Sermon Tone Analysis

I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

 

! Introduction

Have you ever asked someone, “How did you enjoy your vacation?

or “How did the doctor appointment go?” or “How was your job interview?”

or “Are you enjoying school?”

These are questions that are common.

We care about people and often inquire about the things that interest them or that are happening to them.

How often have you asked another person the question, “how are you doing spiritually?”

I remember a man in our church when I was growing up.

We will call him deacon Peter.

He was a deacon and he often asked this question of the young people in the church.

It felt awkward when he did this because he seldom asked other questions, but I understood even then that he was concerned about us spiritually.

When I was in my first church, my predecessor in that church became my advisor.

He often asked me such questions.

Sometimes it was uncomfortable, but other times it was important and helpful.

I know that his concern was that I grow in faith and that I do well in ministry.

I have a friend with whom I have been in a relationship which allowed us to ask each other this question.

It was a good relationship because we were friends and we were trying to help each other grow in faith.

Beyond these incidents, I don’t know how often this question has been asked of me.

It is something we do reluctantly, but if we really cared for one another, would it not make sense to have these kind of conversations with each other?

If we care about one another’s happiness, job, health should we not also care about one another’s spiritual life?

As we go on in our study of Thessalonians, we read a story about Paul’s concern for the spiritual life of the Thessalonians.

This is a narrative of Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians after he left them.

In this passage we see his heart for them.

The words of I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 are filled with words of deep concern and strong spiritual care.

As we examine his concern, we will be challenged to consider how much we care about the spiritual needs of others.

I trust we will be encouraged to be bold enough to ask.

Let us read I Thessalonians 2:17-3:13.

!

I. Reason for Concern

!! A. Situation

            In this passage, we see the passion in Paul’s heart when he says, “…when we were torn away from you for a short time, out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.”

The phrase is just loaded with words that demonstrate spiritual care.

Just to show you how strong his desire is, consider the word “intense longing.”

The Greek word is epithemia which appears 38 times in the NT.

In the KJV it is translated “lust” at least 32 times and is thus most often a negative term referring to a wrong, but powerful desire.

In fact, this is the only time it is used in a positive sense.

The strength of the word tells us just how deeply Paul was concerned about them.

Why did he have such a strong longing?

As we have previously noted, Paul came to Thessalonica from Philippi where he had been persecuted.

In spite of that, he continued to proclaim the gospel to the people of Thessalonica and there was a good response to his preaching.

People embraced the gospel and rejoiced to know Christ.

Then there was opposition again and Paul and Silas were accused of being trouble makers.

Suddenly, after having just reached these new believers and having just established the church they were forced to leave.

For Paul, it felt like being torn away from them.

They were separated and then prevented from returning and it seemed to them that Satan was preventing them from finishing their responsibility, as it says in verse 18.

!! B. Dangers

            Do you remember when your child reached the age of 5 and could go to school?

It was hard to let them go, especially the first one and the last one.

Do you remember when they graduated from high school and it was time for them to go out on their own?

It was hard to let them go.

The fears we have at times like that are fears of wondering, “Are they ready?”

“will they be safe?”

What kinds of dangers will they face that I will not be able to protect them from?”

These are the same kind of fears Paul had for the new believers at Thessalonica.

Since he perceived that it was Satan preventing them from going back to Thessalonica, he was fully aware that Satan could also be influencing them to give up the faith.

In fact, he expresses this fear in 3:5 when he says, “I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.”

Can’t you just hear the parent heart of Paul.

He knew the dangers presented by the evil one and the trials that could come upon them.

Satan is known as the one who puts obstacles in the way, hindering God’s work.

He knew that they were not strong enough yet.

“Were they ready?”

“would they be safe?”

“What kind of dangers would they face that he could not protect them from?”

The same questions were in his mind as those in the mind of a parent.

In 2:7, 11 he had used the imagery of parenting.

He had seen himself and his co-workers as being like a mother caring for her children and as a father nurturing his own.

Now, it felt like he was orphaned from them.

The tearing apart from them felt just like that kind of a separation.

!! C. Hopes

            We see something more of the heart of Paul in 2:19 when he says, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?

Is it not you?”

What does this mean?

It means that there was nothing more important to Paul than the spiritual life and health of people.

Their joy was that these people had come to faith.

Their crown was that they would see them in eternity.

Paul is not being selfish in this.

He so bound in love for the Thessalonian believers that their well-being was his joy.

Paul cared deeply about his converts.

When they were led astray, he was indignant.

When they slipped back, he was distressed.

When they showed evidence of a faith life, he was overjoyed.

There is correspondence included in Martyr’s Mirror between a husband and wife.

The wife, whose name is Adriaenken, has been arrested and her husband is still free.

She is obviously facing martyrdom.

We see the same kind of spiritual concern for each other in the correspondence they have.

She writes: “Herewith I will commend you my dearest husband and beloved brother in the Lord, to the Almighty God, and to the rich Word of His grace which is able to build you up, to keep from evil and to bring you to the eternal inheritance; there I hope to see you with eternal joy…” He writes, “Farewell, and pray the Lord for me, that He may keep me in this evil time that I may always walk in the way of the Lord.

I also pray for you, that the Lord will grant you strength, that you may be an acceptable offering unto Him, and that through your bonds and through the voluntary surrender of your body into the tyrants’ hands, many may come to the truth.”

Do we have the concern and take the time to express concern for the spiritual life and health of other believers?

Are we concerned when they go astray?

Are we joyful when they grow in faith?

!

II.

Paul’s Desire For Them

            As we continue to read, we notice that Paul’s spiritual concern for them was not general.

He had some very specific spiritual hopes for them.

The Mennonite Brethren church has developed material to help plan for Christian education programs.

Their national Christian education office has developed what they call the “description of a discipled person.”

When they plan Sunday School, youth, and even adult programs, they use this description of a discipled person to evaluate what aspect of the program needs to be strengthened to develop disciples that are well trained.

The description of the discipled person includes six things.

A discipled person will have accepted Christ as Saviour; they will have a regular devotional life which includes Bible reading, prayer and worship; they will have a certain level of Bible knowledge; they will be significantly involved in a Christian community including whole church and small group involvement; they will be involved in outreach to the people around them and they will have a servant heart and be willing to serve God with their gifts and abilities.

In a similar way, Paul has some things in mind that he considers essentials in the life of these new believers.