Church Relations (Part 2)

Please take your Bible and turn to 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 as we continue to consider what Paul had to write about church relations.

Last week, as we began this mini-series, we looked at Paul’s request for the church to know and esteem their leaders. Doing so aids in the effort to live at peace with each other.

In this week’s passage, Paul urges both the leaders and the congregation to be actively engaged with one another.

Because the church is so loved by Christ, the people of the church should love one another in a similar fashion as Christ loved us; the expression of our love is found in our willingness to rise to the help of others, and in our obedience to the commands to avoid retribution and to pursue kindness.

Let’s read our passage beginning at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–15 NASB95PARA

But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Let’s consider first how we, as believers in Jesus Christ, are to

Rise to the Help of Others

Look at verse 14.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 NASB95PARA

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

We could look at this through the descriptive lens of the people needing help. But, instead, we are going to look at it primarily through the lens of the actions we should take to bring help to those who need it.

Our text begins with Paul & Company making a very strong, four-fold request of the people who make up this beloved church plant. (I don’t usually make acrostics for my sermon points, but one just kind of fell into place for this portion.)

Rebuke the Idle

Inspire the Discouraged

Support the Weak

Exercise Patience with All

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Rebuke the Idle

The term “admonish” carries with it the idea of correction or rebuke. It has to do with verbalizing to an errant brother or sister in Christ our disapproval of their sinful lifestyle. Not only is the leadership of the church to be engaged in the work of correction, but so are all mature believers in Jesus Christ. As Robert L. Thomas, in the Expositor’s Bible Commentary, pointed out:

Christians in general, not just a limited few, are responsible for corrective measures. The entire local body copes with practical situations by advising an errant brother.

Talk about confronting Royce ...

Writing to the Galatians, Paul stated in

Galatians 6:1–2 NASB95PARA

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Notice that our admonition should be both gentle and guarded.

Most commentators believe that Paul’s reference to “the unruly” is regarding the idle busybodies who were becoming such an issue in Thessalonica. One commentator note that

1 & 2 Thessalonians a. Work with Various Individuals (v. 14)

Paul’s reference is to those Thessalonian members “who, without any intention of actual wrongdoing, were neglecting their daily duties, and falling into idle and careless habits, because of their expectation of the immediate Parousia of the Lord.”

Along with rebuking the idle, we are also to:

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Inspire the Discouraged

The way our text puts it is to encourage the fainthearted. Encouragement is such an important part of our relationship with one another. The fainthearted are those who have become discouraged. And let’s face it, we all have times when we get discouraged.

We don’t know the specific reason why some of the believers in Thessalonica had become discouraged.

The battle against sin

Exchanged life

Turn back a few pages to

Colossians 3:5–10 NASB95PARA

Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them. But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

Paul next describes what is to be put on

Colossians 3:12–14 NASB95PARA

So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

The loss of a loved one

Constant persecution

Something that wasn’t specified in this epistle

MacArthur wrote:

1 and 2 Thessalonians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary Dealing with Worried Sheep

There are those in the church who are bold and courageous, unafraid of persecution or difficulty, and willing to put their lives on the line for a noble cause or principle of truth. In contrast, the fainthearted lack the boldness to accept a challenging new ministry, fear change and the unknown, and want a risk-free ministry that is traditional, safe, and absolutely secure.

Along with rebuking the idle and inspiring the discouraged, believers are to:

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Support the Weak

Paul is not referring to those who are physically weak in this passage — although he does so in other passages. He is referring to those who are spiritually — perhaps even morally — weak.

The term “help” has to do with coming alongside and supporting something or someone. You folks have been coming alongside our family and supporting us as Gail goes through this time with radiation. And we appreciate it so much. And that is what’s meant by helping the weak. But rather than helping with a physical issue, Paul is asking them to help with spiritual issues.

What are some ways we can help those who are spiritually weak?

Be a listening ear

Pray with them

Study the Scriptures with them

Hold them accountable

Truly, all of these things fall under the umbrella of discipleship.

In order to help those who are spiritually weak we must first be invested in their lives. Merely seeing a person in passing on Sunday morning is not enough investment to know them well enough to even recognize that they need help.

