILLUST: Ever move a large piece of furniture through a doorway? Whose left, someone gets pinned…

This is an EASY passage to study through and figure out

Loaded with verbs, commands

Including me and you

Work hard

Give instruction

Appreciate leadership

Keep leaders in your prayers, think on what leaders do

Live in peace

Usually means putting your OWN interests lower in priority

Admonish

Encourage

Help

Patience

NEED GUIDANCE in how to help this church grow?

Here is your list…

OUR CHALLENGE - Closing

A healthy, growing church

I have to know and own my part

You have to know and own your part

We all have to ask - how important is this to us?

How much does the health of this church matter to you?

We like good health

We don’t always want the effort that goes into that health

Good church health is not accidental, not a coincidence

It was not an accident that the church in Thess was growing healthy

It took healthy surrender to Christ

It’s really not a fair option to just show up and enjoy the health that others are working at

Your effort is also needed

All the parts are here…but without the effort, growth will not occur

SO, HONESTLY….

The question is not - “So, who else can be doing this here?”

The question IS - “What is God expecting me to do?

That points to service and selflessness

As for how we function with each other: (SLIDE)

Am I appreciating and praying for those who lead me? Am I living at peace with my church family? Am I willing to lovingly correct someone who is wandering? Am I encouraging the discouraged? Am I helping the weak? Am I showing patience—even toward the person who tests my patience most?

EASY

Show up and hope to get something

To notice what’s missing or not quite right

To wait for someone else to serve

MATURE and CHALLENGING

Jesus did not save you in order to just save a seat here

Service and connection is important

Ask this again - who are you here for? (J - O - Y)

Look at this list

If everyone here is doing these the way you are…

What kind of church would this become?

I mean, right now, if YOU are the example in all these things, what would it look like if everyone did the same?

That is CONVICTING to me - to take seriously

TODAY

We stop looking around, and we look in the mirror

And we look up, and ask Christ how we can grow

Let’s not just leave here with good intentions

Identify someone you can encourage

Find someone you can help

Make peace where there is strife or tension

Pray for me as I pray for you

Accept correction

Step up to work for the Lord

LAST THING

Jesus loved this church enough to die for it

How much does this church, and its health, matter to us?

Our answer is not in what we say

Our answer will be seen in how we actually respond