Advice To A Church
1 Thess. 5:12-15
Intro: Paul had received a good report from Timothy (1:2-10) and yet there was a restlessness that prevailed in the fellowship of the church. (Verse 14, speak of disorderly people).
There was an independent spirit in the heart of some who were having a struggle with the principle laid out by the religious authorities.
4:8 ''Therefore he who rejects this instruction does not request men, but God who gives you His Holy Spirit.''
So Paul comes to an end with a chain of jewels of good advice.
He has soared to the heavenlies with the dramatic teaching of the Second Coming, but he has to deal with the practical problem of sinful human nature. Verse, ''Live in peace with each other.''
1. Duties toward pastors. 5:12-13 2. Duties toward people (church members) 5: 14-15
I. DUTIES TOWARD PASTORS
Here Paul describes them more by function than by office or title. There were not three kinds of leaders but leaders characterized by:
1.
1) Laborers, toilers. Men who exert themselves in the interest of their brothers. Explaining the gospel/ applying it to concrete situations, warning/admonishing/ helping/encouraging - for their benefit amid great difficulty
ILL. Old word for ''toil'' even if weary! Paul used it for manual labor (1 Cor. 4:12). Paul used it for religious work (Rom. 16:12). The term reveals the strain of spiritual leadership.
The greatest area of breakdowns and break-up of lives and marriages is among Christian workers! Expectation of church members is tremendous and high. The average association has 10-20% of churches without pastors. Turn- over.
2) Superintendents or managers. (Those who are over you.) By virtue of being in the Lord appointed by God (The Lord is head of the church!).
3) Admonishers. Those who put their brothers in mind. ''Putting sense into the heads of people.'' A thankless but necessary task. Perhaps this is where problems had arisen!
ILL. of member who said, ''I ...
1 Thess. 5:12-15
Intro: Paul had received a good report from Timothy (1:2-10) and yet there was a restlessness that prevailed in the fellowship of the church. (Verse 14, speak of disorderly people).
There was an independent spirit in the heart of some who were having a struggle with the principle laid out by the religious authorities.
4:8 ''Therefore he who rejects this instruction does not request men, but God who gives you His Holy Spirit.''
So Paul comes to an end with a chain of jewels of good advice.
He has soared to the heavenlies with the dramatic teaching of the Second Coming, but he has to deal with the practical problem of sinful human nature. Verse, ''Live in peace with each other.''
1. Duties toward pastors. 5:12-13 2. Duties toward people (church members) 5: 14-15
I. DUTIES TOWARD PASTORS
Here Paul describes them more by function than by office or title. There were not three kinds of leaders but leaders characterized by:
1.
1) Laborers, toilers. Men who exert themselves in the interest of their brothers. Explaining the gospel/ applying it to concrete situations, warning/admonishing/ helping/encouraging - for their benefit amid great difficulty
ILL. Old word for ''toil'' even if weary! Paul used it for manual labor (1 Cor. 4:12). Paul used it for religious work (Rom. 16:12). The term reveals the strain of spiritual leadership.
The greatest area of breakdowns and break-up of lives and marriages is among Christian workers! Expectation of church members is tremendous and high. The average association has 10-20% of churches without pastors. Turn- over.
2) Superintendents or managers. (Those who are over you.) By virtue of being in the Lord appointed by God (The Lord is head of the church!).
3) Admonishers. Those who put their brothers in mind. ''Putting sense into the heads of people.'' A thankless but necessary task. Perhaps this is where problems had arisen!
ILL. of member who said, ''I ...
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