Gospel Ministry

First-century Roman cities were chalk-full of traveling philosophers, magicians, and religious enthusiasts who gained their livelihood from public teaching.

Ancient literature often associates such teachers with greed and immorality. They amassed wealth and notoriety because they spoke eloquently and people liked what they had to say.

A lot of these traveling teachers would argue both sides of a debate, it didn’t matter to them. The truth wasn’t a consideration; their teaching would shift according to the desires of whatever group of people was in front of them. As long as they could gain a following and make some money, they were good.

They gladly mocked their opponents, they would cajole and convince the weak-willed, engage in untoward behavior with their followers, and mooch off the rich.

Not a lot has changed in the 20 centuries that have passed since that time. People exactly like the charlatans in the ANE have infiltrated the gathering of Christ’s people today (wolves in sheep’s clothing), teaching falsehood and foolishness, telling people what they want to hear, ignoring and approving of blatant sinfulness.

Paul warns Timothy of the coming reality:

2 Tim 4:3-4 “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

Paul is careful to distinguish his ministry (and that of Silas and Timothy) from the popular teachers of the day.

The news Paul and his colleagues brought was truly good news—the gospel of Jesus Christ.

They came, not with greed, not seeking a platform, not eager to make money or to schmooze the wealthy; they came to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.

They weren’t doing it for themselves, to make their name great. Paul and Silas and Timothy went on this missionary journey to make God’s name great.

They suffered and struggled and put their lives on the line for the sake of the LORD and His glory; they ministered for the sake of others, that others might come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, repent, and be saved.

That kind of ministry—Gospel Ministry—is always worth it, because the gospel is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes (Rom 1:16-17).

Now, it should be noted that some people think there’s a tone of defensiveness here from Paul, as if his reputation is being sullied. We all know gossips gossip and people people.

But there’s no evidence in this letter that Paul is writing to rehabilitate his reputation, like he had to do in his second letter to the the church in Corinth.

Some people think Paul is being defensive here. I am not one of those people.

I fall firmly into the camp of people who believe that Paul is simply reminding the Thessalonians of his ministry among them, in order to show them the truth and beauty of gospel, and how worthy God is of our faithful ministry, even if/when we suffer for it.

If you have your Bible (and I hope you do), please turn to 1 Thessalonians. If you’re able and willing, please stand with me for the reading of God’s Holy Word:

1 Thessalonians 2:1–12 NIV

1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

May the LORD add His blessing to the reading of His Holy Word!

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If you’re taking notes, you’ll notice the sermon outline appears to have 8 points.

Let’s call the two headings “points” and the actual points “sub-points.” This way, you can tell your friends it was a nice 2-point sermon instead of having to say, “That mostly bald preacher made us listen to an 8-point sermon!”

But between you and me, it’s an 8-point sermon. And whether it’s 2-points or 8-points, it’s going to take 25-30 minutes.

Writing to these new Thessalonian believers, Paul describes Gospel Ministry in two categories. First

Gospel Ministry is for the Glory of God

This is primary for Paul and Silas and Timothy. What makes their ministry distinct, different from the philosophers of the day, is that they aren’t in it for themselves. In fact, they’d place themselves at the bottom of the list.

What’s most important for them (and for other faithful ministers of the gospel) is that God be glorified, that many people would hear the preaching/ proclamation/ sharing of the Good News about Jesus and would experience the salvation offered to those whom God has called.

The aim of gospel ministry is that the name of the LORD would be magnified. Like our good friend, John the Baptist, said: “He must increase, I must decrease.”

If ministry builds a large platform for the one ministering, puts their name up in lights, fills their bank account, puts a private jet or two in their private hangar, spreads their fame, something wrong.

I like what Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf wrote (I also like his name): “Preach the gospel. Die. Be forgotten.”

It’s not about us; it can’t be. Gospel ministry is ultimately, primarily, before-anything-else about giving glory to God.

No one knows this better than Paul who makes clear

Gospel Ministry is Dependent upon Him (vv. 1-2)

Paul trusts the Thessalonians remember their visit and how Paul and Silas and Timothy handled themselves while they were with them.

When Paul & Company arrived in Thessalonica, they had just left Philippi.

More accurately, they had been treated outrageously there and then asked to leave.

In Philippi, Paul and Silas were beaten, arrested, chained in prison. In prison, Paul and Silas were singing and praying one night and a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, the prison doors flew open, all the chains fell off, the jailer was converted to Christ.

And then the city officials learned that Paul was a Roman citizen so they had to let him go and apologize to him. But they still made these gospel rabblerousers leave the city.

