The Day-By-Day Focus of a Healthy Church

This morning I want to ask the question what should be our day-by-day focus as body of believers striving to become a healthy New Testament local church? And to further limit our question I want to add- what should our focus be as we are in the middle of an unprecedented trial? God has allowed a unique hardship in our life. The virus did not take God by surprise. In His sovereignty God has allowed the virus, God has allowed this period of quarantine, God has allowed our local church to meet digitally for an extended period of time. Does this give us an excuse to function differently as a church? Do the circumstances that we find ourselves in allow us as a church to change our focus?

Some of you might be thinking of course our focus has to change! We can’t assemble as a church. That has ramifications that forces us to change our focus. For instance, if your focus or your goal when you come to church is to minister in the nursery- then you have to change your focus because you can’t be here in person to watch over our little ones. If your focus is the music ministry of the local church- then you have to change your focus because you can’t be here in person to play the piano or participate in special music. If your focus is teaching Sunday School- then you must change your focus. Now, we still have some of our teachers making videos and doing Zoom chats with our kids, but it is not the same. At some level you have to adjust your focus of ministry in your local church.

Well, maybe one of the mercies of God during this time of quarantine is that God is causing us to think, first of all, what has been our main focus as a local church. And secondly, what really should be our focus as a local church? This morning I want to suggest that for a healthy church this trial- the virus, the quarantine, the inability to assemble face-to-face- should in no way alter or change the function, the goal, or the focus of the church! That means if we are functioning the way Jesus has instructed us to function in the New Testament, then our focus as a church should not skip a beat- even in the midst of a unprecedented challenging trial. Certainly we will have to adapt and adjust and be creative in how we carry out that focus, but the focus itself remains unchanged.

Right now however is the time when we will be most tempted as a church to get off track. What do I mean?

Have you ever started an exercise program or routine? The hardest part of implementing that new exercise program is not the beginning. When you start something new the initial excitement is usually enough to keep us going for a while. I just started riding my bike in my basement again. It is my least favorite way to exercise. I just do not have the motivation to ride inside by myself in my basement. But, I don’t have many options right now with the quarantine. So I started riding again. The first 3 or 4 times it was great- I was able to make myself exercise. But, this week it was dreadfully difficult to make myself go downstairs and ride! Why? Well, it is the maintenance part of the exercise that is so difficult. Once the initial excitement wears off, and you know just how much work is involved- it is the day-by-day sticking with it and not making excuses when life gets difficult- that is the hardest part- that is the time when it is the easiest to loose focus.

Folks, that is where we are right now. We are in the middle of this trial. We are in maintenance mode. So how do we maintenance a proper focus as healthy church? How do we stay on track? First and foremost we must make sure that our focus as a church is the right focus! We must make sure that our focus is exactly what Jesus wants us to have. And that means we need to renew our thinking in the Word of God. And that is exactly what I want to do this morning from I Thessalonians.

We are at the very end of the letter by Paul to the Thessalonians. In the first half of the letter Paul recounted the reasons for why the Thessalonians were the model disciple-making church. Then in the second half of the letter Paul continued his role as the disciple-er- he continued teaching the Thessalonian believers everything that he had been taught in order to complete what was lacking in their faith. So, Paul taught them on topics like sanctification and holiness, like brotherly affection and agape love, like the certainty of the resurrection of the righteous dead and the imperative to live ready lives should Jesus rapture His church. Now Paul’s teaching is over and he is addressing them with his final bit of encouragement. In this final paragraph Paul lays out for the church how they should go about day-by-day in ministry as a healthy New Testament local church. Remember, the Thessalonian church was enduring suffering as a church body.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

1 Thessalonians 2:14–15 ESV

14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind

Paul knows that these Thessalonians are going to have to continue going through this trial- they will continue to suffer and be in affliction because of their faith in Jesus. And he doesn’t want the disciple-making ministries to stop- he doesn’t want this church to loose heart and to loose focus. So as he concludes his letter I believe Paul lays out for the church what must continue to be their focus.

Paul was teaching the Thessalonians to keep the right focus so as to help them maintenance their healthy church and to help them stay on track even through the middle of their suffering.

Faith Baptist Church we must align our focus with the Word of God so we can continue to develop into a healthy church and we can avoid getting off track even in the middle of this trial.

What should be our focus as a healthy church?

Paul gives us three areas that we must focus on if we are going to grow into a healthy church.

I. We must keep our focus on one-another ministry (vv. 12-15)

1 Thessalonians 5:12–15 KJV 1900

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to keep their focus on one another ministry through a series of commands.

The first few commands are in relation to those who are in positions of authority within the church- that is your pastors/deacons.

This is the only place in the letter where church leadership is mentioned. Overwhelmingly this is a letter written to ordinary members of the church. But, here Paul addresses ministry toward the spiritual leaders in the church.

1 Thessalonians 5:12 KJV 1900

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

To Know- common word used over 300x’s in the NT with a wide range of meaning. Major translations use words like know, respect, appreciate, acknowledge, and give recognition. This word carries the idea of respect and honor- probably it boils down to you a church members recognizing the merit of the spiritual leaders in your church.

Recognize the merit of the ones that labour or strive among you, the ones who exercise of position of leadership over you in the Lord, the ones who admonish you. As your pastors / deacons minister for your sakes- remember to recognize their merit, especially as we strive for you and we attempt to oversee the church and even as we admonish you (we warn or counsel you about your behavior).

How?

- Pray for us that we will be effective, wise, godly spiritual leaders.

