2 Thessalonians Series: Marks of a Healthy Church (2 Thess 1:1-5)

Updated: Mar 8

Marks of a Healthy Church

From Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring. This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (NET)

What are marks of a healthy church and its church members? In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul thanked God for the Thessalonians because of their growing faith and love, and in verse 4, he described boasting about them to other churches because of their perseverance and faith during persecution. Though not perfect, the Thessalonians were a model church—one that Paul could boast about and encourage others to mimic. In fact, when writing the Corinthians, Paul bragged about the Thessalonians’ generosity in the midst of their extreme poverty. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, he said:

Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily, begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.

The Thessalonians were a model church full of Christians who were growing in faith and demonstrating it to others, despite the severe persecution they were going through. If trials are meant to show what’s in our heart and what our faith consists of (cf. Dt 8:2, Jam 1:2), the Thessalonians’ response to their trials showed that their faith was real, vibrant, and growing.

Background

As a matter of background, in Paul’s second missionary journey, after founding the church of Philippi in Acts 16 (the first church in Europe), he founded a small church in Thessalonica in Acts 17. Thessalonica was about 100 miles (160 km) away from Philippi. It was the capital of Macedonia and its largest city. Because of its loyalty to the Roman Empire during the Battle of Philippi , it was given free city status. This means it was allowed to rule itself by having its own government and laws. The primary contributor to the city’s greatness was its location. The Egnatian Way, the most important Roman highway, went through the city. It ran east to west throughout the Roman Empire. The city also had its own harbor on the Aegean Sea—making it the main seaport of the region. These two assets led to bustling trade and commerce throughout the city, making it a booming metropolis in the ancient world. It was also a hub for political activity. At its peak, the city had around 200,000 people. The city was strategic for the gospel, as many people constantly visited the city for business opportunities or moved there permanently.

When Paul initially visited the city, he preached for three sabbath days and developed a small following of both Jews and Gentiles (Acts 17). Because of jealousy, the nonbelieving Jews in that city started a riot which forced Paul to flee. He went to Berea briefly to do ministry and was forced to flee again because the unbelieving Jews followed him there. Then he went to Athen briefly for ministry. From there, he heard that the Thessalonians were being persecuted, so he sent Timothy to comfort them and see how they were doing spiritually. After leaving Athens, Paul went to Corinth where he stayed and ministered for eighteen months (Acts 18:11). While in Corinth, Timothy returned with good news about the Thessalonians’ growing faith in the midst of their persecution but also shared some concerns. Some in the church were worried about the second coming. Would those who had died miss out on it? There were also ethical concerns. So Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians to comfort them about the loss of deceased church members with Christ’s return and to encourage them to grow in their sanctification. When Christ comes, those who died as believers will be resurrected to meet him in the air and those alive will be raptured to unite with them (1 Thess 4:13-18). Ethically speaking, Paul challenged them to be sexually pure, to honor their elders, and to exhort the lazy among them (1 Thess 5:12-14). He also gave them commands on how to properly worship the Lord both privately and publicly, including always rejoicing, praying, and giving God thanks, not quenching the Spirit and forbidding prophecy, testing everything, holding onto the good, and rejecting the bad (1 Thess 5:17-22).

Apparently, the person who delivered the first letter returned to Paul with both good news and bad news as well. The good news was that the Thessalonians were continuing to grow in faith and love, despite being persecuted; however, three groups were disturbing the peace in the church. (1) There were people from outside the church still persecuting the Thessalonians. No doubt, some of the believers were discouraged by this, so Paul wrote to encourage them. In 2 Thessalonians 1:5-7, Paul said this:

This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering. For it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to you who are being afflicted to give rest together with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels.

To comfort them in their persecution, he taught them about God’s sanctifying work through trials and also about God’s future justice, when Christ returns.

(2) Another group disturbing the peace was false teachers. Apparently, the Thessalonians had received a prophecy or letter saying that the day of the Lord had come (either that they were in the tribulation period or that Christ had already returned, possibly spiritually). In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2, Paul said this:

Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily shaken from your composure or disturbed by any kind of spirit or message or letter allegedly from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.

In Chapter 2, Paul taught them that Christ will not return until a great rebellion happens and the Antichrist appears. Second Thessalonians 3:3 says: “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not arrive until the rebellion comes and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.” These two events will probably happen together. At some point during the tribulation period, the Antichrist will claim to be God and force people to worship him and accept the mark of the beast. Those who don’t will be killed and those who escape death will not be able to buy or sell things, as described in Revelation 13:15-17. This will cause a great falling away from all religions, including those with marginal faith in Christ. Paul said that these two events (the rise of the Antichrist and a falling away from faith) will precede Christ’s coming.

(3) The final group disturbing the peace in Thessalonica were lazy believers. This was hinted at in 1 Thessalonians but was more fully described in this second letter. In 1 Thessalonians 5:14, the Thessalonians were called to “admonish the undisciplined,” and in 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, Paul said this to them:

For even when we were with you, we used to give you this command: “If anyone is not willing to work, neither should he eat.” For we hear that some among you are living an undisciplined life, not doing their own work but meddling in the work of others. Now such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and so provide their own food to eat.

It's possible these believers misunderstood Paul’s teaching on Christ coming like a thief in the night in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Maybe they thought, since Christ can come at any moment, why should we work? Shouldn’t we just give ourselves to eschatological preaching and not worry about mundane things in life like work? It’s also probable that they were influenced by the false teachers who said that the Lord’s day had already come (2 Thess 2:1-2). Some believe they were simply lazy and probably had an unbiblical theology of work based on the Greek or Jewish view of work. Either way, they were deceived and needed to be corrected. Paul wrote that they should work hard and be disciplined to provide for themselves. Believers should live as though Christ could come at any moment, as far as our heart and devotion, and yet practically prepare as though he may not come in our lifetime. Paul wrote to confront the lazy in the church and encourage the Thessalonians to do so as well.

Second Thessalonians was probably written a few months after the first letter around AD 51 or 52, while Paul, Silas, and Timothy were still in Corinth (Acts 18:5, 1 Thess 1:1). It was probably Paul’s third letter written, after Galatians and 1 Thessalonians (though a minority of scholars think Galatians was written in the mid-50’s). While Paul’s first letter gave assurance of the second coming, as it is mentioned in every chapter, the second letter corrects false teaching about the second coming.

Again, as Paul wrote this second letter, he praised the Thessalonians for their abounding faith and love and their perseverance in trials. Often churches boast about their numerical size; however, the Thessalonians were a small church plant. Other churches boast about their well-known pastors; however, none of the Thessalonian elders were mentioned by name. The elders were obviously faithful but not known outside the church. Some churches boast about their beautiful building(s); however, the Thessalonians probably met in houses, since the earliest church buildings are from the third century AD. Others churches may boast about their wealth, but Paul taught that the Thessalonians were extremely poor in 2 Corinthians 8:2. Most early believers came from the lower social classes, including slaves and women (cf. Col 3:22, Eph 6:5, 1 Pet 3:1). The Thessalonians could not offer comfort and social networking opportunities, as many churches do today; however, they could offer faith in Jesus and persecution along with it. Though we probably wouldn’t boast about that church today, Paul did because they modeled what matters in a church, including a growing faith, love, and perseverance. With all that said, they were not a perfect church, because no churches are, but they were a spiritually healthy church—one to be modeled.

As we study 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, we’ll consider marks of a healthy church and its church members. As we do so, we must ask ourselves, “Are we individually and corporately spiritually healthy? If not, why not, and how can we grow to become more spiritually healthy?”

Big Question: What are marks of a healthy church and church members according to Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5?

Healthy Churches Have Faithful Leaders (and Church Members)

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

At the beginning of the letter, Paul introduced himself, Silvanus (or Silas), and Timothy. They were missionary partners who founded the Thessalonian church on Paul’s second missionary journey. They were not co-authors of the letter. Throughout the letter, Paul uses the first person pronoun, “I” demonstrating that he is the author (cf. 2 Thess 2:5, 3:17). For example, in 2 Thessalonians 3:17, he says, “I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, which is how I write in every letter.” However, by placing the names of his associates next to his in the introduction, Paul demonstrated that they were in agreement with the contents of the entire letter.