Paul brings up how horribly they were treated in Philippi to let the Thessalonians know that he and Silas, after being kicked out of town for preaching the gospel, just kept on preaching the gospel.

From the city gates of Philippi, they followed the Lord’s prompting and headed on to Thessalonica.

Paul knows (and wants his readers to know) that this gospel ministry is utterly dependent upon the LORD.

His boldness was not self-generated. He’s not pulling himself up by the bootstraps; he’s depending upon God.

It’s as he writes in verse 2: but with the help of God we dared to tell you His gospel in the face of strong opposition.

That’s how any of this happens—with the help of God.

Anyone who is involved in gospel ministry knows this to be true: Without God’s help, without His sovereign strength, there is no way to keep on. There’s no way we can do any of this with any level of effectiveness apart from Him.

We are dependent upon Him—to preach, to teach Sunday School, to lead a Bible study, to share the gospel. Pastors, preachers, missionaries, teachers, evangelists—all dependent upon Him.

Gospel Ministry is Responsible to Him (vv. 3-5)

Paul, nor Silas, nor Timothy had any devious intention among the Thessalonians. They weren’t looking for money or food or a place to say; they weren’t making false promises like the false teachers of the day would have done.

These men came to the Thessalonians with the gospel, not with error or impure motives. This missionary team wasn’t trying to trick the Thessalonians.

Rather, Paul writes, they had been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

Notice how Paul phrases this. He says they had been approved by God, that God tested/examined [their] hearts, and that God is [their] witness.

This trio of preachers is aware that they are stewards. They aren’t in charge; they don’t own the message. They are stewards of the gospel.

The gospel isn’t theirs to change or tweak or modify in any way.

What they did, the message they shared, the way they lived—Paul viewed his entire life as responsible to God. He is, they are, accountable to God.

Gospel Ministry is Willing to Suffer for Him (vv. 2, 9)

We’ve already talked about their treatment in Philippi (v. 2), but suffering seasons Paul’s life like salt on movie theater popcorn; it’s all over.

In verse 9, Paul recalls the toil and hardship they faced while they were in Thessalonica with them.

Paul was unconcerned about his own comfort. It’s not that Paul and Silas and Timothy were insane; it’s that they were faithful.

One definition of insanity is “doing the same thing and expecting different results.”

They were beaten in Philippi for preaching the gospel. They didn’t expect to be treated nicely in 20 miles down the road in Thessalonica; if they did expect a warm welcome, we could call them insane.

What they are is faithful. Those in gospel ministry are willing to suffer, they know they’re going to suffer, they know it’s going to be hard work, much of it unseen and a great deal of it entirely unappreciated.

But as gospel-workers who labor for the sake of God’s glory, those in gospel ministry are willing to suffer. It’s what they sign-up for.

Gospel Ministry Desires to Please Him (vv. 4-6)

One sure-fire way to draw a crowd is to tell them what they want to hear, give them “3 Easy Steps to a Better Life,” promise them health and wealth and prosperity, and do all this under the banner of religion and you’ll fill that stadium in no time.

On the flip side, Paul states three times his team’s motivation:

Verse 4: We are not trying to please people but God.

Verse 5: You know we never used flattery.

Verse 6: We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else.

Paul’s, Silas’, and Timothy’s desire was to please God. And pleasing God, doing what God says, is often (almost always) going to displease a good portion of people.

If they were trying to please the people, they wouldn’t have urged the Thessalonians to repent from their idolatry or turn to Christ; they would have told them they were a-okay.

If Paul was trying to please people, he would have said, “Oh, you worship Apollo? That’s nice. Keep it up. You do, you, buddy.”

If Silas was trying to please people, he would have sympathized: “I know you worship Caesar and follow the pagan gods and goddesses, so I’m not going to tell you about Jesus.”

If Timothy was trying to please the people, he would have encouraged them: “Be the best Jewish people you can be. Obey all the traditions and adhere to your beliefs. You know what you believe, so I won’t bother you. Shabbat Shalom.”

But they weren’t trying to please people; they only cared about pleasing God.

They weren’t after their own glory or popularity; they lived in such a way and preached in such a way so as to please God, bring honor to Jesus, and call people to repentance and belief in Jesus.

As ministers of the gospel, the desire is that we would be pleasing to God in word and deed.

Gospel Ministry is for the Sake of Others

This, of course, is secondary. Our primary motivation is the glory of God. But the reason Paul and Silas and Timothy shared the gospel, the reason we preach and proclaim Christ, is so that others would hear and believe and turn to Jesus.

It’s for the sake of others.

We, like Paul and Silas and Timothy, must love and care about the people to whom we minister. We must love and care about the people with whom we share the gospel as a mother to her children, as a father to his children.

