Helping the Baby Grow Up I Thessalonians 2:1-12 Be Ready By Warren Wiersbe Chapter 3

God uses people to bring the Gospel to people as well as nurture the babies in Christ and lead them to maturity In Chapter 1, Paul was an evangelist while in Chapter 2, he was a pastor. Three pictures of Paul’s pastoral ministry –The Faithful Steward –The Loving Mother –The Concerned Father

The Faithful Steward (2:1-6) Paul has been “put in trust with the Gospel” (4). Steward owns nothing, but he possess and uses that belongs to his Master, i.e., Joseph and Potiphar Every steward shall give an account of his stewardship (Luke 16:1-2) The message of the Gospel’s treasure that must be invested Faithfulness, most important quality a steward have

Characteristics of Paul’s ministry concerning faithfulness The manner of his ministry (2:1-2) Paul and Silas were beaten at Philippe yet they came to Thessalonica to preach His preaching was with much contention Contention as athletic term means a contest, a struggle. The message of his ministry (2:30) The message of Christ’s death and resurrection is a true message (I Corinthians 5:1-6)

The motive of his ministry (2:36) His motive was pure Philippians 1:14-19 Not a cloak of covetousness Sensitive about money uses I Corinthians 9:1-18 The method of his ministry (2:36) No guile or trickery to win converts. Result of God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, not clever argument or presentation “conscience void of offense toward God, and toward man” Acts 24:16

Paul hated flattery (2:5) *A flatterer is a person who manipulates rather than communicates. *Some people flatter themselves like Haman *Some people try to flatter God “Nevertheless they (Israel) did flatter God with their mouth, and they lied unto Him with their tongues” Psalm 78:36 Flattery is another form of lying. Saying one thing to God with our lips while our hearts are far from Him (Mark 7:6)

His method was pure presenting the Word of God in the power of the Spirit and trusting God to work. The Loving Mother (2:7-8) The emphasis of the steward is faithfulness while the emphasis of the mother is gentleness. Paul was a man of authority, but he always used it in love It takes time and energy to care for children. He made sacrifices and care for them himself He had patience with the new Christians.

They don’t grow instantly and they experience growing pain. 2:7 “even as a nursing mother cherishes her own children She imparts her own life to the child The nursing mothers eat food and transform it into milk for the baby. Likewise, the mature Christian feeds on God’s Word and then share with the younger Christians so they can grow (I Peter 2:1-3) She protects her child. Likewise, Paul didn’t only give out the Gospel, but his own life also

No nurture, no maturity (2:9-12) The Concerned Father (2:9-12) Paul was a spiritual father. A father begets children and cares for them Duties –His work (2:9) Even though Paul received financial support from Philippians, he made tents to prevent accusation that he preached for money II Thessalonians 3:6 reproves the lazy Christians from Thessalonians Church

Labor and travail: struggle and hard work He toiled “night and day” Acts 20:3) II Corinthians 12:14 Parents lay up for children –His walk (2:10) Father lives so they set good examples to the children His life was exemplary in every way His life was holy “Carefully fulfill the duties God gives to a person” His life was righteous; integrity, uprightness of character, and behavior

His life was unblamable meaning “not able to find fault in” Christians are to be “blameless and harmless” as they live in this world (Philippians 2:15) - His Words (2:11-12) Fathers must take time to talk to the family members “for you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children” (2:11, NIV) Regardless of being busy, Paul found time for the members of the church

–Paul encouraged the new believers; Exhorting means to call to one’s side, to encourage, not scold –Paul comforted them, same idea as encourage with an emphasis on activity. A father must not pamper (or spoil) a child, but rather he must encourage the child to go right back and try again Christians are encouraged to do better –Paul charged them It means that Paul “testified to them” out of his own experience

At times we go through difficulties so we can share with new Christians what the Lord has done God “comfort us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (II Corinthians 1:4, NIV) The purpose of fatherly ministry to the believers is that his children “walk worthy of God” (2:12) Every child must learn how to walk He must have good models to follow Paul encouraged them to walk worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10 & Philippians 1:27)

Worthy of the calling we have in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:1) 1 Thessalonians 2:12 - Walk worthy of God who hath called you into His kingdom and glory Who is continually calling you From salvation (II Thessalonians 2:13-14) to life of holiness (I Peter 1:15-16) to heaven Example of follow up Children needs discipline and love; likewise the Christians