Spiritual Parentage
An Exposition of 1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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Please take your Bible and turn with me to 1 Thessalonians 2.
Last week we looked at the first five and a half verses of this chapter. And as we did so we focused on Paul’s defense of his ministry. In truth, today’s passage continues with his defense. In last week’s passage the focus was on the negative side — what he wasn’t. In this week’s passage the focus is on the positive side — what he was.
While this passage, in truth, is a defense of his ministry among the Thessalonians, it can also be seen in terms of the characteristics of an effective spiritual leader. And that is how we are going to look at things this morning.
This morning I am going to use a different translation than I normally do, and so I will put the Scripture texts on the screen. I am using the Holman Christian Standard Bible, which is the predecessor to Christian Standard Bible, which I sometimes use. My reasoning for doing so is because the editors of the various English translations seem to be in disagreement as to which phrases belong with which verse in a couple of different portions of our text. And I prefer the general way in which the HCSB, as well as the CSB has translated this text.
As a side-note, I tend to be leery of delving into the distinctions of the various English translations of the Bible. That is because doing so may cause some folks to lose confidence in the accuracy of the English Bible as a whole. The truth of matter is that the English speaking world has been blessed beyond measure with many fine translations of the Bible. But we must always keep in mind that the Bible was not originally written in English. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, with a smattering of Aramaic. And the New Testament was written in Koine Greek, which the common Greek that was spoken in the market place.
We need to also keep in mind that chapter, paragraph, and verse divisions were not a part of the God-breathed text. They were editorial additions. The first Bibles to be published chapter and verse divisions were during the early years of the Reformation.
Therefore, having commentators and translators disagree as to which phrase belongs with which verse shouldn’t be that surprising. Nor should it lessen our confidence in the English Bible.
So, without further adieu, let’s read
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our visit with you was not without result.
On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive.
Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but rather God, who examines our hearts.
For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives —God is our witness —
and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others.
Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.
We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.
As you know, like a father with his own children,
we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Let’s look first at
What a Spiritual Leader is Not!
What a Spiritual Leader is Not!
The first thing we see is that
A True Spiritual Leader is Not a Coward
Look at verse 2.
On the contrary, after we had previously suffered, and we were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition.
A True Spiritual Leader’s Teaching is Not Based on Error
The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2
For our exhortation didn’t come from error
A True Spiritual Leader is Not Impure
For our exhortation didn’t come from … impurity
A True Spiritual Leader is Not Deceptive
For our exhortation didn’t come from … an intent to deceive
A True Spiritual Leader is Not a People Pleaser
Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please men, but rather God, who examines our hearts.
A True Spiritual Leader is Not a Flatterer
For we never used flattering speech ...
A True Spiritual Leader is Not Greedy
For we never … had greedy motives
A True Spiritual Leader is Not a Personal Glory Seeker
and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others.
Verse 7 of our text is a transition from what a spiritual leader is not, to
What a Spiritual Leader is
What a Spiritual Leader is
In this section Paul uses metaphors from family life to describe his ministry among the believers in Thessalonica. Look again at verse 7.
Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.
The first thing we see is a strong contrast between what Paul and his associates were accused of being, and what they truly were.
A Spiritual Leader is Gentle
Though these missionaries were apparently accused of making burdensome demands, in truth they acted in the same way that Peter wrote of in
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Back to our text, Paul uses the gentleness of a mother with a newborn child to describe his ministry at Thessalonica.
The Holman Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2
instead we were gentle among you, as a nursing mother nurtures her own children.
What can possibly be a better picture of tenderness than a mother feeding her child?
Keeping the tenderness of a mother in mind, look at verse 8.
We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.
Just as a mother never considers it a sacrifice to give of herself to her children, so Paul felt the same way about his spiritual children.
Next we see that
A Spiritual Leader is Industrious
Look again at verse 9.
For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you.
The Philippian Church sent financial aid to Paul while he was in Thessalonica
Paul used his tent-making skills to make up for what was lacking in the love gift of the Philippians
All of this reminds me a bit of the ministry of Andy Bishop
He is supported by churches like us
He works an outside job to help with his support
Look at verse 10.
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers.
Here, Paul uses three adverbs to describe the missionaries conduct among the Thessalonian believers.
A Spiritual Leader is Devout
This refers to religious piety. Being set apart for God, and living in such a way to show it.
A Spiritual Leader is Righteous
This refers to moral conduct; particularly the moral law of God.