- Follow after us! Hopefully, we are leading not just with out words but even more so with our example- follow us / imitate us as we imitate the Lord.

- Take us up on our challenges! Listen as we bring to bear the authority of the Word of God. Recognize the merit when I challenge you to reach out to others in our church and encourage them with Scripture and prayer (Pastor Stevens devotionals, Pastor Jason challenging the teens)- take our over-site seriously and put hands and feet to the commands of Scripture as we strive and oversee and admonish. And many of you have been doing that! Thank you! If we are to keep our focus let’s keep doing it together!

1 Thessalonians 5:13 KJV 1900

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

To esteem- to hold them in the highest regard. Do it in love (agape) and do it because of their work. That is a tremendous challenge to me- the two reasons given for why you are to esteem me very highly- love (because love covers a multitude of sins- love for me and love for God) and second because of my work (that tells me that my example as your pastor is very important).

As we maintenance the focus of our church in the middle of this trial remember to recognize the merit and to esteem the spiritual leaders in your church.

The second series of commands that Paul gives are in relation to life-on-life ministry. These verses are for every person in the local church. These are not written to just pastors or the spiritually elite- these commands are for you personally.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 KJV 1900

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

We exhort you- who is the you? Brethren- that is brothers and sisters- that is every saved person in your local church- these commands are for you.

Warn the unruly- admonish (same word used above for pastors) those people in your church who are disorderly or insubordinate (someone who is out of step and going their own way.

Comfort the feebleminded- Console or cheer up the faint-hearted or discouraged.

Support the weak- help others especially those who are weak- struggling physically, spiritually, morally, emotionally.

Be patient toward everyone!

1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV 1900

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

At the end of v. 13 Paul commanded- live at peace with one another. Here do not repay each other evil for evil. Don’t be legalistic don’t be demanding don’t be exacting- be merciful and lenient and loving. That doesn’t mean that we condone each other’s sin! Paul just said that we all have a responsibility to admonish the unruly. But overseeing all of our life-on-life ministry should be a striving to maintain peace with each other. Stop trying to repay every little offence, every little evil with evil of your own. Instead be goverened by peace and agape love for one another.

The second half of the verse: Ever follow after that which is good- alway strive after that which is good- for one another (inside the church) and fro all people (unsaved people outside the church). This has to be our focus!

And we can boil this all down to one word- relationships! Jesus grows His church through relationships. The church does not depend upon facilities or programs or events for growth- we need them- it’s like the trellis and the vine- we need both. But, the focus of our church must be on relationships- on one another ministry.

If we are going to continue to become a healthy church our focus must be on relationship- on one another ministry. And if that is our focus then this quarantine, this pandemic, this trial- should not cause us to skip a beat.

Don’t get off track, don’t get side tracked. You might be thinking- absolutely, I agree, not getting sidetracked here!

Have you admonished the unruly this week? Have you consoled the faint-hearted, have you supported the weak? How have you done these things for the other members of your church lately? Flip-side of that- have you reached out to anyone in your church this week? Maybe you are the one in need of being consoled or admonished or helped!

I know of 4 new life-on-life bible studies that have started during this pandemic. That is keeping your focus. I know of other studies that have not skipped a beat- that is keeping your focus. Just the other day I had one of the members of the church tell me that they were going to take me up on my challenge and reach out to another person in the church and spend a few minutes reading Scripture and praying together. That is keeping our focus.

Don’t get distracted! We must maintenance our focus right now more than ever because we are in the middle of this trial. And we can do that if we keep focusing on one another ministry. How will you personally do that this week?

II. We must keep our focus on being Spirit-filled people (vv. 16-22)

How do we keep our focus? How do we maintenance our focus in the middle of a trial? As a church body all of us need to make sure that we are daily doing ministry as Holy Spirit-filled people. None of this is possible unless our spirits are being goverened by the Holy Spirit. One another ministry? Agape loving other people? Sacrificing my life for the life of someone else? That is not natural- that is totally opposite of our natural inclination. We need to be moved the very power of God producing the fruit of God’s Spirit if we have any hope of keeping our focus and becoming a healthy church. What does that look like? What does a church filled with Spirit-filled people look like even when enduring suffering and trials?

1 Thessalonians 5:16–22 KJV 1900

16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

How do I know that this section is talking about Holy-Spirit filled ministry?

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:25 ESV

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

John 15:5 ESV

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:7 ESV

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 15:10 ESV

10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Colossians 3:16 ESV

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 ESV

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

III. We must keep our focus on living by faith (vv. 23-28)

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 KJV 1900

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Human part/effort vs. God’s part/power

1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV

3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 ESV

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.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 ESV

19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?

1 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV

13 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–18 ESV

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:9–11 ESV

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

How do we maintenance our focus in the middle of a trial? How do we not get off track? Live by faith- with eyes of faith see every day as the one when Jesus might come! Believe that no matter what God Himself will sanctify you completely and will cause you to be blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus! He is faithful! He surely will do it!

Close of the letter:

1 Thessalonians 5:25–28 KJV 1900

25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Faith Baptist Church we must align our focus with the Word of God so we can continue to develop into a healthy church and we can avoid getting off track even in the middle of this trial.

What should be our focus as a healthy church?

I. We must keep our focus on one-another ministry (vv. 12-15)

II. We must keep our focus on being Spirit-filled people (vv. 16-22)

III. We must keep our focus on living by faith (vv. 23-28)

How has your life gotten out of focus? Where is God calling you to implement change?