Admonitions For Healthy Churches Part 3 | 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

Scripture

• 1 Thessalonians 5:12–22

About this sermon

Introduction: The spiritual health of believers is directly tied to our obedience to the Word of God. That is true individually and congregationally. Obedience to the Word of God is the pathway to spiritual fruitfulness. This is a great theme in the Word of God — God promises His blessing where there is faithful obedience — faith works. NAS Psalm 1:1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. NAS Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. ESV Jeremiah 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." ESV John 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ESV 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Faithful shepherds, then, proclaim the Word of God and exhort people to believe it and practice it. And they emphasize that true obedience is obedience FROM THE HEART. That is what Paul is doing at the end of 1 Thessalonians. He is closing this letter with admonitions. He is reminding them of important truths and calling them to believe these things and practice these things. And we said last time that he gives admonitions in an orderly fashion. These calls to obey fall into three categories. REVIEW: Last time we looked at the first one. I. HEALTHY CHURCHES RELATE RIGHTLY TO PASTORAL CARE (vs.12-13) Spiritual health requires a right response to the leadership that God has ordained in His church. We saw that verses twelve and thirteen challenge both the shepherds and those being shepherded. A. THE WORK OF ELDERS 1. ELDERS LABOR FOR THE CHURCH 2. ELDERS EXERCISE MEDIATED AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH 3. ELDERS ADMONISH THE CHURCH — Give instruction regarding correct beliefs and behaviors. B. THE RESPONSE OF GOD’S PEOPLE 1. APPRECIATIVE RESPECT 2. LOVING HIGH REGARD 3. PEACEFUL FELLOWSHIP (cooperative followership) LESSON: This morning, we continue by looking at the 2nd category. II. HEALTHY CHURCHES RELATE RIGHTLY TO MUTUAL CARE (vs.14-15) Spiritual health is not just measured by how we think of and respond to the leaders of the church. Spiritual health is also measured by our relationship to the people of God as a whole. Spiritual health is measured by our responses to the “one another” commands of God’s Word. What these admonitions represent is FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY. The church is the family of God. The church is the household of God. ESV 1 Timothy 3:15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. Healthy families care for one another. There is love, and therefore loyal care, that exists between the family members. THAT IS NO LESS TRUE IN THE FAMILY OF GOD. The admonitions that Paul gives here represent just that. Obedience to these exhortations represents loving God and loving your spiritual family.

Topics

• The Church