Grace and Peace

In verse 2, Paul greeted them with grace and peace. However, for Paul, these words were more than greetings; they were prayers for God to multiply those virtues in the lives of the Thessalonians. Grace means God’s unmerited favor. Believers are saved by God’s unmerited favor on sinners deserving of wrath. However, because of Christ’s perfect life, death on the cross for our sins, and resurrection, we receive salvation from God’s wrath by putting our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior. Instead of hell, which includes eternal suffering, we receive eternal life, a relationship with God, and the ability to enjoy his perfect blessings throughout eternity. This is all attributed to God’s grace—his unmerited favor on underserving sinners. Because of this, grace is often called “God’s riches at Christ’s expense.” Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, no doubt, commonly prayed for God’s continued unmerited favor on the Thessalonians. They also prayed for God’s peace to be on the Thessalonians. Like grace, we receive peace because of Christ’s work on our behalf. This peace has several aspects to it. Before, we were at enmity with God and under his wrath because of our sins. But because of Christ’s redemptive work, Romans 5:1 says, “Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” However, we don’t just receive peace with God through Christ, we also receive peace with one another. By calling God, “God the Father,” Paul recognized that we became part of God’s family, regardless of our race, gender, nationality, or socio-economic status. John 1:12 says, “But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children.” We have peace with God and peace with one another, but also peace within ourselves because of Christ. In John 14:27, Christ said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; I do not give it to you as the world does. Do not let your hearts be distressed or lacking in courage.” Also, in Philippians 4:6-7, Paul said this about God’s peace:

Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

By living in prayer and thanksgiving, God promises to give us his peace, regardless of our circumstances. This is what these faithful missionaries desired for the Thessalonians, while they were going through persecution. They prayed for more of God’s grace and peace. The Thessalonians already had these because of Christ, but they could have more. John 1:16 (ESV) says, “For from his [Christ] fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” Also, James 4:6 says, “But he [God] gives greater grace.”

Trinity

According to Paul’s prayer, grace and peace come “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 2). By putting God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ together, Paul taught their independence, equality, and unity. Christianity is unique in that it teaches the doctrine of the Trinity, that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are separate persons and yet one. In John 10:30, Christ said this: “The Father and I are one.” He was separate from the Father and yet always one with the Father. This is a mystery, and yet this mystery speaks to the validity of God’s Word. If Scripture is Divine in origin as it declares (2 Tim 3:16), then we would expect mysteries or paradoxes that would not make perfect sense to humans. If an infinite being is the ultimate author of Scripture, then we should expect difficulties in the text that finite beings would struggle with. And it’s true. It’s true of the doctrine of the Trinity—God being three and one. It’s true of the incarnation—Christ being a hundred percent man and a hundred percent God. Colossians 2:9 says this about Christ, “For in him all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form.” It’s also true of God’s sovereignty over all things including creatures. Ephesians 1:11 (ESV) says, he “works all things according to the counsel of his will.” This is a paradox. How can all things be working according to the counsel of his will when we are making free decisions right now, at this moment? How can God be working all things according to the counsel of his will when great atrocities are happening throughout the world, including war, trafficking, and domestic abuse? It’s a mystery, even as the doctrine of the Trinity is. Yet, if God is the author of Scripture, we should expect such teachings, and they are throughout the Bible. Grace and peace come through God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who are both God.

But as we consider characteristics of a healthy church in this text, as Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy give thanks and boast about the Thessalonians (v. 3-4), we must focus on the church’s faithful leadership who helped them become healthy. In Matthew 10:24-25, Christ said this: “A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a slave greater than his master. It is enough for the disciple to become like his teacher.” Faithful church leaders help create healthy and faithful church members. Therefore, these characteristics will be true of healthy church members as well.

Observation Question: As discerned from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, what are aspects of faithful leaders and therefore church members?

1. Faithful leaders (and church members) are cooperative.

Paul did not work alone to plant the church in Thessalonica nor to minister to them from a distance. He had two faithful partners, Silvanus and Timothy, as mentioned in verse 1. Silvanus was a prophet who originally served at the Jerusalem church. He was a Roman citizen like Paul (Acts 16:37). When the apostles sent a letter to the church of Antioch declaring that Gentiles did not have to practice the Jewish law, he went to the church to strengthen them by teaching the Word and prophesying to them for their encouragement. When Paul and Barnabas split over the inclusion of Mark on their second missionary journey, Mark went with Barnabas and Silvanus went with Paul (Acts 15:40). Silas was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi when they started a church there (Acts 16:19–27), and as mentioned, he was with Paul when founding the church in Thessalonica. The Thessalonians knew Silvanus well. Silvanus was his Roman name, and Silas was his shortened Greek name.

Timothy was originally from Lystra. His father was Greek, and his mother was Jewish (Acts 16:1). He was taught the Scriptures from childhood by both his mother, Eunice, and his grandmother (2 Tim 1:5; 3:15). On Paul’s second missionary journey, he decided to take Timothy along because all the brothers in Lystra spoke well of him (Acts 16:2-3). Therefore, he was with Paul in Philippi and when the church was planted in Thessalonica. Timothy was often called Paul’s “genuine child in the faith” (1 Tim 1:2). He was his protégé. When Paul was forced out of Thessalonica after planting the church, he sent Timothy back to encourage them and see how they were doing (1 Thess 3:2). As mentioned, Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians in response to Timothy’s feedback. Eventually, Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to pastor there. Paul wrote two inspired epistles (1 & 2 Timothy) to help Timothy pastor there. He also mentioned Timothy in eight other epistles. The Thessalonians knew Timothy well, just like with Paul and Silas.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy worked together to serve the Thessalonians. They were not lone rangers, trying to get their personal agendas done and, therefore, fighting with one another. They cooperated to do God’s work, even though Paul was the undisputed leader. As Paul taught in Corinth about the local church, one person is the hand, the other foot, and the other the eye. One can’t say to the other, I don’t need you (1 Cor 12:21). Faithful leaders are cooperative, they work with others who have different backgrounds, gifts, and ideas, to do God’s will.

In a healthy church, this is not only true of the leaders but also the church members. Instead of being independent, isolated, and unsubmissive, they work with one another and submit to one another to do God’s will both in the church and outside of it. In unhealthy churches, there will be discord, cliques, and individualism.

Are we cooperative—working with others and submitting to them to do God’s will? Or are we independent and unsubmissive to the leadership and church members God has given us? In describing somebody who is filled with the Spirit in Ephesians 5:21, Paul said the person submits “to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Healthy churches have cooperative leaders and members. Ephesians 4:16 says, “As each one does its part, the body grows in love.” Are we cooperating with one another to build the body of Christ?

What else can we discern about faithful leaders from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3?

2. Faithful leaders (and church members) are prayerful.

Again in verse 2, Paul prayed, “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Since God’s work cannot be done in our power, faithful leaders consistently pray for their congregants. Only God can bring change in people’s hearts. In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul said this about his ministry in Corinth: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.” Because God saves souls and sanctifies saints, faithful leaders are consistent in prayer. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy prayed for God’s grace, his unmerited favor, over the Thessalonians’ lives—no doubt asking that God would meet with them in a special way, deliver them from or through their trials, and help them grow in Christ. They prayed for God’s peace—that they would continue to experience peace with God and that the enemy would not be able to condemn them and harden their hearts towards God and others while they went through trials. No doubt, he prayed that they would continue to have peace with one another—that they would not be divided and in conflict, which commonly happens during trials. Certainly, he also prayed for them to have peace of mind, instead of them being tossed to and fro by anxieties and fear about the present and future. Later in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, Paul prayed for God to enable them to walk worthy of their calling and for God, by his power, to fulfill their every desire for good and every work of faith. Healthy churches have faithful leaders who consistently pray for them. Samuel, who was the leader of Israel before they had their first king, said this in 2 Samuel 12:23: “far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you!” We sin against God as well when we don’t pray for our congregations. Certainly, this is true of healthy church members as well.

In contrast, unhealthy churches are prayerless and therefore lack God’s power to grow spiritually, conquer individual and corporate sin, and reach the lost. Are we faithfully praying for our church, its members and leaders? This is a mark of a healthy church.

What else can we learn about faithful leaders from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3?

3. Faithful leaders (and church members) are appreciative, affirming, and thankful for others’ gifts and graces.

In verses 3-4, Paul said,

We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater. As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.

The fact that Paul said they “out to thank God always for” their growing faith and love (v. 3), showed that he believed this was their responsibility as leaders. He always thanked God and bragged to others about the Thessalonians’ perseverance in their trials. Likewise, leaders should not only give direction and correct error but also affirm good works. Parents should praise (and reward) their kids when they do well and not just rebuke them when they do wrong. They must be balanced, and good church leaders must be as well. They must call people to follow God’s Word but also affirm people when they are excelling in various graces, such as hospitality, generosity, and evangelism. Paul said this to the Philippians, “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Phil 1:3). He said this about the Romans whom he had never met in person, “First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world” (Rom 1:8). He said this about the Colossians, “We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints” (Col 1:3-4). Good leaders consistently affirm the positive attributes in those they oversee and serve. By doing this, they help foster a positive environment and continued growth in those they lead and serve.

