Introduction

• Acts 17:1-9 – Paul’s trip to Thessalonica. He seems to have written I and II Thessalonians to the church from Corinth soon after he had visited the Thessalonians.

“to strengthen and encourage you”

• I Thessalonians 3:1-5
• Paul was writing to strengthen and encourage them. This is so important for Christians. The weak Christians are the ones Satan targets the most. Every Christian in every congregation can benefit from encouragement.

“good news of your faith and love”

• I Thessalonians 3:6-8
• I Thessalonians 1:2-3 – Do we have the right attitude about praying for our brethren?
• I Thessalonians 2:17-20 – Paul was looking forward to seeing them at the judgment!
• II Corinthians 11:23-29 – What occupied Paul’s mind? What were his emotions like?
• Philippians 1:6-8 – Could I sincerely write this to someone?
• III John 1:4

“complete what is lacking in your faith”

• I Thessalonians 3:9-10 – Paul wanted their faith to be fully functional.
• Luke 6:40
• II Peter 1:5-11
• Luke 18:18-23 – Jesus challenges us to give up our most preferred sin.
• Completing our faith is about fixing the most difficult sins – not the ones that are easiest to avoid.
• Revelation 2:4-5 – God wants us to grow!

Responsibilities to the local church

The importance of membership in a local congregation

• The only functioning unit of the church is the local congregation. I Corinthians 1:2; I Timothy 5:16
• All Christians are to join a local congregation (idea of “free-floating” members is unknown to the New Testament). Acts 2:44-46
• All the members of a local congregation have a peculiar responsibility to it to fully support its work (not to be discharged in any other way).
  • Based on mutual agreement to work together – Acts 9:26-28
  • Based on mutual responsibilities to one another – Romans 12:4-8 (Each of us has the same amount of responsibility to do his own part.)
  • Based on mutual love for one another. Romans 12:9-18
  • Based on mutual need for one another. Ephesians 4:16

The importance of each member – I Corinthians 12:14-27

• Each member of the congregation has his own function to perform. I Corinthians 12:14-19
• Each member is important. I Corinthians 12:20-24
• Each member should have the same care for one another. I Corinthians 12:25-27

The responsibilities of each member

• Assemble faithfully with the saints. Hebrews 10:24-25
• Give liberally to help the church discharge its work. II Corinthians 9:6-7
• Fully support all scriptural functions of the church. James 4:17 (Galatians 5:13)
• Diligently do whatever work he can do. Romans 12:4-8
• Demonstrate love and concern for each other. Romans 12:9-10
• Pray for one another. James 5:16

Conclusion

• Each member of the congregation must fulfill his obligations for the local congregation to be successful in doing its work. I Corinthians 12:14
• Are you doing your share? Romans 12:11

Easy recipe for spoiled fruit

• Start with lots of blessings.
• Let those blessings turn to rot.
• Romans 6:1; 2:4

Examples of spoiling

• Giving too much permission
  • Proverbs 29:15
• Giving too much stuff
  • Luke 15:12-13
• Giving too much discipline
  • Colossians 3:21

Why do we spoil our children?

• Selfishness – easier to give stuff than sacrifice:
  • My time
  • My effort
  • My preferences
  • My emotional comfort
  • My pride
  • My ease
• Misguided compassion
  • Giving all my time
  • Giving all my effort
  • Giving them all their preferences
  • Preserving their emotional comfort
  • Reinforcing their pride
  • Making them always at ease

The danger of spoiling your kids …

• Destination without the journey
  • They will try to start their adult lives with all that you have now, starting at the point that it took you decades to reach.
• Creates a selfish, entitlement mentality.
• Something is wrong if:
  • Others don’t serve me
  • I don’t get my way
  • I don’t get what I want, when I want it
• Creates expectations, defines normal
  • Discontentment
  • Rebellion
  • Foolish, near-sighted decisions

Spoiled … fruitful?

• Galatians 5:22-23
• Imagine the outcome if you spoil your child with …
  • Deuteronomy 6:5-9 – Time spent daily as a family in devotion to God, reading, meditating on, and discussing His word together.
  • I Thessalonians 5:16 – Rejoicing in the Lord.
  • Ephesians 4:29 – Days filled with words of exhortation.
  • I Thessalonians 5:17 – Praying frequently.
  • Hebrews 12:11 – Discipline for their good, yielding peaceful fruits of righteousness.
  • Ephesians 4:3; Hebrews 13:1; John 13:35 – Peace and unity in the local church.

