Sermon Tone Analysis

#2 Thessalonians 2

*The Joy of the Pastor*

*Thessalonians 2 *

 

What *drives* the *Pastor*?

*Why* do I *do* what I *do*?

*Money* ?

*Fame* ?

Notoriety ?

Prestige ?

I know you probably *think* it's just the *easiest* *thing* in the world to be a *minister* of the *Gospel*.

Hey we only *work* *one* *day* a *week* right?

Notice how often in this *letter* Paul *mentions* the *difficulty* of his call.

He says "we had *suffered* and been *insulted* in Philippi, yet we *dared *to tell you in spite of strong opposition"

He *speaks* of "*toil* and *hardship*", working "*night* and *day*"

 

You *can't* *read* Paul's story, the letters he wrote, and know of the life he *lived* without *recognizing* that life was *not* *easy* for him.

If you *read* the *accounts* of *Pastors*, *Evangelists*, *Missionaries* through history and even *today*, it's *not* what you *see* on *TV*.

It's *not* *glitz* and spotlight, health, *wealth*, and *prosperity*.

For the *average* preacher and even for *many* who *seem* to *have* so much, it is *NOT* an *easy* job, it is *difficult*.

Your *message* is often *rejected*, *treated* with *indifference*, left *unappreciated*, or downright *ignored*.

NOW, I'm *NOT* *complaining*, and I'm *NOT* giving you some *hidden* *message*.

But I want to *answer* the *question*.

*WHY*?

What is the *JOY* of being a *Pastor*, a *Minister* of the Gospel for that matter being *anyone* who is *willing* to get *involved* in the Ministry whether *layperson* or *Pastor*,

*volunteer* or *vocational*

 

what is the Joy?

 

Well *the joys* are *many* no doubt, or we *wouldn't* *withstand* the struggles.

Hebrews said that *Christ* *endured* the cross because of the "*joy* set *before* him."

Because he *knew* that there was a *reason* and an *end*, he could *withstand* even the cross.

Let's *look* at *four* things that the Pastor *Joyfully* Does

Four *HATS*, if you will, that the *pastor* *wears*

 

*READ chapter 2*

*The Joy of the Pastor*

* *

The First is He is Joyfully …

*1.

A Steward - *(1-6)

DEF a *steward* is "/one *employed* to manage domestic *concerns* … one who *cares* for the *possessions* of others …"/

 

The *joy* of being a *Pastor* is in *knowing* that this *message* we deliver this call we have is *NOT* our *own*.

*Paul* says we do *NOT* come to you with because we made a *mistake* ~/ error (v3) *nor* because we've got some *ulterior* *motive*, or to try and "*trick*" you but "on the contrary" in other words the *opposite* is *true*, we have *been*

*APPROVED BY GOD*

*Entrusted with the Gospel*

"*entrusted*" means to *commit* to another with *confidence*

 

It is a *joy* to know that *God* has *given* me a *task*, a message, a *purpose* and he has *confidence* in *me*, because *Christ* in *ME* is the *hope* of *glory* I am a *steward* of that *TRUST*

 

The word *Approved* means /"to  *scrutinize* to see whether a thing is *genuine* or not"/

* *

The word *entrusted* is also used elsewhere to carry the meaning of *believing* in or *trusting* in.

It's is the *SAME* Greek WORD as in *John 1:12* - to *all* who *BELIEVED* … gave the *right* to become *children* of God

 

It's the *same* WORD as in *John 3:16* - that says if we *BELIEVE* in him we have eternal life

*John 14:1* - says don't be troubled, *BELIEVE* in God believe also in *me*

 

It is to *PLACE* what you have in *God's* hands so to *receive* *ETERNAL* LIFE

 

Yet here *GOD* is *placing* that *TRUST* back in the *Hands* of his *SERVANT*

 

*WOW* what an image, as I have placed *my* *FAITH* in *Christ* and entrusted him with my *life*

So *he* *has* in a sense *placed* his *FAITH* in *ME* and *entrusted* me with his most precious *possession*, that is, the *GOSPEL* and *those* who *need* to hear it.