A Spiritual Leader is Blameless
This refers to be without fault in their dealings with others.
Finally, look at verses 11-12.
As you know, like a father with his own children, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Here we see Paul’s second use of a family metaphor; that of a father instructing his children. And as he elaborates on this he uses three verbs to convey what he and his associates did while ministering in this troubled city.
First:
A Spiritual Leader Encourages His People
The term translated “encourages” in our text comes from parakeleo which means to call alongside. The noun form is used by Christ to speak of the Holy Spirit as the one who comes alongside. Encouragement, comfort, and exhortation are all wrapped up in this term.
Second:
A Spiritual Leader Comforts His People
The next term Paul used, sometimes translated comfort, other times translated encouraged, has to do with the sense of comfort and consolation which is so critical in assisting in spiritual growth.
Third:
A Spiritual Leader Challenges His People
The term translated “implored” is related the word martyr which means witness.
All three of these verbs, encouraged, comforted, and implored are for the purpose of helping the believer to walk worthy of God.
To walk worthy of God is to live our lives in a manner that reflects that we belong to Jesus. The Bible frequently uses terms related to walking to describe how a believer should live or behave.
A believer finds guidance for how to live in a worthy manner before God from the Word of God
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
A believer is to trust and rely on God to direct him or her in the way they should go
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Part of this worthy walk is to walk in the good works God has prepared for us to do
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
A part of Paul’s prayer for believers had to do with their Christian walk
For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,
so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.
Walking in a worthy manner is essential for maintaining fellowship with Christ
If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.
But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Walking in a worthy manner provides assurance of faith in the life of a believer
This is how we are sure that we have come to know Him: by keeping His commands.
The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly in him the love of God is perfected. This is how we know we are in Him:
The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.
The reason the believer is to walk in a worthy manner before God is that it is God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
This morning we have looked spiritual parentage, or perhaps it might be better phrased as the marks of spiritual leadership. We’ve looked at negative examples of what a true spiritual leader is not. And we’ve looked positive examples of what a true spiritual leader is.
My sincere desire is to exhort each one of you, and to encourage you and charge you to walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own glorious kingdom. And one of the most important aspects of that is to love your brothers and sisters in Christ with the same type of sacrificial love with which Christ loved us. That is certainly how Paul loved his brothers and sisters in Christ who were in Thessalonica!
For those who are not believers, some might find it odd that we should take such great care to walk in a worthy manner before God. Why should they try to please a God they don’t care about, or don’t believe in?
Others might be trying to purchase their own salvation by living an upright life. And while I admire anyone who lives an upright life, they need to understand that outside of Christ they cannot please God. One song writer wrote:
It Wouldn't Be Enough
If I had all the riches this world has to give
All the comfort that it brings
Never needing anything
I could search the whole earth over far and wide
Trying to buy that precious love
That was sent from God above
And it wouldn't be enough
No it wouldn't be enough
To buy one splinter of the tree that Jesus died on
And I couldn't pay the price
For one single drop of blood
That was shed for my salvation
If I had all the riches this world has to give
And I gave it all away
Every penny to my name
To some beggar on life’s dark and lonely street
All this kindness found in me
Could not win eternity
And it wouldn't be enough
No it wouldn't be enough
To buy one splinter of the tree Jesus died on
No I couldn't pay the price
For one single drop of blood
That was shed for my salvation
Salvation is only found in Jesus Christ. Through His perfect life He fulfilled God’s righteous requirement. By dying as a substitute for those who place their faith in Him, He absorbed God’s wrath for their sins — He satisfied God’s demand that sins be atoned for by death. By rising from the dead He brought victory over sin and death.
If you have never embraced Jesus as your Lord and Savior, won’t you do so today?
Let’s pray.
Closing Song: Only One Life
Only one life to offer — Jesus, my Lord and King; only one tongue to praise Thee and of They mercy sing; only one heart’s devotion — Savior, O my it be consecrated alone to Thy matchless glory, yielded fully to Thee.
Only this hour is mine, Lord — may it be used for Thee; may ev’ry passing moment count for eternity; souls all about are dying, dying in sin and shame; help me bring them the message of Calv’ry’s redemption in Thy glorious name.
Only one life to offer — take it, dear Lord, I pray; nothing from Thee withholding, Thy will I now obey; Though who hast freely given Thine all in all for me, claim this life for Thine own to be used, my Savior, ev’ry moment for Thee.
1 Thess 3.11-13
Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you. And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone, just as we also do for you. May He make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Amen.