I THESSALONIANS 3 Lesson # 3
WHAT MATTERS MOST TO GOOD LEADERS
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
RQ Have you ever been anxious for a loved one: a child, a spouse, a relative, a friend, but the story ended well.
RQ Is not the reason we are so anxious tied to the fact that we really care about others?
RQ Is it not true that if we were not concerned with a threat to someone else’s welfare that it might indicate that we do not really care about that person?
Note: We do care about our loved ones and we are often anxious about their well being. That is natural and good. It means we care about others besides ourselves.
Q What things should most concern us about our loved ones? What should be our key concerns?
An = Think about our loved one’s eternal salvation.
Note: If a very pressing concern is on your heart right now, then let’s stop! Take time to pray for that issue right now. It does not matter how much time it takes, this is important to do.
Note: Paul is a true Christian leader, a true spiritual parent. We are going to watch how he sees the Thessalonians and how deeply and humanly he cares for these new Christians.
III. Paul Recounts His Sending of Timothy to the Thessalonians: 3:1-10.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 3:1-2.
Q According to verse 1 why did Paul decide to send Timothy to the Thessalonians?
An = He could stand it no longer. He was anxious, so much so that he was willing to split the apostolic team just to find out how the Thessalonians were doing.
Note: Notice what Paul calls Timothy: our brother and God’s fellow-worker in the spreading of the Gospel of Christ. Paul is willing to praise others in the ministry.
Q Why is Timothy sent according to verse 2?
An = To strengthen and encourage them in their faith. If our faith fails then not much else matters. Good leaders inquire about the state of our faith. It is what concerns them. If we are to be good leaders then we need to be concerned about the faith of those we love.
Note: Paul then goes on in the next three verses to give more detail as to what he is concerned about. Let us see how the Lord can help us be better leaders for those we love as we see how the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to be….
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 3:3-5.
Q What is Paul speaking of in verses 3-4?
An = The Thessalonian concern for the safety of the apostolic team. Paul does not want them upset because of the persecution suffered by the leaders they love. Sometimes we need to not worry those who look up to us but try to relieve them of worry for us.
Q How does a good parent do this?
An = Often times we tell our kids, we are alright. We are so proud they are concerned but we do not want them eaten up with worry. We tell them such things must be. Paul is a good parent.
Note: Paul is reminding them that he had warned that tough times lay ahead for those who dared to spread the Gospel.
Q When people share their faith do they still experience trouble? Do you know people even in your circles who have not met with a good response when they shared the Gospel?
An = People often do not mind if you are a Christian, but they deeply resent when you share the fact that they need to be a Christian too. The Moslems will kill anyone sharing their faith in countries they control. Many missionaries have lost their lives spreading the Gospel and many people here in America have paid dear prices for being evangelistic, in sharing the fact that all need to be saved.
Note: Can you think of a story (that you personally know) of someone who has met with difficulty, persecution, job loss, etc. for being willing to share their faith in Christ?
Q What are some of the things you fear might happen to you if you share your faith in Christ with others?
An = Share a fear you have.
>>>> Have someone re-read I Thessalonians 3:5.
Q What is Paul concerned about in verse 5?
An = That the tempter had shaken them from their faith and that Paul had labored in
vain. Paul worries that they did not withstand the difficulties they were facing. He first wants to relieve them of any worry about himself (3-4), and then he lets them know that he was worried about them.
Note: “Open rebuke is better than unexpressed love”, says the Proverbs, and we should let others know we deeply care about them. People need to hear they are loved. Love and concern must be vocalized. Good parents and good spiritual leaders let others know how much they mean to them.
Note: Paul is very concerned, see the repeated phrase from 3:1: “when I could stand it no longer”. Paul is very emotionally vulnerable because of his love for these people. If we learn to love to this extent we too will be very vulnerable. Love can hurt! A wise man once told me: “Love is for the strong”. Paul is emotionally attached to the Thessalonians.
Q Should good pastors and Sunday School teachers be emotionally attached to those they lead?
An = Yes, it is a sign of a good leader. How can we command others to love if we do not love them.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 3:6.
Q What news did Timothy bring to Paul about the Thessalonians?
An = Good news about their faith and love. Also, Timothy reported to Paul about their love for the apostles. They thought kindly of them and longed to see them.
Q Doesn’t it mean the world to you when your children or loved ones miss you?
An = It feels great doesn’t it?
Q Should we want to see our pastors or spiritual leaders?
An = Yes, it is a sign of our spiritual health and the goodness of our leaders if we love them and long to see them.
Note: What follows in the next four verses is how Paul and the others react to the report brought to them from Timothy.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 3:7-10
Q What reaction does Paul have in 3:7?
An = Despite the difficulties they were going through their hearts were comforted when they heard about their faith. If we want to know if we are good leaders and if we want to know whether someone is a good leader, this is a good test. Can you or they be comforted as long as the faith of those they lead is doing well.
Note: Notice the reaction in verse 8: “…now we really live….”
Q What is Paul’s reaction in verse 9?
An = He is thankful to God for the Thessalonians. So often in our culture we are only concerned with ourselves and when that is the case we are robbing ourselves of joy.
Q Can we train ourselves to be more focused on the good fortunes of others?
An = Yes, we can. If it is not a spontaneous thing within us then we can begin to pray we grow more interested in the spiritual welfare of others. God will hear us. We can ask him to “have the mind of Christ”. God’s Spirit will change us if we ask Him.
It is also a matter of discipline and of choosing to focus on the good fortune of others. We ask God to give us the right attitude and then He expects us to try and make the effort. Then He will bless our efforts and give us love that we never knew was possible.
Note: Notice how with eager anticipation Paul looks forward to seeing the Thessalonians.
Q How do people feel when they know that someone really longs to see them?
An = It affirms our own worth to know people really long to see us. It affirms and encourages others when they find out how eager we are to see them.
Note: Paul then does something very typical in his letters. He lets the Thessalonians know how he prays for them.
Let’s watch and see how Paul prays, what he hopes for in his prayers and then we will have a guide or pattern as to how we should pray.
IV. Paul’s Prayer and Hope For the Thessalonians: I Thessalonians 3:11-13.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 3:11-13.
Q What is Paul praying for in verse 11?
An = That he can see the Thessalonians again. We can pray to be able to see those we love.
Q What is Paul praying for in verse 12?
An = That their love would increase. We should pray not only to see those we love but they would change as people and grow in love for one another. If people can not love each other they have not gone very far spiritually. We are to pray that people grow in love for one another.
Note: Notice that Paul wants them to love one another “as” he has loved them. Our role as leaders is to model what we want those that follow us to do. You cannot pray for others to grow in love if you do not do so. The most affective way to teach children to love one another is to love them. How we treat our children teaches them how to treat others. The same is true in spiritual growth.
Q What is Paul praying for in verse 13?
An = That they are ready for the second coming, by living holy lives. Our prayer life and our hope for those we love and those we influence is that they are anticipating the coming of the Lord. Proof that we anticipate His coming is our commitment to holy living.
Note: Many of us pray for happiness, health, or success for those we pray for but Paul is showing how to pray for the really important things. Praying for the success, etc. is not wrong, but if we are good leaders, and desire God’s best, then we pray for other’s love for one another to grow.
Homework:
Read I Thessalonians chapter 4 and look for two things.
1) In verses 1-13 what three things does Paul want them to do (3-8, 9-10, 11-12)?
2) What is Paul teaching them about in verses 14-18? What is the topic and can you say it to someone else in your own words?