An Essential Disposition of the Gospel

What’s your secret? I have been asked that question a lot recently. I have been asked that question by strangers, by family members, by other pastors, and by people here in this church. What is your secret? Secret about what? Well over the last year and a half I have determined that I needed to loose some weight. And I have had some success in this area- I have almost lost seventy pounds. And when you loose almost an entire person’s worth of weight people notice and they come up to you and they ask- “What is your secret?” What is the secret formula that you have discovered that has let you loose all that weight? Do you know what I tell them? I say, “shhh... don’t tell anyone else- it’s diet and exercise.” Who knew right? And then people think about my answer for a second or two, and they say something like this- “You know it’s more of a lifestyle change than anything right?” And I say, “Yes, that’s right.” Everyone wants to know the secret formula and the next diet fad, but ultimately it really comes down to a change in your mindset, a change in the culture of your life and your thinking, it comes down to a change in your disposition.

A lot of Christians treat their spiritual life exactly like this. They know that spiritually they are not in the best of shape, and so they desperately seek for the latest secret- the latest book, or the latest program, or the latest spiritual post going around on Facebook. But the truth is- there is no secret formula! It’s is really more of a lifestyle change, a change in your thinking, your culture, your disposition.

Take the Great Commission for example. We all know we need to get into spiritual shape when it comes to making disciples in our Jerusalem. Let me ask you this, besides Jesus, who was the best disciple maker in the NT? Most of us would probably immediately think of the Apostle Paul? Wouldn’t it be great if you were as good at making disciples for Jesus as the Apostle Paul was? Do you think that anyone could ever be that good again? Some of us are tempted to think, “NO! Paul was an apostle. I am not an apostle therefore I can never be that good. I don’t have the same magic or secret formula for making disciples as the Apostle Paul did.” Well what does Scripture say about this idea?

Look with me at I Thessalonians 2:5-6

1 Thessalonians 2:5–6 KJV 1900

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

Now think about what Paul is telling the believers in Thessolonica. The example of the church in Thessolonica is perhaps the greatest example of successfully doing the Great Commission in the entire Bible. It is the model of what doing the Great Commission should look like. Let me say that again- It is the most successful example we have in all of Scripture. Let that truth sink it.

How was Paul able to be so successful? Paul, “What is your secret?”

Well- Paul tells us. First he tells us what it wasn’t. The “secret” to his success in winning souls for Christ and making them into disciples of Jesus was NOT:

Flattering Words

Pretext of Greed

Glory of men

As apostles of Christ

Think about that last one- Paul says in effect, we did not throw our weight around as apostles of Christ. In other words- it was not the office of apostleship that was the “secret” to their success. If fact it had nothing to do with the Great Commission work that took place there in the church.

So what was it? Paul- tell us your secret! Well, there is no secret formula, there’s no pill, or program, or plan that magically produces these kinds of results. In fact it’s really more a lifestyle change, its a change in your thinking, in the culture of your life, it is a change in your disposition.

What is this disposition?

Paul explained to the Thessalonian believers the reason for his success in making disciples, in doing the Great Commission was the mindset of a nursing mother for her own children.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV 1900

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

1 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB95

7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.

Folks, I am here today to tell you that you can be just as successful a disciple maker as the Apostle Paul. And you don’t need to know the latest secret formula, what you need is a change in your disposition- you need the mindset of a nursing mother for her own children.

How do we get that kind of mindset? Paul tells us in vv. 7-9.

I. We need to carefully think through Paul’s illustration (v. 7)

1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV 1900

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

ἀλλʼ ἐγενήθημεν ⸀νήπιοι ἐν μέσῳ ὑμῶν.

BUT we became gentle among you

ὡς ἐὰν τροφὸς

as if a nursing mother

θάλπῃ τὰ ἑαυτῆς τέκνα*,

might tenderly care for her own child,

BUT (strong contrast)- NOT APOSTLESHIP, that was not the key to our success

What was the key?