In healthy churches, leaders are appreciative and thankful instead of abusive, sharp, and critical, and the same is true of their congregants. We must ask ourselves, “Have we been overly critical of others in our church instead of gracious to them? Also, we must ask ourselves, “Who is God calling us to affirm, thank, and encourage for how they use their gifts and serve others?” Maybe, God is calling us to affirm those who faithfully serve us through leading worship each Sunday, or those who serve our children in the children’s and youth’s ministries? Maybe, he is calling us to thank those who greet us with smiles at the door of our church every Sunday? Maybe, he is calling us to affirm our small group leader, ministry leader, or pastors? Maybe, he is calling us to affirm the gifts and graces of those at our workplace or in our families? This is what happens in healthy churches, communities, and families. In unhealthy ones, they pick at each others’ faults and tear each other down. Certainly, there are times to point out faults, but even then, wise people couch those faults with praise and affirmation, as Paul will do throughout this letter. He starts off praising the Thessalonians in Chapter 1, but he will later point out areas of wrong doctrine, concern, and improvement in Chapters 2 and 3.

Again, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy said this about the Thessalonians, “We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater” (2 Thess 1:3). Are we affirming and praising others or being critical and apathetic to them? In healthy churches, leaders and church members do this commonly instead of being critical, judgmental, or apathetic.

4. Faithful leaders (and church members) believe in the sufficiency of Scripture for all of life and, therefore, desire to know Scripture, study it, teach it, and obey it.

This is implied by the context. As Paul became aware of the Thessalonians’ discouragement from their continued persecution and misunderstanding of Christ’s coming, he responded by writing them an epistle to encourage and properly instruct them. Paul believed in the sufficiency of Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul taught: “Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.” Since Scripture equips believers for every good work, it should be thoroughly studied, taught, and applied to parenting, dating, working, trials, good times, bad times, and mundane times. Unfortunately, many church leaders don’t believe Scripture equips people for every good work, and therefore neglect or minimize it in light of popular psychology, philosophy, entertainment, or other fads. Consequently, many ministers don’t preach the Word anymore and therefore have unhealthy church members. In 2 Timothy 4:2-3 (ESV), Paul commanded Timothy to faithfully preach in light of the church’s diminishing view of Scripture. He said,

preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

Faithful leaders teach the Word because they believe it is sufficient for every good work. Through it, the Holy Spirit, and the church, God has given believers everything we need for godliness (2 Pet 1:3-4, Rom 8:13-14, Eph 4:11-16). Those who do not believe this, minimize the Word in their personal lives by not reading it, studying it, memorizing it, and sharing it with others. This is true with both church leaders and church members. Because of this lack of commitment to the Word, especially from leaders, church members never grow spiritually and therefore become more prone to worldliness, sin, conflict, and false teaching. According to Ephesians 4:14, one of the reasons God gives pastors to churches is to teach the Word so that church members would no longer be spiritual children tossed to and fro by false doctrines. Because this is not happening, many churches are full of spiritual children who are vulnerable to false teaching, caught in sin, at times approving it, and also prone to discord. In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul described the spiritually immature Corinthian church. He said:

So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready, for you are still influenced by the flesh. For since there is still jealousy and dissension among you, are you not influenced by the flesh and behaving like unregenerate people?

Again, healthy churches not only have faithful leaders who teach God’s Word but also faithful church members who revere it, desire it, study it, and share it with others. According to Paul in 2 Timothy 4:3, as mentioned, the main reason there is so little biblical teaching in churches today is not primarily because of the teachers but because of the church members. The church members have itching ears—meaning they want to be entertained and encouraged, rather than properly instructed, including being rebuked, so they can become more like Christ. Consequently, most teachers are heavy on stories and illustrations and light on Scripture. They are also light on the amount of time devoted to the reading and the teaching of Scripture because most members can’t handle it and don’t desire it.

In Thessalonica, Paul wrote two epistles to encourage and properly instruct the church members to help them grow spiritually, to protect them, and to enable them to persevere in their trials. The same is true with healthy churches today. Their leaders emphasize God’s Word, and consequently, the congregation grows spiritually healthy.

As mentioned, in healthy churches, (1) the leaders are cooperative (working with others to build God’s kingdom), (2) prayerful (lifting others up before God), (3) appreciative and affirming of others gifts and graces, and (4) faithful to study, teach, and obey God’s Word, and the church members grow to reflect these qualities. Instead of church members being independent, alone, and lonely, they develop deep fellowship with others and partner with them for ministry. Instead of being prayerless, they consistently pray for the leaders and members of their church, including petitioning God for abundant grace and peace in their lives. And instead of being critical, judgmental, or apathetic of others, they look for positives in others and praise and affirm people for those positives. And finally, instead of being hard-hearted and apathetic to the preaching of God’s Word, they desire it, study it, faithfully obey it, and share it with others.

As a church, are we being faithful to God, despite our circumstances, or unfaithful both from the leadership and the church members? Certainly, the example of the Thessalonians and their faithful leadership should encourage us to do our part to help our church grow in spiritual health, even if that just means becoming faithful and spiritually healthy ourselves.

Application Question: Why is having faithful leadership so important to the overall health of a church? How have you experienced both faithful leadership and unfaithful leadership in a church? What were the effects on the congregation? Why is having a high view of Scripture so important in the church and specifically the teaching ministry? What are the effects of not having a high view of Scripture from the pulpit? In what ways have you seen or experienced how the contemporary church has commonly minimized the preaching of God’s Word and therefore become more unhealthy? How is God calling you to practice praising and affirming others, as Paul did in 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4, and possibly becoming less critical and more gracious to his church?

Healthy Churches Have Genuinely Converted Members

…to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

2 Thessalonians 1:1-2

In verse 2, Paul says that the Thessalonian believers were “in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” This means that the Thessalonians were in union with God and therefore had eternal life. This is another unique aspect of Christianity, which other religions don’t teach. Other religions don’t typically speak about their followers being in their deity. However, for true followers of Christ, we are so identified with him, that we are said to be his body, in him, and us in him. In 1 Corinthians 12:13, Paul described this union. He said: “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body. Whether Jews or Greeks or slaves or free, we were all made to drink of the one Spirit.” In the baptism of the Spirit, we have all been baptized into Christ’s body. Because of this, as mentioned, Paul commonly referred to believers as “in Christ.” In Ephesians 1:3, he said, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” In addition, in 2 Peter 1:4, Peter said believers have “become partakers of the divine nature.” In what way do we partake in the divine nature? We partake in it because we have the same eternal life that God has through our faith and identification with Christ and also he lives in us. It is a phenomenal aspect of Christianity. We are in Christ and he is in us. Now, when Paul says we are in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, as mentioned previously, this demonstrates not only our union with God but also the union of the Trinity. God is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They are independent persons but at the same time one. This is a mystery, even as our union with Christ is a mystery. Like Paul, we can declare, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). Christ is in us, and we are in him.

This is true of every healthy church. They have a redeemed membership—they are full of people who have been born again and unified with Christ.

Application Question: How does a person become born again?

An easy acronym that helps us remember how a person receives eternal life is ABC:

A. We must ACCEPT that we are sinners under God’s judgment. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” And Romans 6:23 says, “For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

B. We must BELIEVE that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead so we can have eternal life. John 3:16 says, “For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Romans 10:9 says, “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

C. We must COMMIT to Christ as our Lord and Savior. Again Romans 10:9 says, “because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Also, “Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” This is more than belief that Christ is Lord and God. This is a commitment to allow Christ to be Lord of our lives. It includes repentance. We are repenting, turning away, from a sinful, self-led life to a Christ-led life. Acts 3:19 says, “Therefore repent and turn back so that your sins may be wiped out.”

When we ACCEPT, BELIEVE, and COMMIT, God saves us from the penalty of our sins and gives us eternal life. He gives us his Holy Spirit to indwell us and help us become more like him. We become part of Christ’s body. He lives in us and us in him. When we die, we will spend eternity with Christ and other believers. Again, Paul was totally convinced that the Thessalonians were “in” God and Christ. They were saved. In fact, later on in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, he said it this way:

But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This church and its members were genuinely converted, and that is true of all healthy churches.