Gospel Ministry is Gentle Toward Others(v. 7)

There’s a textual issue here in verse 7. Some translations work from older manuscripts and use the word “babies” or “young children” (see NIV). Other translations use the word “gentle” instead.

The difference between the Greek words for babies and gentle is one letter. And it’s the letter the previous sentence ends with. So, as some scribe was copying this letter, they added an ‘n’ or dropped an ‘n’ and that’s where we’re at today.

Both readings make sense and don’t change the meaning of the text, but I happen to prefer the rendering (contra NIV) that reads: But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

It seems to flow better. And I can think of a few other places where gentle is a characteristic of those who belong to Jesus.

Gentleness should mark the lives of Christian leaders.

2 Tim 2:24 “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind (epios, gentle) to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

Gentleness is meant to accompany our gospel proclamation.

1 Pet 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,”

Paul and Silas and Timothy chose to be humble and gentle among the Thessalonians, not asserting their rights over them or treating them harshly. They were gentle toward them.

Gentleness is an important mark of gospel ministry; a reflection of Jesus whom we proclaim.

Gospel Ministry is Caring Toward Others (vv. 7-8)

Paul loves his metaphors. And here in verses 7-8, he employs the metaphor of a nursing mother. It’s a good metaphor for caring and feeding, precisely what a mother does while nursing her children and just exactly what a gospel minister does with the people to whom they minister.

Paul and Silas and Timothy gently cared for the Thessalonians—they cared about their spiritual well-being. They cared enough about them to make sure they had what they needed to grow in Christ.

Far from trying to get rich off the Thessalonians, far from using the Thessalonians for their own purposes, Paul & Company cared deeply for them.

This happened quickly, this care for the Thessalonians. Only months before, these people were complete strangers to him—separated by race, culture, and religion.

This care often happens quickly, the only explanation being that the Lord knits together the hearts of His people.

Some of the most important people in my life—the people I care most about—are right here in this room.

And if that sounds too lovey-dovey, touchy-feely for you, take it up with Paul and the Holy Spirit.

Gospel Ministry is Loving Toward Others(v. 8)

Affectionate language warning! Brace yourself.

1 Thess 2.8 “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

This is one of the verses I’ve held onto for the last 12 years. I actually preached a sermon on this one verse about 10 years ago. I was at a conference in Atlanta and came back to Rich Hill and shared this verse with you, the people I love.

This is Paul and Silas and Timothy’s heart for the Thessalonian Christians: we loved you so much.

They loved the Thessalonians so much, they shared, not only the gospel, but their lives with them as well.

They didn’t just get the message; they got the messengers. They shared themselves. From the very beginning of our time here, Meghann’s and my desire is to spend the balance of our lives here with you.

Our Sunday School Teachers, our Junior/Kids Church teachers, our Youth Leaders aren’t just babysitters. They’re sharing the gospel and sharing their lives.

The pastors/elders of this church don’t serve for a title or position; they desire to share the gospel and to share their lives with you.

Gentle, caring, loving, and lastly:

Gospel Ministry Encourages, Comforts, and Urges Others (vv. 10-12)

Paul employs one more metaphor, that of father. He’s feeling very parental toward the Thessalonians. Paul and his team behaved like loving fathers do toward their children.

When Paul was writing, fathers—both Jewish and Gentile fathers—looked after their children’s education and trained them in proper behavior. Here Paul draws on this imagery and uses three somewhat overlapping terms.

Being a Christian in first-century Thessalonica wasn’t easy; they needed to be encouraged.

Being gentle, they had comforted the new believers in their difficulties.

Beyond the encouragement and the comfort, the new gathering of believers needed the urging of Paul and Silas and Timothy.

They needed to be urged to live lives worthy of God, to walk worthy of God.

Persecution and difficulty aside, they had to live for Him; to walk in step with Him, giving the idea of steady progress. One foot in front of the other. “A long obedience in the same direction.”

The Christian life is walking with God, just as the late, great Rich Mullins sang: “And step by step You'll lead me, And I will follow You all of my days.”

Gospel ministry is for others—it’s gentle and caring and loving, it encourages and comforts and urges a life lived with and for Him.

>Paul gets to the heart, to the essence of gospel ministry in these verses.

A lot has changed in the last almost 2,000 years. But the gospel—the Good News of Jesus’ life, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and any-moment-now return has not changed.

Our ministry—as those who proclaim the gospel—might look different, but it’s very much the same.

Share your life and share the gospel.

Brothers and sisters, let us make much of Jesus and point people to Him—for His glory and the good of His people!