IT is the *Joy* of the *Pastor* to

*carry* the *gospel* - anywhere, everywhere, under *any* *circumstance* because the *receiver* *needs* to get this *life*-giving *message*

 

It is the *JOY* of the *Pastor* to be a *sower* of the *seed* of the gospel

The *object* of my *call*, *entrusted* from God, is the *RECEIVER* of the Gospel, the *field* in which we *sow*, the *sheep* of his *pasture* as well as those who will one day be in his pasture

 

I must *GUARD* my trust

*1 Timothy 6:20* /"Timothy, *guard* what has been *entrusted* to your care.

*Turn* away from *godless* chatter, and the opposing ideas of what is *falsely* called *knowledge*"/

 

God had *given* it to *Timothy* and *Timothy* was to commit it to *others* in *2 Tim.

2:2*

 

But there is a *responsibility*.

I am *NOT* just a *hired* hands that is kinda looking out for God's stuff.

I know that I *love* God and since *he* has *placed* his *trust* in me I *must* be *faithful* to *guard*

The *distribution* of the *Gospel*

The *discipleship* of the *Believer*

The *doctrine* of the *Church*.

I can *give* you *freedom* in Christ to *choose* to believe as you *would* …

I can *give* you *freedom* to *worship* as you are lead …

 

But, *I* am *accountable* to God to *keep* what has been *entrusted* to me in *accordance* with what God has *taught* in the Word to the very *best* of my *understanding* and when I *can't* understand, then *according* to his *direction*

 

I *can't* *just* let *ANYTHING* come from this *pulpit*, because I have a *TRUST*

 

I *can't* just let *ANYTHING* be *taught* in our Bible Classes because I *have* a *TRUST*

 

I *can't* just let *ANYTHING* be *done* from *one* body *member* to *another*, because I have a *TRUST*

 

I *can't* just let any *expression* of worship go *unaccountable*, because I *have* a *TRUST*.

But a *Joy* of being a *Pastor* is to be a a *Steward* *entrusted* with the Gospel *not* by the *approval* of *man* but by the approval *of* *God*

 

Paul said in *1 Cor 4:2* /"it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."/

I *MUST* be *faithful* and I must be *proven* so because of the *faith*, the *trust* that God has placed in me *requires* it.

*Another* *JOY* of being a Pastor sounds *strange* coming from a *man* but Paul says that "we were *gentle* among you *like* a *MOTHER* caring for her little children"

* *

*2.

A Mother* (7-8)

 

The word *literally* is a "*nursing* mother"

 

One of the *Joys* of Being a Pastor is *seeing* people *receive* the Gospel with which we have been *entrusted* and in *turn* place their *TRUST* in Jesus and as Jesus told Nicodemus in *John 3*, they are *BORN* *AGAIN*

And as *2 Co 5:17* says they are *NEW* *CREATURES*

 

Then it is the *joy* of the Pastor to

  *A*.

*NURTURE* *YOUNG* CHILDREN - spiritually

*1 Peter 2:2* - /"like *newborn* babies, *crave* *pure* spiritual *milk*, so that by it you may *grow* up in your salvation."/

1.

it is the *primary* *role* of the *Mother* to provide the first *nutrients* to the young

    2.

*Mother's* not only have that task but in general are *JEALOUS* *for* that *task*.

i.e. they *WANT* to *feed* their child.

They *want* to be *sure* that their child has *what* it *needs*.

3.

As a *Pastor*, I want to be *certain* that new *believers* whom God has *placed* in this body are *fed* well the *milk* of the word.

4.

Let me *encourage* you as a *new* believer to *be* *fed* *by* *your* *Pastor*.

God has *placed* *me* here for that *purpose*.

It is *NOT* to say that *others* *can't* feed you and *can't* do a *good* job, but *there* is a *needed* *connection* that comes as the *PARENT* *feeds* the child.

If *someone* *encourages* you to *stay* *away* from the *feeding* of the *one* God has placed over you, I *believe* you should be *cautious*, no you should *step* *away*.

*B.

*A Mother's* Protection*

    1.

you might think that I sound *overprotective* - that's *because* I *AM*!

What *good* parent *does* *NOT* want the *best* for their child.

I know you are *GOD's* *children*, but God has *allowed* *me* to be an *undershepherd* and my JOY is to *nurture* you.

    2.

I will also *make* *sure* that those who *feed*~/teach you *within* this body will be *faithful* alongside me to give you the *nutrients* that you *need* and that you can receive

*1 Corinthians 3:1-4* - "/I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it."/

3.

The *mother* not only makes *sure* that the infant, the *child* is *fed*, but gets *appropriate* food.