With that said, Scripture teaches that not all who profess Christ as Lord are truly saved. In Matthew 7:21-23, Christ warned that many in the church who make a profession of faith are not truly born again. He said:

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’

Two proofs of genuine conversion are given in Christ’s description of those who were not saved. Truly saved believers not only call Christ, “Lord,” but they also do “the will of the Father” (v. 21) and turn away from sin (v. 23). Those who are truly born again don’t just profess Christ as “Lord” but obey his will as found in Scripture. That was true of the Thessalonians even in the midst of them being persecuted. They didn’t turn away from God or compromise biblical standards to not get persecuted. They were committed to obeying God, even if it meant suffering for it. This was proof that they were in Christ and not illegitimate believers. But the opposite side of obedience, as mentioned, is repentance—continually turning away from sin. This is what those who called Christ, “Lord” and who did many mighty works in his name lacked. Christ called them “lawbreakers” or “workers of lawlessness” (ESV). Those who are truly converted will never be perfect on this earth, but they will be marked by a lifestyle of fighting and turning away from sin. They will fall and make mistakes, but they will continually get back up. Proverbs 24:16 says, “Indeed a righteous person will fall seven times, and then get up again…” Again, these two proofs of salvation were in the Thessalonians’ lives; that’s why Paul knew they were “in Christ.” They were saved. Only those who do the Father’s will and turn away from sin as a lifestyle will enter the kingdom, as Christ taught (Matt 7:21-23), and that was true of the Thessalonians. They are not saved by works, but works (meaning obedience and repentance) prove the validity of their faith. This means those who profess Christ, go to church, and maybe even serve in church but are living lifestyles of unconfessed sin and disobedience may not be saved.

Church of Laodicea

We’ve been looking at an example of a healthy church, that was regenerate, in the Thessalonians. They were in God and Christ; however, we will consider an unhealthy church, which seemed to have no regenerate believers amongst them in the church of Laodicea. When Christ described them, he described himself as outside the church knocking, trying to get in (Rev 3:20), instead of him being in them and them in him, as with a regenerate church. In Revelation 3:14-21, Christ said this to the church:

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation: ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth! Because you say, “I am rich and have acquired great wealth, and need nothing,” but do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked, take my advice and buy gold from me refined by fire so you can become rich! Buy from me white clothing so you can be clothed and your shameful nakedness will not be exposed, and buy eye salve to put on your eyes so you can see! All those I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent! Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come into his home and share a meal with him, and he with me. I will grant the one who conquers permission to sit with me on my throne, just as I too conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

As mentioned, many believe this is a totally unregenerate church. Why? (1) Because they were neither cold nor hot, God was going to spew them out of his mouth (Rev 3:15). Cold or hot seems to refer to usefulness, since lukewarm water is not good for drinking or cooking. The spewing out of God’s mouth seems to refer to damnation, and Scripture indicates that no true believers will ever be lost. In John 10:28, Christ said this about true believers, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand.” (2) Another reason, they seem to be an unregenerate church is because Christ said they were poor and needed to purchase gold from God to become rich (Rev 3:17-18). However, with true believers, they are rich. According to Ephesians 1:3, because they are in Christ, they have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. It says, “Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.” In addition, according to Romans 8:17, believers are co-heirs with Christ. However, the professing believers in Laodicea were poor and not rich. They didn’t have the riches of Christ because they were not in him and truly born again. (3) The Laodicean church seemed to be unregenerate because Christ said they were blind and needed to buy eye salve to see (Rev 3:17-18). According to 2 Corinthians 4:4, Satan has blinded the eyes of unbelievers so they will not accept the glorious gospel of Christ. However, as believers, God has opened our eyes so we can see. After describing the demonic blindness of unbelievers, Paul said this about believers in 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For God, who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.” (4) Another reason the Laodiceans seem to be an unregenerate church is because Christ said they were naked and needed to buy white clothing (Rev 3:17-18). With believers, however, God has clothed us with the righteousness of Christ (Zech 3:3-4, Rev 19:7-8). (5) Another reason the Laodiceans seem to be an unregenerate church is because Christ said he was outside the church knocking at the door and not inside (Rev 3:20). However, with the true church, we are his temple, both individually and corporately. He indwells the body of Christ and meets with us when we gather in his name (1 Cor 6:19, 3:16, Matt 18:20). (6) Finally, they seem to be an unregenerate church because Christ warned them in Revelation 3:21 that those who conquer, presumably Satan, sin, and the world, will receive permission to sit on Christ’s throne with him. However, true believers are currently seated in heavenly places right now and have already conquered the devil, sin, and the world in Christ (Eph 2:6, Rom 6:6-7, 1 John 5:4). Ephesians 2:6 says this about what God does to us when we are born again, “and he raised us up together with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Also, 1 John 5:4 says, “because everyone who has been fathered by God conquers the world. This is the conquering power that has conquered the world: our faith.”

This is why many believe the Laodicean church was without a truly born-again believer. They would be spewed out of God’s mouth. They were poor, blind, and naked. Christ was outside the church instead of inside. They had not yet overcome the world, Satan, and sin through their relationship with Christ and therefore were not seated on Christ’s throne. However, believers have eternal life and will never be snatched out of God’s hand (John 10:28-29). They are rich in Christ, able to see, and clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Christ indwells them, and they are in Christ. They are seated in heavenly places with Christ and have overcome the world, sin, and Satan.

Confirming Our Salvation

For this reason, every person within the church has a responsibility to confirm if they are truly born again. As Christ warned, many in the church, are deceived about their faith. They have a profession but no new life in them. Second Corinthians 13:5 warns, “Put yourselves to the test to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize regarding yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless, indeed, you fail the test!” Also, 2 Peter 1:10 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of your calling and election. For by doing this you will never stumble into sin.”

Application Question: How do we test our salvation, so we can make sure we are born again?

For the rest of our lives, we should continually ask ourselves pointed questions like: (1) Are we still believing in Christ’s death and literal resurrection for our sins (Rom 10:9)? (2) Are we still following Christ as our Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9-13)? (3) Are we still repenting of our sin or holding onto sin and enjoying it? First John 1:6 (ESV) says, “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.”A person is saved by grace through faith and repentance in Christ, but faith and repentance in Christ must continue. They are not momentary but enduring. (4) Are we still abiding in God’s Word and obeying it? True faith obeys God’s Word. In John 8:31, Christ said this to his followers, which we must heed: “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples.” (5) Are we committed to a body of believers and seeking to faithfully love and serve them? Being in Christ means we are also spiritually connected to other believers and that reality will be lived out amongst them. In John 13:35, Christ said to his disciples, “Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.” Also, in 1 John 3:14, John said to the Ephesian believers, “We know that we have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death.” Being born again changes not only our relationship to God but also to other believers. We start to love them, which will be shown in gathering weekly with them to study God’s Word, carry one another’s burdens, and encourage one another.

Are we truly born again? This is a characteristic of a healthy church. They have a redeemed membership, which is proved by godly fruits continually growing within them. Unhealthy churches don’t faithfully preach the gospel, leading to false professions. They also don’t consistently and deeply teach God’s Word which leads to stunted growth in its members and the inability for them to test the validity of their salvation.

With all that said, the Thessalonians were a healthy church. They were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. They were truly born again and consequently had been fundamentally changed, both individually and corporately. The same must be true of us. Are we truly born again?

Application Question: What are fundamental aspects of the gospel message, so we can know it ourselves and share it with others (cf. 1 Cor 15:1-4, Rom 10:9-10, 13, John 3:16, Acts 3:19)? Why are there so many false professions in the church, as Christ taught in Matthew 7:21-23? What contributes to this? How does one test the reality of his or her faith according to Scripture—whether it is real or false (cf. Matt 7:21-23, 2 Cor 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10)?

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Faith

We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith flourishes more and more…

2 Thessalonians 1:3a

One of the things that Paul thanked God for was the Thessalonians’ flourishing faith. The word “flourishes” is a complex verb in the Greek (hyperauxanei) which means to “superabound” or “grow exceedingly.” The root word was used of a baby or plant growing. Often we think of faith as something static, something we have or do not have. We might say things like, “I wish I had faith” or “I lost my faith.” However, since faith is based on our relationship with God, like all relationships, faith is dynamic. It is either growing, staying the same, or decreasing. At times, Christ would say, “Oh you of little faith” (Matt 6:30, 8:26, 14:31) or how someone had “great faith” (Matt 8:10). In 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul actually prayed for himself to be able to meet with the Thessalonians so he could help their faith grow. He said: “We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.” Though he had not yet been able to visit them, their faith was flourishing and growing deeper in God, as an answer to his prayer.

