This week, I’m going to be walking through 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. After reading this a few weeks ago, I saw the obvious lessons for ministers. So we’re going to take it a few lines at a time this week.

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

(1 Thessalonians 2:2 ESV, bold mine)

 Lesson 1.

You will face much conflict in the church. It usually comes down to one of three reasons. 1 – A leader does something dumb. 2 – A follower does something dumb. 3 – A leader and a follower both do dumb stuff. Lots of conflict.

Never-the-less. We must proclaim the good news of Jesus in the midst of the chaos.

Sometimes, you’re just going through stuff. But your mission, purpose and acceptance are anchored in the one with whom there is no variation (James 1:17).

Be encouraged… the conflict comes… but you can deal with it and continue on course.

Check out The Peace Maker for help in any conflict you may be dealing with.

2:2 – be bold and declare the gospel even in the midst of conflict.

For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness.

(1 Thessalonians 2:3-5 ESV)

Lesson 2.

v.3 Always keep your heart and intentions pure before the Lord. You may find yourself caught in the middle of something that can break your ministry one day… just because things happen and mistakes are made. But if you’re intentions are pure, you can be assured that you’ve honored God.

It is always better to build God’s kingdom than your own.

Lesson 3.

v.4 Do not seek the approval of man. Man is so fickle… our minds change all the time. Find your approval in the One who created not His creation.

Don’t misunderstand this for, “Go tick everyone off to make a point.”

No, we minister to (serve) people… and they will take advantage of that at times… at other times they simply will be ungrateful.

Lesson 4.

v.5 It is no secret, the bigger the church the more you make. Don’t let this drive your decisions.

In ministry, we have the opportunity to master money… but money also has the opportunity to master us. Make sure you are focused on people, and not people who can make you wealthy.

Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

(1 Thessalonians 2:6-9 ESV)

Lesson 5.

v6 Don’t seek to be a rock star. People love to see how spiritual you are, so they can worship you. Don’t let them. Refuse to let them.

It’s not by works so that NO MAN CAN BOAST, but if you boast… do it in the Lord.

Also… don’t always try to be the hero… you will develop the need for people to need you… very unhealthy.

Lesson 6.

v8 Find a few people who you invest more into than just the gospel.

You can’t do this with many people… but find a few who are hungry to learn more about who they are in Christ. Teach them. Share the secrets of your prayer and Bible life with them. Tell them the secrets of your house. Show them how to make their finances work for them.

Yes, these people will become assets, but you do it because you have to give what you’ve been given!

Lesson 7.

v9 People, prior to salvation are in two stages.

Stage one – before Christ.

Stage two – receiving Christ.

Sometimes people are receiving Christ for longer than a moment… they just need to poke around the faith a little.

In these stages… don’t bog them down with anything other than receiving. Let them enjoy church and you company. Don’t ask of them… let them get away with some things. They don’t have to understand our moral code, or even our church policy. Let them breathe… let them receive.

You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
(1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 ESV)

Lesson 8.

Learn how to minister to believers.

They need to be exhorted… which means advised. Show them how to practically do things that will better fulfill them, prosper them and increase them.

They need to be encouraged… which means they need you to show them who they ALREADY ARE in Christ. Help them know what they’ve been freely given.

They need to be implored… which means they need to know how desperately important they are to aiding the mission of Jesus Christ… to spread the gospel all over the earth.

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

(1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 ESV)

Lesson 9.

Pray for people to receive the word of God for what it is… and not as the word of man.

The word of the Lord has the ability to transform life. To change everything.

It’s not an instruction manual… it’s a supernatural world shaking collection of the thoughts God wants to communicate with this world. Uncover the mysteries of the scripture to your people.

Lesson 10.

Teach your people that God is gracious… and that He gives us all things… and that what we do is wrapped inside of what Christ has already done.

No matter what we do, when we’re in Christ… we’re accepted. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.

When people try to put your followers under the law of condemnation… you make sure you’re ready to relieve them into the grace of commendation!