Demolition or Construction

Introduction

I saw them tearing a building down,

A gang of men in a dusty town.

With a “yo heave ho” and a lusty yell,

They swung a beam and the side wall fell.

I asked the foreman if these men were as skilled

As the men he’d hire, if he were to build.

He laughed and said, “Oh, no indeed.

Common labor is all I need.”

For those men can wreck in a day or two,

What builders had taken years to do.

I asked myself as I went my way,

Which kind of role am I to play?

Am I the builder who builds with care,

Measuring life by the rule and square?

Or am I the wrecker who walks the town,

Content with the role of tearing down?385[1] (Michael Green)

I need us to know that we are designed to be an encouragement to one another. Life is about growth, growth individually and growth collectively. This letter exemplifies the spirit of Paul’s ministry. His ministry was all about collaboration. Paul and Silas traveled to Thessalonica, he sent Timothy there. His missionary efforts in this place were filled with a need to encourage others as well as themselves. Paul understand the fact that Jesus died so we could encourage one another. “but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him”.

We are in a time of uncertainty. We are in a time of confusion and one of the positive things about today is that above all else we have the ability to encourage and build each other up.

We can do for each other what Jesus did for his disciples and that was encourage and build them up. Also there is encouragement in the fact that if he put his life on the line for me than I should able to build others up for his sake.

Although we are in uncertain times, I still have the ability to show my preparedness through encouraging and upbuilding my brothers and sisters for Jesus' sake. If I can’t do anything else I can encouragement my brother or my sister.

•Background

•The letter to the Thessalonians is about salvation.

•In chapter 5 Paul continues his emphasis on the Day of the Lord.

•“Thief in the night, or twinkling of an eye”

•Make the most of today by encouraging and upbuilding one another.

•Be comforted by the forecasted deliverance.

•Although a day of wrath for some it is a day of refuge for the believer.

•People need to be saved from the wrath of God by placing their hope and faith in the Lord.

•Geographic Information

•Populous City

•Second division of Macedonia and the residence of a Roman governor and questor.

•Situated on the Thermaic Gulf

•Thessalonica = victory of falsity

•A Quote of Encouragement…

•Said Bear Bryant, one of the greatest college football coaches ever, when he was pushed to explain his philosophy of coaching: “There’s just three things I ever say [to my players]: ‘If anything goes bad, then I did it. If anything goes semi-good, then we did it. If anything goes real good, then you did it.” That’s all it takes to get people to win football games for you. I can do that better than anybody.”

•Paul and the Time

•Time and Seasons

•Concerning the time, it is indefinite and uncertain.

•Time is a similar construct for us, but seasons are not.

•Many of us are in different seasons which makes encouragement more important.

•Life is fragile so building up people or fortifying them is imperative.

•

•Each Other vs. One Another

•Comfort

•Comfort - "to ask to come and be present where the speaker is, call to one's side" What are we calling each other to, and what are we calling each other for."

•

•Edify

•Edify – to construct a building, build. In this text it means to improve ability to function in living responsibly and effectively, strengthen, build up to make more able.

•Ongoing process (Present-Active, imperative command)

•God is the Essence of Comfort and Edification

•God has been doing this for us.

•Jesus does this for us.

•Now it is time for us to do this for each other.

•What is the Goal

•The goal is church growth.

•We cannot be a healthy body or evangelize without building each other up.

•The essential idea of church is that when we come together, we do everything we can to ensure that we encourage the people of God.

•Which one will You Be?

•Demolition

•Brick Layer

•Take-aways

•It’s up to us to encourage each other.

•Encouragement through reaffirmation

•Preparation for the return of Jesus.

•Vigilant and focus, not caught up in trials but focused on Jesus.

•In the midst of life we need encouragement and love.

I saw them tearing a building down,

A gang of men in a dusty town.

With a “yo heave ho” and a lusty yell,

They swung a beam and the side wall fell.

I asked the foreman if these men were as skilled

As the men he’d hire, if he were to build.

He laughed and said, “Oh, no indeed.

Common labor is all I need.”

For those men can wreck in a day or two,

What builders had taken years to do.

I asked myself as I went my way,

Which kind of role am I to play?

Am I the builder who builds with care,

Measuring life by the rule and square?

Or am I the wrecker who walks the town,

Content with the role of tearing down?

[1] Michael P. Green. (2000). 1500 illustrations for biblical preaching (pp. 117–118). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.