Why was their faith growing? No doubt, there were many contributors, but one of the greatest was the persecution they were experiencing. The persecution was stretching their faith, causing them to have to believe in and cling to God more. This is what God commonly does to help us grow from little faith to great faith. In fact, all the heroes of the faith in Hebrews 11 encountered obstacles and difficulties to help their faith grow. Because of this, James 1:2-4 says,

My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

James calls us to rejoice in trials because God aims to test and mature our faith through them. With that said, since trials test our faith, they will also reveal whether our faith is true or not. In the Parable of the Soils, Christ taught that trials, and specifically persecution, will destroy false faith. In Matthew 13:20-21, he said:

The seed sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. But he has no root in himself and does not endure; when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away.

No doubt, this was Satan’s plan when he tempted Peter to deny Christ three times. In Luke 22:31-32, Christ said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, pay attention! Satan has demanded to have you all, to sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.” The only reason Peter did not lose his faith was because Christ maintained it for him through prayer. And Christ does the same for every true believer. Hebrews 7:25 says, “So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” Christ holds the faith of those who are truly born again. According to John 10:28, he puts them in his hand and nobody can snatch them out (cf. Rom 8:35-39).

However, with those who are not truly born again, trials test their faith and often prove that it’s not truly genuine. As with the stony ground in the Parable of the Soils, when they encounter something unfortunate in their body or family, difficulty in the church, or conflict with their worldview and that of the Bible, they commonly turn away from Christ, but unlike Peter, they do not return. They have false faith.

With the Thessalonians, they did not turn away from God when persecuted for believing in Christ. Instead, their faith grew deeper. It began to exceedingly abound. And this is true not only of healthy churches but healthy Christians in general. Their faith is not stagnant or decreasing. It is growing. They know Christ more and go deeper in their relationship with him. They are learning often through trials, and God’s grace during the trials, that they can trust God to meet not only their daily needs but their future needs as well. They can also trust God to redeem their unfortunate circumstances. Often what Satan means for bad, God uses for good (cf. Gen 50:20).

Interpretation Question: What are some consequences of having little faith and why it is so important for our faith to continue to grow?

We’ll consider three consequences of little faith. As we study them, they should motivate us to grow our little faith into great faith.

1. A consequence of having little faith is that it will commonly have little assurance of salvation.

Because young believers have not developed a deep relationship with God yet, they are more prone to doubt the validity of their salvation. When they fall into sin, the enemy comes to condemn them and make them question whether they are truly saved at all. The condemnation they struggle with, especially after falling, hinders their spiritual growth and can lead them into further sin, including falling away from God for brief periods. However, the more young believers grow to know Christ, his Word, and his faithfulness to them, the more assurance they have of their salvation and their call to serve and build God’s kingdom. Consequently, when condemned by the devil and tempted to doubt their salvation, they can hold onto Scripture’s promises, such as Romans 8:1 which says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” and also other promises of God. Believers must grow in faith to deliver them from the lies of Satan when he comes to test and make them doubt their faith.

2. Another consequence of having little faith is that it is more prone to fall to false teaching, sin, and discouragement.

As mentioned, when the devil comes with false teaching, a spiritual child is prone to be confused by it and then allured into it, since they don’t know the Scripture well. In Ephesians 4:14, Paul said that God gave us pastors and teachers to teach us, “So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes.” But not only is little faith more prone to the deception of false teaching but the lure of the world, their flesh, and Satan in general. Every time, Satan tempted Christ in the wilderness, Christ responded with Scripture (Matt 4). However, a young believer with infant faith, again knowing so little Scripture, is prone to fall to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and Satan. In writing maturing believers, John said this in 1 John 2:14 (ESV), “I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.” They were no longer spiritual children with weak faith but spiritual young men who were conquering Satan because of their knowledge of Scripture. Believers must grow in faith to deliver them from false teaching, sin, and discouragement that come to them through Satan, the world, and the flesh.

3. Finally, a consequence of having little faith is that it seldom attempts great things for God.

Even though Scripture declares God’s grace is made perfect in the believers’ weakness and that God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Cor 12:9, 2 Tim 1:7)), like Moses and Gideon those with little faith will commonly point to their lack of speaking ability, their humble family background, their lack of training or giftedness, their introversion (or extroversion), their lack of energy, sleep, or motivation, and so they never step up in faith to serve God and others. Therefore, like the Israelites who failed to enter the promised land and see God fight for them, those with little faith never see God move powerfully through their weakness. Again, little faith bears little fruit for the glory of God.

These are consequences of not growing our faith; again, we’ll be more prone to doubt our salvation, fall into false teaching, sin, and discouragement, and attempt little for God. These consequences are widespread throughout the church.

Application Question: How can we grow our faith so we can become more spiritually healthy and better serve God?

It must be said that it is normal for every person to start with little faith. After conversion, we know very little about God and struggle to trust him at times; however, there is something wrong if we continue to have little faith. Christ was clearly frustrated at times with his disciples and their little faith. In Matt 17:17, when the disciples could not cast a demon out of a young boy, though Christ had empowered them, he said this to them: “You unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I endure you? Bring him here to me.” And no doubt, he is at times frustrated with our lack of faith as well. He has empowered us to conquer sin, anxiety, and temptations of the world, and yet we find ourselves caught in sin and unable to break it, fearful of the future, and lured by the pleasures of this world. He has commanded us and given us his Spirit to make disciples of all nations, and yet we are afraid to feel awkward or be rejected when sharing the gospel, so we remain silent. He has given us gifts to serve his church, and yet we only stay marginally involved with his church and never seek to find, use, or cultivate our gifts in serving others. Certainly, Christ, though gentle and humble, is at times frustrated by our lack of faith, as he was with his disciples. As Christians, we must ask ourselves, “How can we grow our faith? How can we go from weak faith to strong faith?”

1. To grow our faith, we must daily study and obey God’s Word.

No doubt, one of the reasons Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians was to encourage and increase the Thessalonians’ faith. Faith grows through studying God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says this, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” If our time in God’s Word is weak or inconsistent, then so will our faith be, and we’ll reap the consequences of it—a greater propensity towards a lack of assurance in salvation, more of a tendency to fall into sin, including conflict, and a lack of fruit (inner and outer) for the kingdom of God. First Peter 2:2 says, “And yearn like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation.” As we yearn for God’s Word and therefore read it, study it, and obey it, it will make our faith grow.

Are we studying God’s Word so it can grow our faith?

2. To grow our faith, we must consistently practice individual and corporate prayer.

Again, Christ prayed for Peter’s faith, which strengthened it and kept him from falling away, when he was attacked by Satan (Lk 22:32). Clearly, Paul was doing the same as he prayed for the Thessalonians in the midst of their suffering. In verse 2, he prayed for God’s grace and peace to be on them, and in verse 11, that God, by his power, would fulfill their every desire for good and work of faith. Likewise, as we develop intimate relationships with others in the church and transparently share our struggles with them to receive prayer, it also buffers and increases our faith. James 5:16 says, “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” In addition, as we consistently pray to God it increases our faith. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” As God answers our prayers, our faith grows. It helps us know that he cares for us and will meet our needs. Our faith even grows when he answers our prayers with denials. Though initially, his denials may seem harsh and unloving, but as we continue to walk with the Lord, often we’ll see the blessed sweetness of them. Christ himself prayed for God to take his cup of suffering away from him but, at the same time, trusted God’s will (Lk 22:42). Certainly, that denial was the sweetest denial ever given, as it led to our salvation and created a family for God out of every nation, tribe, and tongue. Certainly, many of us have experienced God’s blessed denials and learned that he truly knows best. Consistently praying to the Lord, getting to know him through it, and experiencing his responses to our prayers (including his denials) increase our faith. Consequently, if we are little in prayer, we will be little in faith.

Are we consistently praying? In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, Paul commanded the Thessalonians to “constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Certainly, they were attempting to obey Paul’s command, and it was helping their faith grow like a healthy plant. We must do the same. Are we being constant in prayer, so our faith in God will grow?

3. To grow our faith, we must fellowship with and learn from mature believers.

As mentioned, in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, Paul prayed to be able to meet with the Thessalonians to make up what was lacking in their faith. No doubt, he would do that by praying for and with them, teaching, counseling, and walking beside them in their trials. Proverbs 13:20 says this: “The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” In Proverbs, wisdom has to do with fearing, worshiping, knowing, and obeying the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding.” Therefore, the foolish consistently disobey God, live without thought of him, or deny his existence altogether. Psalm 14:1 says, “Fools say to themselves, ‘There is no God.’ They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.” Therefore, by being around those who are serious about their faith by seeking to know God and serve others, our faith will grow as well. Likewise, being around those who are not serious about their faith will hurt ours. The Thessalonians had Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to help their faith grow, and they had one another within the church. Consequently, their faith was exceedingly growing.