So far, we’ve looked at how we as believers are to rebuke the idle, inspire the discouraged, and support the weak. Let’s look next at how we are to:

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Exercise Patience with All

Paul said it like this: “be patient with everyone.” Regarding patience, Spurgeon once stated:

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon The Patience of Archbishop Leighton (Matthew 5:5; Ephesians 4:26)

I think I never admired Archbishop Leighton more than when I read a certain incident that is recorded in his life. He lived in a small house in Scotland, and had only a manservant beside himself in the house. John, the manservant, was very forgetful. One morning, when he got up before his master, he thought he would like to have a day’s fishing, so he went off and locked his master in. He fished until late in the evening, forgot all about his master, and when he came back, what do you think the bishop said to him? He simply said, “John, if you go out for a day’s fishing another time, kindly leave me the key.” He had had a happy day of prayer and study all by himself.

If it had been some of us, we would have been fuming, and fretting, and working up a nice lecture for John when he came back. And he richly deserved it, but I do not suppose it was worthwhile for the good man to put himself out about him.

The term translated “patient” is sometimes translated long-suffering. Thomas mentioned that

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11: Ephesians through Philemon 2. Responsibilities to All (5:14, 15)

It pictures the even-tempered response of one who is slow to anger. Dealing with the idle, the timid, and the weak requires this special disposition because they so often refuse to respond immediately to constructive counsel. Yet these are not the only ones requiring patient treatment. All Christians (“everyone”) at one time or another provoke dissatisfaction through thoughtless or even intentionally hurtful acts.

I’ve paraphrased, in the manner of the Amplified Bible, verse 14 this way.

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Based on our authority, we make four requests of you who are believers: First, express disapproval of the present conduct of those who have deserted their duty and are now idle.

Second, cheer up those who are discouraged or anxious. Third, help to sustain those who are lacking spiritual strength. And fourth, please be patient with everyone!

So, we’ve been looking at Paul’s request that we as believers are to rise to the help of others. Let’s move now, from requests to commands.

Guard & Pursue

Look at verse 15.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 NASB95PARA

See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

Guard Against the Negative

Pursue the Positive

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Guard Against the Negative

The term translated “see that” is an imperative command. Stated in the negative, Paul states that we see that no one repays another with evil for evil. That is a hard thing to accomplish in our own lives, let alone in another person’s life. Our natural inclination is to retaliate. I can’t even count how many times I’ve heard people who are Christians say something like: “I’m not going to let someone get away with doing something bad to me.”

In His infamous Sermon on the Mount Jesus stated:

Matthew 5:38–42 NASB95PARA

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

Remember that this church was born in persecution. It would have been a natural thing for them to demand an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. Rather than that, Paul desired that they guard against having a spirit of retaliation.

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Pursue the Positive

According to Hiebert, the verb translated “seek after” has the double meaning “to pursue” and “to persecute.” The former meaning is intended here, but perhaps its use was meant to remind the Thessalonians that although their enemies are persecuting them, they must continue to pursue that which will be beneficial to their persecutors.

What is it that is to be pursued? “That which is good for one another [the local church] and for all people [the community].”

The church, as an entity, is so important to Christ that He willingly died for it. Paul details this truth in

Ephesians 5:25–27 NASB95PARA

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

How did Christ give Himself up for the church? He died in our place.

1 Peter 2:24–25 CSB

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus Vast unmeasured, boundless, free Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me Underneath me, all around me, is the current Of Thy love Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above

O the deep, deep love of Jesus Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee O the deep, deep love of Jesus Spread His praise from shore to shore How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth Never, nevermore

And if we are this important to Christ, then we should hold each other in high importance. We should willingly and readily rise to the help of others, guard against retaliation and other negative actions, and pursue kindness and goodness to all.

Let’s pray

Dear Father,

I pray that Your Holy Spirit who lives within us would help us to rise to the help of others when they need our help; to guard against negative reactions such as retaliation, and pursue kind things which are good for all.

I pray for those who have never embraced the deep, deep love of Jesus, that this would be the day Your Spirit would awaken them from the dead and enable them to embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. In His name I pray, Amen.

Closing Song: # 352

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus