Thriving Through Chaotic Times: Orderly Living: I Thess. 5:12-28

I. Duties of the Church to the Pastor vs. 12-13a

A. Paul says to appreciate the pastor and what he does. He won’t do it perfectly, and shouldn’t be compared to another.

B. Pastoring is hard work, and it is often compared to farming, because it requires a lot of patience. It is often a discouraging work, because you’re not able to see all of the fruits of your labor. Even when everything is going right, it is hard when one little thing goes wrong, or one person is upset.

C. Love on the pastor and his family because they need it.

II. Duties of the Church to One Another vs. 13b-15

A. The whole congregation (including the pastor) are to live these commands out.

B. Live in peace with one another. Nothing runs people off like fussing and fighting in the church.

Matthew 5:9 NASB95

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

C. Admonishing the unruly, has to be done in love, and not like a hot head!

Titus 3:10 NASB95

Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

D. Encourage those who are fainthearted. Many people don’t grow, cause we don’t disciple them That’s how we help the weak. We walk with them, and help them to get strong.

E. Be patient with everyone. Not all people grow at the same rate. Some have unique hang ups.

F. Don’t seek revenge when your ministry to someone is refused. Love them anyway. Seek to help them again.

III. Duties of the Church of God vs. 16-28

A. Rejoice always, by being in an attitude of prayer. If you don’t like your circumstances, it might be that as you pray Yahweh reveals what about you needs to change, and/or what He is doing during this time!

B. Don’t quench what the Holy Spirit is doing in your midst corporately and individually.

C. Take the preaching, and counseling/ opinions and filter them through the Word of God. If it’s sound take it to heart, if it’s not throw it out, and stay away from bad doctrine (vs. 22). Bad doctrine leads to bad practice and the end result is shipwrecked lives and faith (prosperity gospel/ faith healers ex).

D. Trust God, that He knows what He is doing, and that He is doing a great work in our lives.

E. Pray for missionaries.

F. Great each other respectfully.