We were- we became (state of being) / we proved to be gentle among you-

Gentle- kind toward someone

2 Timothy 2:24 KJV 1900

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

Among- in the midst of you

How exactly were you gentle?

Simile- AS IF a nursing mother, not just a nurse, but we supply the idea of mother because this nurse in the original language is said to:

θάλπῃ τὰ ἑαυτῆς τέκνα*,

might tenderly care for her own child,

So, let’s think through this simile. How gentle is a nursing mother to her own child? How much tender care does a nursing mother have for her own child?

Well, a picture is worth a thousand words right?

Moms- this is why we celebrate mother’s day- no one is more gentle, more tender, no one cares for us more deeply than our mothers. And we honor you for that love.

Don’t you find it strange that the Apostle Paul attributes his success in making disciples of the Thessalonian believers to having the mindset of a nursing mother for her own children? If Paul was here now and he was up here teaching a seminar on Biblical Disciple Making is this what you would expect to hear come out of his mouth? You want to be successful at reaching lost people for Christ and making them into disciples of Jesus? Well, first you need the mindset, the disposition of gentleness, tenderness, care- just like a nursing mother for her own child. Weird right?

Folks, How do we get this kind of mindset? How do we change the entire culture of our thinking to better model the Apostle Paul?

II. We must carefully think through Paul’s application (v. 8)

Paul didn’t love the Thessalonians exactly like a nursing mother- that would be weird. It’s an illustration. It’s like the gentle tender care of a mother, but not exactly like it.

If we want to develop this kind of mindset, this kind of disposition or this kind of culture in our lives then we need to carefully think through how the love that Paul had for them actually played out in his ministry. What exactly did this kind of mindset produce in Paul’s disciple-making ministry?

Well, Paul tells us in v. 8

1 Thessalonians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

8 οὕτως ⸀ὁμειρόμενοι ὑμῶν ⸁

Having so fond an affection for you

To have a strong yearning, long for τινός someone

εὐδοκοῦμεν μεταδοῦναι ὑμῖν οὐ μόνον τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ

we were willing- better delighted/well pleased

Matthew 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

So this fond affection caused Paul to be well pleased to do what/

to share with you not only the gospel of God

ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ἑαυτῶν ψυχάς,

BUT also our very lives (souls)

διότι ἀγαπητοὶ ἡμῖν ⸀1ἐγενήθητε*.

Because you became very dear (beloved) to us.

So Paul’s disposition, his mindset of the gentle tender care of a nursing mother for her own child, cause Paul to do two things in the lives of these Thessalonians.

He shared the gospel with them- Paul had such a love / or a fond affection for these people, not only did he give the gospel, but he was well pleased, he was delighted to give them the gospel. It wasn’t a chore, it wasn’t something that someone had to twist his arm to do- we was well pleased to give them the gospel.

Do you delight in giving people the gospel? Of course pastor- nothing is more delightful than telling people about Jesus. We sing the song- I love to tell the Story don’t we? When is the last time you told an unsaved person (outside of the walls of your home, and outside of the walls of your church)- when is the last time you shared the gospel with someone? I handed the lady at the gas station a tract the other day, you might be thinking. But did YOU actually share the gospel with them? When was the last time you loved an unsaved person enough to delight in sharing Christ with them?

Paul didn’t stop there, not only did he delight in sharing the gospel with them, but

2. He was delighted to share his very soul

What does it mean to share your soul with someone? How do you do that? Does that mean that, like Paul in Rom 9 we can say,

Romans 9:3 KJV 1900

3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

Well it might mean that, but I don’t think that is what Paul is saying here. For starters, what good would that do anyone? The Bible is clear, that every person will give an account of his or her own deeds. I cannot have my soul trade places with anyone else soul.

Ezekiel 18:20 KJV 1900

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

So what does it mean that Paul delighted to share his very soul with these Thessalonian believers?

