Church Is Not About You!
A series on the “one another’s”
Part 11 – Encourage One Another
1 Thessalonians 5:11
-This week I had a unique opportunity. I attended a pastor’s conference at
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-Oh, yeah, remember that $50 gift card I mentioned? It’s for the conference bookstore, which is a room about the size of the entire upstairs fellowship hall and youth room with tables set up and books stacked on them (remember, pastors love books!) all at highly discounted prices. Then when you walk out of each session there are large tables set up with fruit, veggies, cookies, coffee, water, soda, candy, muffins, bagels, cheese and crackers. There is a stand where they are popping fresh popcorn and a concierge that will hold stuff for you, take messages for you, help you with any need that you may have.
-They do this because they know how much pastors labor and toil and they want to provide a time of refreshment and encouragement. We all need encouragement, don’t we?
-This brings us to our final one another command. I do not mean final in that these last 11 weeks have exhausted all that the Bible has to say, I simply mean final in that it’s the last one that we will look at.
II. Where does encouragement come from?
-What is unique about the pastors’ conference that I have been talking about is the fact that they use the Word of God to encourage the men of God. Some could say that this is a silly notion. After all, pastors are men who devote their days, weeks, months, years and lives to studying God’s Word (well the good pastors, anyway) and then they go to a conference just to hear more Bible? Ludicrous!
-But this is exactly how the Bible tells us to encourage one another.
-I’m just going to cite a couple of examples:
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (11) For you know how, like a father with his children, (12) we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Colossians 2:1-3 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, (2) that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, (3) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
-The Bible is our main source of encouragement because that is where the hope and the truths about our future are found! When someone is down and going through a hard time in life the apostle Paul would say to them:
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (17) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (18) as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
III. The example of the Thessalonians
-The Christians in Thessalonica illustrate the process of being encouraged by God’s Word probably more than any other New Testament church. Let’s take a look at the specific ways that this encouragement is demonstrated:
1. Encouragement regarding the dead in Christ
-Somehow these new believers got the impression that those who died before Christ’s return would not go to heaven. This belief was probably prevalent because of false teaching regarding Christ’s return and the end times; but let’s look at what Paul says to them in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 (13) But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (14) For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (15) For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. (17) Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
-So Paul thoroughly explains what the return of Christ is going to be like and then he writes something really cool:
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
2. Encouragement concerning the rapture of the church
-The Thessalonians had another problem. They knew the day of the Lord—the Day of Judgment and Wrath—was coming upon the earth. They were fully aware that it would come like a “thief in the night.”
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. (2) For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
-But, like so many Christians today, they were unsure about where they would be when this day comes.
-Talk about the tribulation period and the different beliefs regarding the rapture--Pre-trib, Mid-trib, post-trib (and pan-trib!)
-I land pre-trib and one of the driving forces for that is what Paul writes here to encourage the Thessalonians.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-10 While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. (4) But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. (5) For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (6) So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. (7) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. (8) But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (9) For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, (10) who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
-Then in the same vein as in Chapter 4 he says:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
-What encouragement is there if we are going to experience any of God’s wrath? This has really been the passage that has helped shape my understanding and my stance on the end times.
3. Encouragement regarding the day of the Lord
-In 2 Thessalonians we see that the believers in Thessalonica were still confused about some eschatological events. But this time they were confused because they had received a letter that claimed to be from Paul, but wasn’t, claiming that the day of the Lord had already occurred.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, (2) not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
-Obviously this would cause some stress in their lives! They were so looking forward to the day of the Lord that when they were told it had already occurred there would have been much confusion and anxiety.
-So, Paul reminds them of the conversion—namely that God had chosen them for salvation that they might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (13) But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. (14) To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
-Then after reminding them about the glorious truths of our future Paul does a very familiar thing, he encourages them.
2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 (15) So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. (16) Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, (17) comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
IV. The example of the Corinthians
-Paul has a very similar pattern in one portion of 2 Corinthians, as well. The setting is a little bit different, however. Here Paul is encouraging the Corinthian believers not to be too concerned about the plight that Paul faces on a seemingly daily basis.
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (10) always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (11) For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (12) So death is at work in us, but life in you.
-He goes on to tell them that all the afflictions that he and his team experience are for the sake of the Corinthian believers.
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak, (14) knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. (15) For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
-And then he tells them that because of this fact (hence the so, in vs. 16) Paul and his team do not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (17) For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, (18) as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
-Paul’s encouragement here is the same as it is to the Thessalonians. He’s encouraging them to have an eternal perspective. We don’t look to the things that are seen because they will move on and pass away, but we look to the things that are unseen because those things are eternal.
-Living life with an eternal perspective should be, and I will even guarantee will be, very encouraging.
-Memorize 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; live it, breathe it, eat it, learn it, love it. It will get you through all sorts of things!
-Then continuing in the same vein, this thread runs all through chapters 4 and 5 of 2 Corinthians (truthfully through the whole book, but especially 4 and 5) Paul launches into another explanation of struggles.
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. (2) For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, (3) if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. (4) For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened--not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. (5) He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
-I could go into all the little nuances of this passage and explain it to you, and I look forward to doing that some where down the road but for right now let’s just look at some key words—groan, burdened, naked, mortal.
-When I first read this passage I was like, “Ugh, how depressing.” But, like I said the nuances of the passage actually reveal something completely different and I just don’t have time to go into them with you today.
-But I want you to notice something. There is a pattern in these two Corinthian passages. Notice that Paul delivers two very depressing and somber passages regarding his life. But, he ends both of those deliveries by “blaming” or crediting God for these things (4:15, 5:5)
-Then Paul launches back into and word of encouragement in 5:6 and 5:8:
2 Corinthians 5:6-10 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, (7) for we walk by faith, not by sight. (8) Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. (9) So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
-Notice that it is always because of God and His eternal plans for us that Paul encourages people even in the most depressing situations.
V. Conclusion
-The conclusion then is that each Christian has a responsibility to be able to know the Scriptures well enough to encourage others with it. Take some time to read your Bibles. Give something up that’s less important, like TV or internet, video games or iPods, secular books or magazines, and read the Bible. Read it as a family, read it individually, read it as a couple, read it with friends, read it at Starbucks, read it in the Dr.’s office, get it on CD and listen to it in the car, I don’t care how you do it, just READ IT!
-2 Corinthians starts off with another passage that has truly helped me in many times of uncertainty and anxiety. Often times when going through the struggles of life I ask God the why questions. Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening now? Why does this have to happen at all? I’m sure many of us have asked those kinds of questions in our lives. Most recently I’ve asked these questions regarding the passing of Pastor Glen. Why now? Why at all? Why do this to Nicki? Why do this to Erin and Ashley? Why do this to the church? I have not come up with a whole slew of answers for those questions, but I have come up with one. I am sure that I’ll receive more answers in the months and years to come, and I know that these questions will be fully answered when we get to Heaven, but for now I’m content with 2 Corinthians 1:3-10:
2 Corinthians 1:3-10 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. (6) If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. (7) Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (8) For we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in
-It is vitally important that we have a reliance on God and not on ourselves or on others. This is the function of the church! This is why God commands us to meet together. We are to meet together so that others can remind us to rely on God during our hard times, and often times they will do that by reminding us of our future hope. Here’s another passage for you to memorize, live, eat, breathe, love:
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, (25) not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
