1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

1 Thessalonians 5:14-15

Encouragement

INTRODUCTION: Every once in a while there come along a really good coach for little league or PeeWee football. They happy enough to win games if they can, but they are happier if their teams are winners. They teach, they hope, and pray that each child will make a breakthrough that season. Billy finally caught a ball, Sally through all the way into home plate. Kenny ran to first base. Tim made a block.

What would it look like if the church was about making winners instead of winning, not as worried about the size of our budget, the numbers on our rolls, or the size of our building? What would it mean to be winners? John learned to really pray, Tom shared his faith, Kimmy accepted Jesus, Ron has finally quite drinking, and Mark is going to teach a Sunday school class. That kind of coach is about three things that our scripture says the church should be doing.

1. ENCOURAGE THE TIMID

A. Encourage those who hold back to get in the game.

a. Keep your eyes wide open

b. Swing at the ball

c. Keep the glove in front of you

d. Use both hands

e. Go for the ball

f. Hit hard

B. You can do it

C. Take a chance

D. Don’t hold back

E. I am backing you up

2. HELP THE WEAK

A. Help those who are weak grow in strength

a. This is how you run

b. This is how you use your weight to hit the ball

c. This is how you build stronger mussels

d. This is how you need to eat

B. This is how we read our Bible

C. This is how we pray

D. This is how we share our faith

E. This is how we avoid temptation

3. WARN THE IDOL

A. Keep them all growing and playing

a. Warn those with natural talent not to rest on it

b. Keep working and keep growing

CONCLUSION: Have you been more worried about winning the game yourself than making the people around you winners. I wonder about that often. Would we see a winner, know what it means for each of the people around us to play the game?

1 THESSALONIANS 5:12

1 Thessalonians 5:12

INTRODUCTION: This sermon kept me up all night. I see no good way out of it. There are areas that are going to offend some, areas that some will say are self serving, and much of it dismissed out of hand. But it is the word of God and we need to not only hear it but listen carefully. If some part pinches you try not to get angry but give it some honest thought.

1. RESPECT THOSE WHO WORK HARD, HOLD THEM IN HIGH

A. WHO IS HE TALKING ABOUT?

a. PASTORS

b. SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

c. CHURCH STAFF

d. VOLITEERS

B. WORK HARD

a. DOUBTFULL IN MY CASE

b. VOLINTEERS ARE HERE AT ALL HOURS

c. MANY PUT IN HOURS AT HOME AS WELL

d. MANY GIVE UP VACATIONS TO WORK IN THE CHURCH

2. HOW DO YOU HONOR AND RESPECT THEM

A. ENCOURAGE THEM

B. PRAY FOR THEM

C. SHOW SOME PRIDE IN YOUR CHURCH

D. DON’T FIND FAULT WITH THEM

a. NOTHING HURTS MORE THAN THE NASTY COMENTS

E. BE TEACHEABLE AND OPEN TO NEW IDEAS

F. GIVE THEM A BREAK

a. SABBATICAL BREAK, WORKING WITH SESSION TO PLAN AND FUND ONE, FORMER PASTOR OF WAUSAUKEE HAD TWO; THE PASTOR IN SHAWANO HAS JUST COME BACK FROM HER THIRD. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE IN 25 YEARS OF MINISTRY.

b. OUR VOLINTEERS NEED BRAKES TOO. MANY HAVE WORKED FOR YEARS ON THINGS WHITH NO ONE SAYING “YOU REST AND I WILL TAKE OVER THIS FOR A WHILE.”

c. SOME WOULD LIKE SOMEONE TO WORK WITH THEM.

G. FIND YOUR OWN SPOT TO SERVE

a. VOLINTEER DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED

b. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

c. FIND YOUR GIFT AND USE IT.

d. ROGER – SINNING BY NOT USING HIS GIFT OF TEACHING

H. SUPPLY THEIR NEEDS, GIVE THEM THE TOOLS

a. EQUIPMENT WE DON’T HAVE OR NEED TO UPDATE

b. EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD MKE THEIR WORK EASIER OR MORE EFFECTIVE.

c. SESSION CAN NOT ADDRESS NEEDS FROM SUPPLIES TO WAGES WHEN WE FAIL TO DO OUR PART TO FUND THE CHURCH.

d. IT IS SINFUL TO DONATE TO OTHER CHURCHES WHILE YOUR CHURCH STRUGGLES.

e. IT HURTS TO HEAR SOMEONE GO ON AND ON ABOUT A CHURCH THEY VISITED OR HEARD OF AND IT’S PROGRAMS AND STUFF ALL THE WHILE THEY ARE PUTTING LITTLE OR NOTHING TOWARDS HELPING THEIR OWN CHURCH.

CONCLUSION: HONOR AND RESPECT MAY START WITH WORDS OF PRAISE AND ENCOURAGEMENT, BUT IT GOES BEYOND THAT. HONOR AND RESPECT ARE ABOUT FINDING YOUR PLACE TO WORK AND JOING IN, IT’S ABOUT GIVING OTHERS A BREAK, IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE THEY HAVE ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEED, IT’S ABOUT COOPERATING WITH THE WORK THEY ARE TRYING TO DO.

1 Thessalonians 5:4-11

1 Thes 5:4-8 “Living in the light”

INTRODUCTION: We have in the study of 1 Thessalonians looked at the second coming of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, what will happen to Christians who are alive then, and the destruction of that day. We have been warned that it will come suddenly and without warning. All of this leads up to Paul’s real purpose, how do we live today with the knowledge that Jesus has left us with?

1. GOD HAS GIVEN US INSIDE INFORMATION

A. WHAT IF YOU KNEW ABOUT THE NEXT BIG CHANGE, the automobile, standard oil, Microsoft, Intel, the next big money thing.

B. THE TALK OF 600 NEW OBS COMING TO MARINETTE

C. WE EXERSIZE, PLAN, SAVE, SO WE ARE READY

D. The Bible, it’ll help you live a better life.

E. You know there is a judgment coming

F. You know what God will condemn and reward.

G. You know about the forgiveness of God and how to obtain it

2. LIVING BY THAT INFORMATION

A. ALERT

B. SELF CONTROLED

C. PEOPLE OF FAITH

D. PEOPLE OF LOVE

E. THE HOPE OF SALVATION

F. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

G. BUILD UP EACH OTHER

3. REAPING THE BENOFIT OF LIVING IN THE LIGHT

A. TO RECEIVE SALVATION THROUGH JESUS

B. LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM

CONCLUSION: “HE IS NO FOOL WHO TRADES WHAT HE CAN NOT KEEP TO GAIN WHAT HE CAN NOT LOSE.” Will we profit by the wealth of inside information that we have been given by God? WE CAN LIVE IN THE LIGHT AND NOT THE DARKNESS, WE CANLIVE A BETTER LIFE; WE SHOULD LIVE A BETTER LIFE. FOR GOD HAS NOT APPOINTED US TO SUFFER BUT TO RECEIVE SALVATION THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. LIVE IN THE LIGHT.