Mark 8:34–37 KJV 1900

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Sharing your soul or your life with someone involves denying yourself. It involves picking up your cross- it might cost your something, it might be painful, it might involve suffering. But you do it anyway- you deny yourself, pick up your cross, and your follow Jesus Christ. This is the radical call of being a disciple maker for Jesus Christ.

If you want your life to matter for eternity- that is if you want to save or keep your life guess what you have to do? You need to give it away or loose it for Jesus’ sake and for the sake of the gospel.

Paul could have done anything with his life. He could have made lots of money, and gone into early retirement, and spent his days in the sunshine on a boat in peace and quiet. But he didn’t. Instead he traveled halfway around the known world to a city called Thessalonica, and he endured persecution and hardships and he labored night and day. Why? For the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was delighted to share with these Thessalonian believers his very life so that they might be reached with the gospel and that they might become disciples of Jesus Christ. He denied what he wanted, they way he wanted to live his life, he picked up his cross, and he gave his life away for the sake of the gospel.

Illustration- We have six boys, our youngest son is 9 months old. As we were preparing for the birth of our son we thought, we got this, we are old pro’s at this. No problem. Then little Timothy came along and he really struggled as a new born to nurse properly. He would take over an hour to nurse and he would cause my wife a considerable amount of pain in the process. One time when she was feeding the baby, her eyes and her face were screwed up in pain, and she said it was like someone was prying her fingernails off her hands. How would you like it if you had to sit down and willingly let someone take a pair of needle nose pliers and one by one pry your fingernails off of your fingers? Any takers? OK, now imagine that you had to do that every 2-3 hours for an hour. Everyday for weeks at a time. Any takers? Guess who was willing to do that? My wife was? Why was she willing to do that? (Picture) She was not only willing, she was well pleased to do it. She had to do it in the middle of the night multiple times a night. It was like our little precious baby was sucking the life out of her. And she was well pleased to share her very life with our little baby. Why? She had the right disposition, she had the right mindset, she had cultivated the right culture to her life.

Why was Paul so eager and delighted to share the gospel, and not only the gospel but also his very life as well?

Look at the end of v. 8-

because ye were dear unto us.

διότι ἀγαπητοὶ ἡμῖν ⸀1ἐγενήθητε*.

Because you became very dear (beloved) to us.

Do you love lost people this way? Do you love lost people enough to share with them the gospel? When is the last time you were well please to share the gospel with someone in your Jerusalem? Do you love people enough to share with them not only the gospel, but also your very life as well? Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus? Are you willing to give away your own life for the sake of the gospel?

How do we get that kind of mindset?

III. We must become imitators of Paul’s example (v. 9)

We have thought about Paul’s illustration, and his personal application. Now, we need to consider what specific steps did Paul take to put this mindset, this disposition into practice?

Paul tells us in v. 9

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NASB95

9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

How did Paul spend his life for the Thessalonians? How did he deny himself, take up his cross and follow Christ and give away his life for the sake of the gospel?

He labored and endured hardship by working night and day-

Paul endured the hard work of manual labor, making tents, this was no easy job. It was hard, demanding and time consuming. Here Paul says that they worked night and day. The normal work day was from sunrise to sunset (day to night). But Paul reverses this- he says night to day. This probably means that he got up before dawn and worked throughout the day. How did Paul use the money he earned? How did Paul his time and his talents and his energy? His very life? Working night and day, to do what? proclaim to them the gospel.

How did Paul find time for the ministry of the gospel? If he is working night and day, when did he do his great commission work? Most likely, as Paul was working making tents in and around the unsaved people of Thessolonica he proclaimed the gospel. He went to where the lost people were to be found, got busy working besides them- getting to know them, making friends of them, and while he was doing this he naturally in the every patterns of life proclaimed to them the gospel of God. It wasn’t easy, it took time, and effort, and it might have been uncomfortable for Paul to do this- but this was exactly what the great commission required of him.

There was no secret to Paul’s success. Paul was simply doing what Jesus told him to do- the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19 KJV 1900

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Paul went to the lost people- he did try to get the lost people to come to him. The great commission means we need to go in our Jerusalem (not invite them to us). And Paul wasn’t just interested in giving them the gospel. He didn’t stop there. He worked diligently to make them into disciples of Jesus. He stayed with them and he taught them what he knew, he tried to replicate himself in the Thessalonians so they could do exactly what he was doing- and it worked. And he didn’t use the latest secret program to do, he didn’t use VBS to do it, he didn’t use tracts to do it. He went to where lost people were, he formed relationships with them working in and with them, and the proclaimed to them the gospel, and then he taught them what he knew so they could do the same exact thing- in other words Paul did the Great Commission.

Yeah, but pastor you said it wasn’t a program, it was a disposition, it was a mindset. Paul had the gentle tender care of a nursing mother for her own children. I don’t have that. So I can’t do what Paul did.

How many of you honestly can say right now I have the same gentle tender loving heart of a nursing mother for her children toward the lost people in my Jerusalem? You would be well pleased to give them not only the gospel but your very lives because they are very dear to you?

Can any of us say that?

OK, How do we get that?

How did Paul get that kind of mindset? You say, that’s easy he already had it. I don’t. I need to wait until God gives it to me and then I’ll go. Is that really how Paul did it?

Look at the Scriptures again.

1 Thessalonians 2:7 KJV 1900

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

We became this way- it didn’t start this way, it happened in the process of time- how?

Among you (lit. in your midst) it happened as we were in your midst.

Her own children- not someone else’s child, her own child, there was a personal relationship

1 Thessalonians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

This fond affection- this willingness/delight to give them the gospel and their own lives happened why?

Because you became very dear (beloved) to us.

1 Thessalonians 2:9 NASB95

9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

This disposition happened as they worked alongside the Thessalonians night and day building relationships and giving them the gospel- in the process God gave them the tender gentle affection of a nursing heart for her own children. The text does not say they sat around and prayed until God did this in their heart and then they went. No, they just went, and they built redemptive relationships with lost people and the right disposition happened naturally, organically- just like it should.

Illustration- This happens every time for me. We find out that we are going to have a baby. You process the information, you celebrate, you wait nine months. And you see your wife’s tummy getting bigger and bigger and you see the baby kick and have the hiccups, and you know you will love this new little baby with all your heart, but it becomes almost surreal. You know you are going love your baby, but that affection hasn’t really grown in your heart yet. And then the day of the birth arrives. And that magic moment happens when you get to see your baby and hold your baby for the first time. And from that moment you can’t imagine life without him. (picture)- how could you not love that face? Why do you love him so much? Because he is your own child. I got the privilege of holding little baby Callan the other day in the hospital for the first time. And I fell in love with that little guy, but the kind and content and degree of love that I have for my own child is different in every way. Why? The relationship is different.

When you pray for the lost people in your Jerusalem how do you pray for them? Do you pray something like this, “Lord give me a burden for souls!” And it never really works does it? You may feel guilty that you are not doing more to win souls for Christ, but you don’t really love them like a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children do you?

If I asked you right now to think of five unsaved people, outside of the walls of your home and your church- five unsaved people in your Jerusalem- could you do it? Now, can you picture their faces?

What if you purposely went into your Jerusalem to build relationships with unsaved people. Now your prayer is not, “Lord give me a burden for souls,” its “Lord I pray that Sam and Alex and Kate and Pat and John would get saved.” Now imagine that you have over the period of months or years become good friends with these people. They are no longer just numbers to be added to your church, or trophies to be told in a testimony time- but people you have worked alongside and have had in your home. People you have laughed with and cried with and prayed your heart out for and by God’s grace along the way you were privileged to give them the gospel. You were delighted to give them the gospel you were well pleased to do it, and not only that you were willing to give them your very lives as well. You poured your time and money and energy into winning them to Christ. Now imagine after years of building relationship with them they trust Christ and they become your own spiritual children. Do you think then God might give you the right disposition? Do you think then it might be possible to have the gentle tender care of a nursing mother for her own children? And you didn’t get it by hiding in the walls of your homes and asking God to give it to you did you? NO, you went into your Jerusalem and you built redemptive relationships for the gospel. You worked and you labored and you endured hardship- and somewhere along the way God transformed the entire culture of your life, your entire mindest about the gospel, He gave you the disposition you needed to be a disciple making Christian.