Beware!

• They might reach the destination without the same struggles of your journey.
• You may create someone obsessed with receiving an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled.
• They may think something is wrong if:
  • Days are filled with entertainment and self-satisfaction
  • There is complaining
  • Words are used idly and for tearing down
  • Others are quick to gossip
  • Life is undisciplined and fulfilling the desires of the flesh
  • There is division and unrest among brethren
• They may have unrealistic expectations that clash with the reality of those around them, living a life …
  • Discontentment with others’ apathy toward spiritual things
  • Rebelling against society inciting others to rise up, too
  • Making foolish decisions with eternity in mind

But the danger still holds true

• They must learn spiritual wealth does not come easy
  • It takes their investment and effort
  • It needs their growth mindset
  • They must defend against thieves who would swindle them of their inheritance
  • They have to cherish and value it – understand how much they must be willing to give up for it
    • Time
    • Effort
    • Preferences
    • Emotional comfort
    • Pride
    • Ease

How should we proceed?

• Deuteronomy 8
  • Deuteronomy 8:2-5 – Give discipline, direction, provision, and hunger
  • Deuteronomy 8:6-14 – With reward and warning
  • Deuteronomy 8:16 – With purpose (Hebrews 12:10)
• Deuteronomy 8:18

Introduction

• Matthew 14:22-32; Mark 6:45-51; John 6:15-21
• Early in the morning, Jesus walks on the water in view of the disciples.
• Peter asks to join and Jesus allows is.
• Peter becomes afraid and begins to sink, but Jesus saves him.
• The storm stops.
  • John 9:8; Psalms 77:19; 89:8-9; 107:23-30

Faith

• “Little faith”
  • Means to be incredulous
  • Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 16:8; 17:20
• God calls us to have faith in:
  • John 3:36; Romans 6:8
• Can one’s faith be misplaced?
  • I Timothy 6:17

Doubt

• Matthew 28:17; 21:21; James 1:6
• Romans 4:18-22
• What can we be tempted to doubt but should not?
  • God’s promises and assurances – II Peter 1:3-4; 3:3-4
  • Veracity of the Bible – Psalms 19:7-11
  • James 1:6, 8
• When is it appropriate, if ever, to have second thoughts?
  • Re-evaluating our judgments based on applications of God’s word.

Fear

• “He was afraid”
  • Fear is a natural response and can be helpful.
  • Fear can paralyze – Matthew 25:25
  • Luke 5:10
  • Mark 4:40
  • Matthew 17:6
• Can fear be appropriate for a Christian?
  • Acts 10:1-2; I Peter 2:17
• Of what can we be wrongly afraid?
  • Fear of man’s mistreatment of us. Matthew 10:28; John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42-43; Hebrews 13:6; I Peter 3:14
  • Isaiah 29:13
• Do doubt and fear outweigh your faith?

A new creation

A Christian is a “new creation”

• Romans 6:4-5
• II Corinthians 5:17

A new creation made possible by virtue of a new birth

• James 1:18; I Peter 1:22-23
• John 3:3-5; Titus 3:5-7

This new creation embarks on a life of renewal …

• II Corinthians 4:16
• Romans 12:2

A new life

Having passed from death to life

• John 5:24-25
• Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:12-13
• I John 5:11-13

Having passed from darkness to light

• Acts 26:18
• I Peter 2:9-10
• Ephesians 5:8; I Thessalonians 5:5
• Ephesians 5:9

For which we should ever be thankful

• Colossians 1:12-13

A new loyalty

A Christian is a “converted person” …

• I Thessalonians 1:9
• Romans 6:16-18; I Thessalonians 1:9

A Christian is converted to Jesus Christ

• Acts 2:36; I Peter 3:15
• Matthew 10:37-39
• Galatians 2:20

Such loyalty to Christ results in a new life

• Philippians 4:6-7
• Philippians 4:13

A significant thing about a Christian, then

• Experiences a new creation
• Enjoys a new life
• Entertains a new loyalty
• … Such an individual is truly “A person reborn”

But not all professing Christians show evidence of this rebirth … Why is that?

They may not have yet truly experienced the new creation.

• Mark 16:16
• Colossians 2:12-13

Though they may have been reborn and entered the new life, they may have gone back into sin.

• Hebrews 3:12-13
• II Peter 2:20