Are we pursuing greater faith with those who are also pursuing God? In 2 Timothy 2:22, Paul said this to Timothy, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” Practically, this may be done by joining a small group, ministry, or meeting consistently with a mentor. This is how we grow our faith.

4. Finally, to grow our faith, as mentioned, we must faithfully endure trials.

Surely, the persecution that the Thessalonians were persevering through was causing their faith to superabound and exceedingly grow. That’s also been experienced in places around the world where Christians are commonly persecuted. It’s in those places that the churches typically grow the fastest. In contrast, in the places where Christians are most comfortable, the churches are growing the least and many are decreasing. Comfort and luxury are often antithetical to spiritual growth, while difficulty and trials tend to augment our spiritual growth—helping us grow exceedingly. A practical illustration of this is working out. When a person works out at the gym, he makes his muscles uncomfortable which helps them grow in strength, size, and endurance. God often does the same with our faith. Consider the Psalmist’s experience with trials and their effect on his faith. In Psalm 119:67, he said, “Before I was afflicted I used to stray off, but now I keep your instructions.” Likewise, in Psalm 119:71, he said, “It was good for me to suffer, so that I might learn your statutes.”

Are we allowing our suffering to draw us closer to God through studying his Word, prayer, and fellowship with the saints? As we do, often our faith will commonly begin to superabound and exceedingly grow like the Thessalonians’ did. With that said, if we rebel against God, neglect him, and indulge in sin during our trials, our faith will decrease, leading to detrimental spiritual consequences both individually and corporately (cf. Heb 12:11-13).

Is our faith, in this season, growing in the Lord or decreasing? Healthy churches and church members are growing in faith, as they pursue Christ through studying his Word, prayer, fellowship, and persevering through difficulties together.

Application Question: How would you describe the current state of your faith and why? What are some major hindrances to the progress of your faith? What are some boosters for your faith? How is God calling you to increase your faith in this season and also help others do the same?

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Love for One Another

…and the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater.

2 Thessalonians 1:3b

In verse 3, the word for love Paul used is agape, God’s love. It is a supernatural love God gives us as believers to love him and others. Romans 5:5 says, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” Also, the phrase Paul used to describe their love’s growth, “ever greater” or “increasing” (ESV), focuses on the wide dispersal of their love amongst one another. The Thessalonians’ love was like a rushing flood spreading to irrigate land. Paul gave thanks for the Thessalonians because both their faith and love were increasing, even in the midst of their persecution.

It’s often been said that faith is the root of our salvation but love is the fruit. We’re saved by faith but a growing love for God and others is a proof of salvation. Therefore, these are two of the most distinguishing characteristics of true salvation. When a person is born again through faith in Christ, he is endowed with supernatural love through the Spirit for God and other believers. In Ezekiel 36:26-27, God promised to give believers his Spirit and new heart in the New Covenant. As mentioned, in Romans 5:5, it describes how “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

Since faith is the root of our salvation and love is a fruit, these two virtues are often put together in the New Testament. For example, Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.” Ephesians 1:15-16 says, “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers.” Also, Colossians 1:3-4 says, “We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints.” People are born again when they put their faith in Christ, and after they put their faith in Christ, God gives them a supernatural love for God and others. Love for God and others should distinguish believers. Because of this, in John 13:35, Christ said to his disciples, “Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another.”

Since faith and love are connected, we can say that as someone’s faith grows in God, his or her love grows as well and begins to spread further toward others. Likewise, when someone’s faith is decreasing, he or she will become more prone to isolationism, apathy, and/or discord. With the Corinthians, Paul called them spiritual infants and worldly because they were so prone to conflict. In Corinthians 3:1-3, he said:

Because their faith was still in the infant stage, they could not eat deep food. They lived off spiritual milk as far as Scripture was concerned, but their spiritual infancy also manifested in discord with other believers, even as little children are known for constant discord.

With that said, this was not true of the Thessalonians. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul previously prayed for their love to increase. He prayed, “may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all.” In 1 Thessalonians 4:10, he encouraged them to practice loving each other more. He said, “And indeed you are practicing it [love] toward all the brothers and sisters in all of Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” This is why he praised them for their growing and spreading love in 2 Thessalonians 1:2-3. God had answered his prayer.

One Another Texts

In verse 3, when Paul says, “the love of each one of you all for one another is ever greater,” this is one of around fifty-nine “one another” texts in the New Testament. Since Christians are to be identified by love for one another, it is constantly emphasized. For example, we are called to

• Be at peace with one another (Mk 9:50)

• Be of the same mind with one another (Rom 12:16, 15:5)

• Accept one another (Rom 15:7)

• Gently, patiently tolerate one another (Eph 4:2)

• Be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to one another (Eph 4:32)

• Bear with and forgive one another (Cor 3:13)

• Confess sins to one another (Jam 5:16)

• Love one another (John 13:34, 15:12, 17)

• Through love, serve one another (Gal 5:13)

• Greet one another with a kiss of love (1 Pet 5:14)

• Be devoted to one another in love (Rom 12:10)

• Give preference to one another in honor (Rom 12:10)

• Regard one another as more important than ourselves (Phil 2:3)

• Serve one another (Gal 5:13)

• Be subject to one another (Eph 5:21)

• Bear one another’s burdens (Gal 6:2)

• Speak truth to one another (Eph 4:25)

• Encourage and build up one another (1 Thess 5:11)

• Stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:24)

• Pray for one another (Jam 5:16)

• Be hospitable to one another (1 Pet 4:9)

This is just to name a few.

As Christians, we are called to love one another through actions, not simply our words and emotions. First John 3:18 says, “Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.” No doubt, this was happening in Thessalonica as they were being persecuted and consequently growing in faith. Those with small faith will typically shell up and isolate from others in times of trial. In trials, it’s normal to become selfish and self-focused. However, when our faith in God is growing, despite our trials, so does our love. As our love deepens with God, it begins to spread out to others. It spreads as we bear the burdens of others, listening, encouraging, and serving them. Again, no doubt, this was happening in Thessalonica, which is why Paul boasted of their excelling faith and love. Instead of shelling up, isolating, and getting into conflict, they drew near God and one another and served both.

Healthy churches and church members are growing in love for one another and thereby fulfilling the fifty-nine “one another” commands in the New Testament.

Application Question: How can we grow in loving other believers?

1. To love others, we must humble ourselves by putting others’ interests first, before our own.

In Philippians 2:3-5, Paul said this to the Philippians who were also being persecuted:

Instead of being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself. Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well. You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had,

Selfishness is an impediment to loving others. The reason we don’t love others as we should is because we’re so concerned about ourselves—our wants and desires—which keeps us from seeking to meet the needs of others. We humble ourselves by sacrificing our wants, desires, time, effort, and finances to care for others. This enables us to love them better. Humility leads to loving God and others better. Pride and selfish ambition hinder love, create distance from others and commonly conflict (cf. Jam 4:1-2).

2. To love others, we must get to know them more, so we can strategically think about how to love and serve them better.

Hebrews 10:24 says, “And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works.” As we think about others, what they are going through, their needs, and how we can support them, that is the first step to practically loving them. The problem is we often don’t take time to get to know people and their needs, so we never think about them and can’t really love them. If somebody is going to serve the youth in the church, they need to get to know the youth, what their needs are, and what they are struggling with, so they can lovingly serve them. The same would be true with the married couples or the elderly. As we get to know people, we start to think about them and can better love and serve them. Practically, this might mean asking a church member out to coffee or dinner to get to know them better and then potentially seeking to serve them in some way. People we don’t know, we rarely think about and therefore never lovingly serve.

Are we getting to know others, so we can think about them and lovingly serve them?

3. To love others, we must strategically be present in their lives.

In the context of thinking about others, Hebrews 10:25 says, “not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.” The writer of Hebrews was primarily referring to faithfully attending church meetings such as Sunday service and small groups for our encouragement and to encourage others. Certainly, the more we are around somebody, as mentioned, the more we can get to know them and have opportunities to love and serve them. With that said, to apply this further, another strategic way to do this, in certain contexts, is by living close to our local church. Many live an hour or so away from their church which makes it very difficult to be involved in the church and fulfill the fifty-nine “one another” texts in the New Testament. When moving, ideally it’s important to find a church first and then find housing near it, so one can get very involved in church life. Christ, our model, so loved the church that he died for her. He prays for her every day, and he moved in with her, as he indwells believers individually and corporately. To continue to love the church, he got as close as possible by indwelling her. Certainly, there is some wisdom to this for us as well. Many can’t love their church members simply because of proximity. They just live too far away. We should strategically seek to be around our church members, including possibly living near our local church. Grandparents do this all the time in their later years because they want to be able love their children and grandchildren. Since the church is our family, we should consider doing the same.

