Be Like A Father

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you like a father to your members?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To teach that we need to be like our FATHER GOD in all ways.

IV. TEXT:

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (Amplified Bible)

For you know how, as a father [dealing with] his children, we used to exhort each of you personally, stimulating and encouraging and charging you

To live lives worthy of God, Who calls you into His own kingdom and the glorious blessedness [into which true believers will enter after Christ’s return].

V. THESIS:

We need to be like our FATHER GOD in all ways.

VI. TITLE:

Be like a father

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: 49 to 54 B.C. but uncertain

C. Purpose: to comfort believers and encourage them to a life of purity

D. To whom written: Thessalonica church

E. Main themes: Most personal of all of Paul's epistles

F. Keyword: Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:3 (Amplified Bible)

For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice,

G. Key verses:

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (Amplified Bible)

And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you,

So that He may strengthen and confirm and establish your hearts faultlessly pure and unblamable in holiness in the sight of our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) with all His saints (the holy and glorified people of God)! Amen, (so be it)!

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (Amplified Bible)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.

Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!

Therefore comfort and encourage one another with these words.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Encourage

"For you know how, as a father [dealing with] his children, we used to exhort each of you personally,"

1. Encourage them thru your changed life.

a. Be an example for them to follow.

Discipleship is not a task for absentee discipler. Be always consistent with your attendance when you're teaching them to follow CHRIST.

2 Thessalonians 3:9 (Amplified Bible)

[It was] not because we do not have a right [to such support], but [we wished] to make ourselves an example for you to follow.

b. Allow no one to look down on you.

You might be a young discipler and you have members that is triple your age. It doesn't matter, GOD, the FATHER is older than you all, much, much older, He's Ancient of Days and He's the Teacher not you.

1 Timothy 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

c. Be a pattern and model for them displaying your good deeds and works.

Remember if you're a leader, you must be a good follower.

Titus 2:7 (Amplified Bible)

And show your own self in all respects to be a pattern and a model of good deeds and works, teaching what is unadulterated, showing gravity [having the strictest regard for truth and purity of motive], with dignity and seriousness.

B. Comfort

"stimulating and encouraging"

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (Amplified Bible)

Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (Amplified Bible)

And we earnestly beseech you, brethren, admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line [the loafers, the disorderly, and the unruly]; encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].

1 Corinthians 14:31 (Amplified Bible)

For in this way you can give testimony [prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose] one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged;

Keep your temper at all times, remember they're looking at you first, then the LORD. Be like GOD who is the GOD of all COMFORT.

1 Corinthians 14:3 (Amplified Bible)

But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.