So What Are You Going to Do About It?

Purpose & Plan to go into your Jerusalem to build redemptive relationships with unsaved people.

Come up with a strategy that puts you into contact with unsaved people. Get outside of the walls of your house and the walls of your church, and actually GO to your Jerusalem. Sports, Hobbies, Exercise, Kids, Community- pick something you think you would enjoy and go and do it.

Remember, your first goal is to build relationships with people. Don’t even bring up the spiritual things or the Bible unless they do. Just determine to get to know them. Show them you care about them as a person. Ask them all kinds of questions about their life. Show them that you are curious about them, and that you are not some religious nut job. Your just a regular person, and you actually care about them. Your goal is to make friends with lost people. Would it be cool if everyone in our church had multiple deep friendships with the unsaved people in our Jerusalem? Isn’t that what Paul did in Thessolonica?

2. Actually follow through with that plan.

Remember transforming your mindset or your disposition starts with you obey the commands of Jesus Christ. You are required to obey the command of the great commission, and as you obey God will work in your heart and transform the culture of your thinking. You will become Great Commission minded people.

Philippians 2:12–13 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

First you work out your own salvation. Actually put feet and hands to your faith. You first do the hard work of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. And as you are doing the work, then God is the who who both gives you the desire and ability to do what He has called you to do.

3. Increase your knowledge.

This is just a small part of what it means to fulfill the great commission. The first step is to just start doing the commission that Jesus called you to do. But if you don’t continue to grow in your understand of exactly what that looks like and how you do that- more than likely you good intentions will soon become just that- intentions. If you really want to start adding this kind of obedience to your faith you are going to have to increase your biblical understanding of what being a disciple making Christ is all about. (spoiler alert- this is my plan in the future to help you to do just that- but in the mean time put some hard work yourself into increasing your knowledge). To start spend some time going through the book of I Thessalonians on your own. I have read through this book numerous times for several weeks in a row in my devotions. You could do the same thing. Also, there are many good books written on this subject that I can recommend for you if you are really interested.

4. Pray, pray, and pray some more.

Ultimately, this disposition is something that God does in your heart. And your heart will be a lot more receptive to the Holy Spirit’s work if you are on your knees begging God to transform the culture of your thinking for the Great Commission.

5. Don’t stop praying.

No really, we seriously underestimate the value of prayer. James said we have not because we ask not. Or we ask amiss to consume it on our lusts. Many of our prayers are ineffective because we are not praying for the right kinds of things.

Do you think that if you prayed and asked God to help you become a Great Commission minded Christian that God would answer your prayer? Then why don’t we put feet and hands to our prayers?

Matthew 16:18 KJV 1900

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

John 14:13 KJV 1900

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 15:7 KJV 1900

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:8 KJV 1900

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15:11 KJV 1900

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

6. Exercise some self-control and perseverance.

This is not going to be a quick and easy task. This will not happen overnight. This is not something that you can put a start date and a stop date to. If you really want to have this kind of disposition and be a disciple making Christian this has to become a lifestyle. And that means it will take time. There will be times when you won’t fell like going out into your Jerusalem to build redemptive relationships. Do it anyway. Exercise self-control and make it happen. And then there will be times when you will have to do this in the face of suffering and persecution and hardship and trial. Persevere. Bear up under the weight of that suffering and keep obeying Scripture.

If you will follow through with these steps I know that God will change your heart, He will change your disposition, he will transform the culture of your life.