How can we be in closer proximity so we can better love those God has called us to commit to? We must love our church members through our presence, not just at church gatherings and ministries, but by being present with them in times of need, celebration, and even in the mundane.

4. To love others, we must focus on loving God and abiding in him to bear the fruit of love.

According to Galatians 5:22, the fruit of the Spirit is love. Fruits only grow in certain environments. As we worship God, pray to him, abide in his Word, and worship him, the fruit of loving him and others blooms. In John 15:5 (ESV), Christ said it this way: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” The word “abide” has to do with making our home in Christ. For many, they are just visitors. Sometimes they go to church; sometimes they pray and read their Bibles. Because they have not made it a daily lifestyle, including the atmosphere they live in, they struggle with having a desire to know God more and serve his people better. Love is one of the fruits that comes from abiding in Christ and his Word. If we lack love for God and others (including those who have hurt us or we’re not naturally drawn to), often the best thing to do is to faithfully draw near God, so our love can deepen with him and spread outwards towards others, including our family, friends, co-workers, and church members.

5. To love others, we must do so as an act of the will, an act of obedience to God.

As mentioned, in verse 3, the word for love Paul used is agape—God’s love. Instead of primarily being an emotion, it is a volitional act to seek the good of another. In Matthew 5:44, we are called to love, agape, our enemies. This isn’t referring to feeling all fuzzy about them. This refers to choosing to act lovingly towards them, seeking their best, often despite our emotions. Likewise, since Christ has called us to love one another (John 13:34), we must, as an act of the will, choose to seek the good of those in our local church, even those who might be disagreeable or we don’t have much in common with. We must do so as an act of the will to obey God and love them. No doubt, this is part of the reason the Thessalonians’ love was growing for one another. In 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, Paul previously commanded them to love one another, and they did so as an act of obedience to God. We must do the same with people in our church.

In healthy churches, they are growing in love for one another. They do so (1) by humbling themselves and putting others first, (2) by getting to know others and strategically thinking about how to serve them best, (3) by strategically being around them which allows for greater opportunities to love them, (4) by abiding in God which produces the fruit of love in our hearts, and (5) by loving others as an act of the will, an act of obedience to God. How is God calling us to love our church and its members?

Application Question: What are some common hindrances to loving others in our local church? Why is loving others so difficult? What are some special ways people in your local church have loved you in the past or currently? What are some practical ways that one can love others in their church? How is God calling you specifically to grow in love for others, including church members, and to demonstrate it practically?

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Endurance, Character, and Service through Suffering

As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring. This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5

Finally, Paul boasted about the Thessalonians’ perseverance and faith in the difficulties they were experiencing (v. 4). The word “perseverance” has the sense of bearing up under a heavy weight. Faith might be better translated “faithfulness” (NLT). In the midst of their various difficulties, they were patiently enduring, not turning away from God, not getting angry at him, and not sinning against themselves and others. They were also holding onto their faith instead of discarding it, as many tend to do when they suffer. Paul described their difficulties as “persecutions” and “afflictions.” Persecutions referred to the attacks they were receiving for their faith. Maybe, some had been fired from jobs, disowned by families and friends, mocked, harassed, imprisoned, and possibly even killed for their faith. When Paul referred to their “afflictions,” this can also be translated as “trials” (NIV) or “hardships” (NLT). It’s a general word for suffering. Not only were they being persecuted for their faith, but they were also going through normal troubles in life like sickness, conflict, financial problems, loneliness, depression, anxiety, and the like.

Typically, when boasting about someone or a community, people focus on their financial success, generosity, or popularity, but rarely do people boast about that person’s or community’s faithfulness in suffering. However, Paul does that with the Thessalonians, as they suffered and faithfully endured persecution and various trials. Persecution was a common experience for the early churches; however, not all were faithful while enduring it. With the believers written to in the books of James and Hebrews, they were being persecuted, but it seems that they were not responding well to their persecutions. With the believers James wrote to, he rebukes them for worldliness (Jam 4:4), conflict (Jam 4:1-2), and proclaiming to have faith without works (Jam 2:14-26). In Hebrews, the author warns them about falling away and returning to Judaism (Heb 6:4-8). However, the Thessalonians were faithfully enduring persecution, which is why Paul boasted about them in verse 4. Then, in verse 5, Paul gave a very peculiar statement when he says: “This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.”

Interpretation Question: What does Paul mean by the statement, “This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God?”

Typically when the righteous or innocent go through suffering, people struggle with the existence of God or understanding his purpose in allowing such events. They might proclaim, “How can there be a God when the righteous suffer?” or they would cry out to God, “If you are a good and loving God, why did you allow this to happen?” However, with Paul, when considering the Thessalonians’ persecution, he came to the very opposite conclusion. He saw God’s righteous judgment and how God was making them worthy for the kingdom through their sufferings. In what ways is God’s righteous judgment seen in the suffering of believers and how does suffering make them worthy of God’s kingdom?

1. The suffering of believers is part of God’s righteous judgment in that it proves the validity of their heavenly citizenship.

We considered this briefly with the stony ground in the Parable of the Soils (Matt 13:20-21). When the seed sown upon the stony ground suffered for the faith, he quickly turned away from the faith, proving he was never saved. Therefore, suffering for the faith and enduring it is a proof of salvation. Those who are not saved will commonly turn away.

With that said, suffering for the faith by itself is given as a proof of salvation in Scripture, because professing believers with worldly character, views, and actions will not suffer for their faith and may lack genuine salvation. For example, in Matthew 5:10 (NIV), Christ said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The “theirs” in the Greek is emphatic, meaning “theirs alone.” Only those who suffer for righteousness are truly saved. Romans 8:17 says it this way, “And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)—if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him.” We are children of God, heirs of God, and heirs of Christ, only if we suffer with him. Suffering for the faith is a proof of salvation. This does not mean all Christians will be imprisoned, stoned, or killed. It means that for true believers, their lifestyle and worldviews will come in conflict with the world’s, and for that reason, they will be looked down upon, despised, and possibly persecuted. In 1 Peter 4:3-4 (NKJV), Peter said it this way:

For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.

The world will often think believers are strange if they don’t get drunk on the weekends, have sex before marriage, and have the same views on abortion and homosexuality. They often will not only think believers are strange but will speak evil of them. Most Christians worldwide may not be persecuted for their faith, but they will receive some type of backlash for not being like everybody else in their beliefs and actions. In describing this reality to his disciples, Christ said this in John 15:18-19:

If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you do not belong to the world, but I chose you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you.

During this time frame, some Christians may avoid overt persecution; however, Scripture teaches that persecution will increase worldwide, as we get closer to the end times, and eventually all believers will be persecuted. In Matthew 24:9, Christ said, “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of my name.” In understanding all this, when Paul considered the suffering of the Thessalonians, he saw it as God’s righteous judgment because it proved they were saved, that they were true followers of Christ.

What did Paul mean by saying the Thessalonians’ suffering made them “worthy of the kingdom of God” (v. 5)? First, we must recognize what it does not mean. Paul was not saying their suffering was earning their salvation. Christ earned our salvation through his righteous life, death on the cross, and resurrection. We gain salvation through faith in his work, not ours (Eph 2:8-9). However, there is a sense in which the Thessalonians were being made worthy of the coming kingdom by them being proved worthy. Suffering for the faith proved they were saved, as we just considered. In addition, Paul could call their suffering and persevering through it God’s righteous judgment because he saw God in control of it and using it for righteous purposes. Ephesians 1:11 says God “accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.” And 1 Corinthians 10:13 says,

No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.

God was in control of the Thessalonians’ suffering for the faith and using it for their good, including proving they were saved and worthy of the coming kingdom.

What’s another way that God’s righteous judgment is seen in the suffering of believers?

2. The suffering of believers is part of God’s righteous judgment in that he uses it to make them righteous, making them look more like heavenly citizens.

