Paul Modeled Discipleship

INTRO

The church at Thessalonica was a baby church, and Paul wanted to come alongside them and help them grow. In this chapter, Paul talks to them about perseverance through tribulation. In chapter 1, Paul came to the church as an evangelist. In this chapter Paul reveals himself as a shepherd who is getting them ready for the Coming Lord.

TEACHING

1 Thessalonians 2:1-6: Warren Wiersbe said Paul revealed himself as the faithful steward in these verses.¹ Evidently, Paul’s motives for coming to Thessalonica were questioned and challenged, probably by the Jews and pagan Gentiles, after Paul left the city. Paul responded by saying his visit had not been in vain (v. 1). Even though Paul suffered outrageous treatment in

Philippi, he preached the gospel with boldness in Thessalonica (v. 2). This spiteful treatment was described in Acts 16:22-24. Paul’s exhortation (admonition and encouragement) was a comforting and strengthening presence for this young church (v. 3). Paul didn’t speak from error (which basically means leading someone astray) or uncleanliness (referring to impurity in a moral or lustful sense or with wrong motives) or in deceit (this word describes a lure, like a fishing lure used to bait or trick the fish).

Paul said that first of all they had been “approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” (v. 4). “Approved” is the Greek word dokimázō, which means to test, to examine, or to scrutinize to see whether or not a thing is genuine. Because of what Paul experienced, he felt that he was approved, that he had passed the test, and that he had been entrusted with the gospel. As followers of Christ, we have also been entrusted with the gospel and approved to carry this message forth. In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Paul said believers are new creations in Christ who have become Christ’s ambassadors to carry the message of reconciliation to the world. Paul did not preach the gospel using flattering speech to please men in order to gain a following for himself (v. 5). He knew God tested the heart. The only thing that mattered to Paul was pleasing the Lord. He wanted the words from his mouth to be truth, and he didn’t worry about how people would react. King David also hated the sin of flattery as revealed in Psalm 12:2 KJV: “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warned Timothy that a day would come when they would not “tolerate sound doctrine but . . . they will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths.” Peter warned believers to beware of false teachers who would deny Jesus and exploit them with deceptive words (2 Peter 2:1-3 NKJV). Paul, just like Jesus, went forth in truth and let the people decide whether or not they wanted to follow that truth. The word covetousness means a greedy desire to have more.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-8: In these verses Paul presents himself as having the characteristics of a loving mother.² Basically, Paul modeled discipleship. He brought the gospel to them and invested in their lives. Nelson’s Commentary says, “While a professional nurse would know how to provide for the physical needs of an infant, a mother cherishes her own children with maternal love. Paul emphasizes the extent of his love: he would have sacrificed his own life for them if necessary.”³ This is a huge challenge for us: Do we care about young believers that much? Would we be willing to pour our lives into them, whatever it takes? Wiersbe said, “Babes in Christ sensed his tender loving care as he nurtured them.”⁴It takes time and energy to nurture young children, and Paul showed great patience with them.

1 Thessalonians 2:9-12: Paul also showed himself as the concerned father.⁵ Paul was a spiritual father to this church, just as he was to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:15-16). Paul modeled for this early church what the heart of a father looks like. Paul labored and toiled, night and day, so he wouldn’t be a burden on them as he shared the gospel with them (v. 9). Paul’s work was a model to them as a father.⁶ In Hebrews 12:14, we’re told to make every effort to live in peace with everyone. In 2 Peter 1:5, Peter said to make every effort to add goodness to your faith. Ephesians 4:3 says, “diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit.”

The second thing Paul modeled as a spiritual father was his walk.⁷ Paul not only shared the message; he also lived it (v. 10). The Thessalonians watched Paul when the tensions rose in times of high stress to see how he would respond. Third, Paul modeled how to be a spiritual father through his words.⁸ Paul spoke words into their lives that edified and encouraged them. Paul exhorted, comforted, and charged them as a father with his own children to walk worthy of God’s calling (v. 11-12). In the Great Commission, Jesus told the disciples to go into the world and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything He commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20: Paul was thankful that they received the word of God and welcomed it effectively (v. 13). The word “effectively” denotes with work, with energy, and with power. In verses 14-16, this church went through a time of persecution. Paul comforted and encouraged them to keep going. Maybe you have faced the same thing. You feel like you are growing in the Lord, but all of a sudden you are starting to face oppression. Maybe your own family is pushing you aside, because you are starting to walk in faith and you are growing in the Lord. Paul’s message to you is: keep going and keep growing. One of the great values of the local church is that we stand together in times of difficulty and encourage one another. As Wiersbe said, “A lonely saint is very vulnerable to the attacks of Satan. We need each other in the battles of life.”⁹ In 2 Corinthians 4:16-18, Paul encouraged believers not to lose heart but to focus on the eternal.

In verses 19-20, Paul told the Thessalonians that they were his glory and joy. Paul’s joy would come from seeing them in the presence of Christ and that kept him going. He encouraged them to keep going because Jesus is coming back, and it will all be worth it.

CLOSING

Paul modeled discipleship as a faithful steward, a loving mother, and a concerned father. Paul modeled discipleship through his work, his walk, and his words. Wiersbe said that Paul encouraged them to “lay hold of the spiritual resources you have in Jesus Christ. You have the Word of God within you, the people of God around you, and the glory of God before you. There is no need to give up.”¹⁰Peter also encouraged believers not to be surprised when they suffer for the sake of the gospel but instead to rejoice at the revelation of His glory (1 Peter 4:12-14). The Lord is encouraging us today. Sometimes it’s not easy, but there’s a prize coming, Jesus Christ!