This is another way the Thessalonians were being “made worthy of the kingdom of God.” Through suffering for righteousness, they were not only proving that they were truly saved and part of God’s kingdom, but also God was using their suffering to sanctify them—to make them look more like heavenly citizens. This is taught throughout Scripture. Romans 5:3-4 says, “Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.” God uses suffering to create endurance in us, which was happening in the lives of the Thessalonians while they suffered. Instead of quitting in hardship, getting mad at God and others, finding comfort in sin, or falling away from the church, they clung to God and the body of Christ. They turned away from sin and pursued righteousness. Again, Paul could clearly see God working through their suffering, fortifying them through it and transforming them into his image. In Hebrews 12:7, the author said this to suffering Christians, “Endure your suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?” The author doesn’t distinguish between suffering caused by our sin, suffering caused by the sin of others, or “accidental” suffering. Like Paul, he saw the Jewish believers suffering as under the sovereign hand of God, meant to train them for holiness and greater kingdom usefulness. This was also true with the Thessalonians. They were not only growing in endurance (v. 4) but also faith and love as Paul bragged about earlier in 2 Thessalonians 1:3.

God’s Purposes in Discipline

Sometimes God’s discipline comes to correct present, sinful patterns in our lives, as in the case of Jonah fleeing God’s call and God bringing a storm into his life to bring him to repentance. At other times God’s discipline comes to protect us from potential, future sins, as seen in the case of Paul’s thorn in the flesh. In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul said this, “even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore, so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble me—so that I would not become arrogant.” Because of all the extra revelations God gave Paul and the potential of him becoming prideful, God graciously allowed him to have some type of demon, inspired disease that God would not remove. This kept him humble, weak, and dependent on God, and therefore, God’s power could become perfect in his life, so God could use him more greatly (2 Cor 8:9). At other times, God’s primary purpose in discipline is not necessarily corrective but to help us know him in a deeper manner and to become more righteous. At the end of Job’s trial, he saw God in a greater manner and was blessed by him. Likewise, in Psalm 119:71-72, the Psalmist said, “It was good for me to suffer, so that I might learn your statutes. The law you have revealed is more important to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.”

Again, though we cannot be made worthy of the kingdom in the sense of earning it, there is a sense in which our sanctification process, which is augmented by trials, makes us more worthy of the kingdom, as we develop greater kingdom character.

3. The suffering of believers is part of God’s righteous judgment in that God uses it to equip them to better serve others as heavenly citizens.

Again, verse 4 says, “As a result we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you are enduring.” Paul’s boasting about the Thessalonians and sharing their example with other churches was not primarily to brag about them but to encourage other churches to be holy and persevere through suffering as well. In 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, he bragged about the Thessalonians’ generosity in the midst of their suffering and poverty to help the Corinthian church excel in giving as well. He said:

Likewise, our suffering is God’s righteous judgment in the sense that he equips us to better serve and help others through it. In 2 Corinthians 1:3-6, Paul said this about his own suffering.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow toward us, so also our comfort through Christ overflows to you. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort that you experience in your patient endurance of the same sufferings that we also suffer.

This story from the Teacher’s Outline and Study Bible (with tiny adaptations to it) illustrates this point well. It says:

Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I could be stronger in my faith. I wish I could be a strong Christian and really make a difference in people’s lives”? A certain man related this thought to God one day while he was praying. Up to this point in time, he had the “Midas touch.” It seemed that everything he put his hand to was a success. On the surface, he had no major difficulties. He had a good job and a good education. He had a family that was together. He was a man who had no problems—and it was evident to those who knew him. One day while praying, he expressed a burden to reach out to people who had problems. He was constantly frustrated that no one ever sought him out for counsel [and that there was very little opportunity for him to minister to others]. As he meditated on this desire, the Lord spoke to him in that still, small voice that often comes to believers when praying. “No one wants your counsel because they can’t relate to someone who has no problems.” “That’s it!”, he exclaimed. “I’ve gone about this all wrong. Lord, whatever it takes, help me to better relate [and better minister] to people.” It was only a few days later that he lost his Midas touch. He lost his job unexpectedly. Two months later, his parents divorced. On the way to run an errand, he was in a car accident. Little did he realize that God was answering his prayer by allowing a variety of trials to touch his life to which others could relate. Needless to say, the man was crushed, devastated by so much happening all at once. But God strengthened the man and carried him through all the trials, working all things out for good. From that simple desire to be used by God, he was sharpened and strengthened. In the following years, he was able to use the testimony of God’s strength to encourage hundreds of people. Are you willing [to trust God’s difficult dealings in your life and allow him to equip you and use you in a greater way]?

Again, God allows us to go through trials, so we can depend on him and the body of Christ and experience his comfort and wisdom, so we can share them with others who likewise suffer. It’s often been said that our misery often becomes our ministry and that God prefers broken counselors. His grace more easily flows through them.

God’s Timeline on Our Suffering

With most, our sufferings will be temporary, in the sense that they are short-lived. However, for others, quite possibly like the Thessalonians who were being persecuted, God may allow us to live long-term in a difficult situation or environment. In many countries around the world, believers are going through extreme persecution with only light and brief reprieves; however, suffering may continue until God takes them home or Christ comes. With some, God may allow them to live with a long-term, incurable disease. Like Paul, they may pray for full healing, but God may choose to allow the disease to continue for greater purposes, to make them more worthy of the kingdom and more useful for it. Either way, we must trust God’s purposes in our suffering, whether they are short or long. Our life on earth is temporary and full of pain and difficulties, but in the coming eternal kingdom, there will be no more mourning, crying, pain, and death (Rev 21:4). In addition, there will be perfect righteousness, joy, and peace (Rom 14:17).

Again, as Paul looked at the Thessalonians’ suffering, it didn’t make him question God’s love, power, wisdom, or existence. He saw God as in control of their persecutors and difficulties. (1) Their suffering was not proof that God had abandoned them, but proof that he was with them and had saved them eternally. It was proof that they were true followers of Christ. The world despised and persecuted Christ, and they will do the same to those who follow Christ and look like him. Again, Matthew 5:10 (NIV) says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs [and theirs alone] is the kingdom of heaven.” The Thessalonians’ suffering for the faith proved that Christ had made them worthy of the kingdom through his holy life, death, resurrection, and their acceptance of him as Lord and Savior. (2) However, they were also being made worthy in the sense that God was using their suffering to help them grow in heavenly virtues—their endurance led to godly character, and godly character to hope in God and the coming kingdom instead of wealth and comfort in this temporary world. (3) And finally, God was equipping them for a more fruitful earthly and heavenly ministry through their suffering. What seemed like God was not a part of, as far as the Thessalonians’ suffering, God was sovereign over and using to prove that they were heavenly citizens, helping them to look more like heavenly citizens, and equipping them to serve like heavenly citizens as well. May God do the same through our sufferings as well!

Application Question: Why is it hard to trust that God is in control of our trials and using them for our good at times? How can we hold onto this reality while going through various difficulties? What are some other specific stories in Scripture where we see God using the hardship of believers for their and others’ good? Share a time when God used an especially difficult hardship for your or others’ good.

Conclusion

What are marks of a healthy church and healthy church members? We can discern many from the Thessalonian church, who went through severe persecution.

1. Healthy Churches Have Faithful Leaders (and Church Members)

2. Healthy Churches Have Genuinely Converted Members

3. Healthy Churches Are Growing in Faith

4. Healthy Churches Are Growing in Love for One Another

5. Healthy Churches Are Growing in Endurance, Character, and Service through Suffering

Application Question: What stood out most in the text or message and why?

Prayer Prompts

• Pray for God to bless our church leaders by encouraging, empowering, and protecting them and their families.

• Pray for God to save our church members and give them assurance of salvation.

• Pray for God to increase our faith in him through studying his Word, prayer, fellowship, and service.

• Pray for God to increase our love for him and our church members and give us opportunities to demonstrate that love.

• Pray for God to strengthen believers who are suffering in our church, community, and around the world and that God would give them greater endurance, character, and hope in Christ and his coming kingdom.

The Bible Teacher's
Guide

2 Thessalonians Series: Marks of a Healthy Church (2 Thess 1:1-5)

Marks of a Healthy Church

Healthy Churches Have Faithful Leaders (and Church Members)

Healthy Churches Have Genuinely Converted Members

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Faith

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Love for One Another

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Endurance, Character, and Service through Suffering

Conclusion

Prayer Prompts

Comments

Gregory
Brown
PASTOR, TEACHER, & AUTHOR

2 Thessalonians Series: Marks of a Healthy Church (2 Thess 1:1-5)

Marks of a Healthy Church

Healthy Churches Have Faithful Leaders (and Church Members)

Healthy Churches Have Genuinely Converted Members

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Faith

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Love for One Another

Healthy Churches Are Growing in Endurance, Character, and Service through Suffering

Conclusion

Prayer Prompts

Comments

Gregory Brown PASTOR, TEACHER, & AUTHOR

Gregory
Brown
PASTOR, TEACHER, & AUTHOR