Introduction:
A. If I asked you to turn to someone near you this morning, and in 30 seconds or less give them some encouragement, would you know how to do that?
1. Chances are, many of us would struggle with that assignment, perhaps for a number of reasons.
2. Let me ask you this: “Do you consider yourself to be an encourager?”
3. Do you like to encourage others? Do you know how to be an encouragement?
B. Unfortunately, many people are skilled discouragers.
1. In one Peanuts Cartoon, Charles Schulz showed Snoopy sliding along the frozen pond on his bare paws.
2. He was having a great time.
3. Then Lucy walked up and slid out onto the pond with her skates on, and Snoopy doing a little twirl, slid up right in front of her with a big smile.
4. Lucy said to him, “That’s not skating, that’s sliding!”
5. And Snoopy just stood there while she went on with her lecture, “You don’t have any skates on. Skating is when you have skates on. You’re not skating at all. You’re just sliding!”
6. Snoopy dejectedly walked off the pond saying, “How could I have been so stupid. And I thought I was having fun.”
C. It’s easy to be a discourager.
1. In his commentary on Hebrews, William Barclay wrote this: One of the highest of human duties is the duty of encouragement…It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man who speaks such a word.
2. Because it’s easy to be a discourager, many people are discouraged because of what the people around them have said and done to them.
D. Obviously, life and circumstances can also be very discouraging.
1. I like the story of former heavy-weight boxer James (Quick) Tillis, who was a cowboy from Oklahoma who fought out of Chicago in the early 1980s.
2. He still remembers his first day in the Windy City after his arrival from Tulsa. He said: “I got off the bus with two cardboard suitcases under my arms in downtown Chicago and stopped in front of the Sears Tower. I put my suitcases down, and I looked up at the Tower and I said to myself, ‘I'm going to conquer Chicago.’ But when I looked down, the suitcases were gone.”
3. For many of us, people and circumstances have stolen our courage and zest for life.
4. Perhaps you are very discouraged today.
E. My hope for today’s lesson is that each of us will leave here not only encouraged, but that we will realize that we can be an encouragement to others, and that we can do it even while we are going through hard times and don’t feel very encouraged.
1. My point in a nutshell is this: “A person’s faithfulness to God is a great encouragement to others.”
2. Let’s take a look at the text and see how that idea comes out of today’s section.
3. Then let’s consider how we can be an encouragement to others.
I. Exploring the Text
A. Paul began chapter 3 with these words: 1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
1. In our sermon last week, we learned about Paul’s feeling about being separated from the Thessalonians.
a. Paul felt so intensely about it that he described it as being like a parent separated from a child, or a child being orphaned from his or her parents.
2. Paul didn’t like the fact that he was forced to leave Thessalonica, but he had to.
3. You don’t invest your life in people and then just walk away from them as though it didn’t affect you.
a. Paul knew he had left them in a very vulnerable situation.
b. He knew they were facing persecution, just like he had.
c. And even though he had warned them about the persecution they would face, he was still concerned that it might turn them away from the faith and his efforts would have been in vain.
4. So Paul found himself in this dilemma: he was forced to leave the Thessalonians, but he was terribly concerned about them.
a. So what could he do?
b. He tried to return, again and again, but Satan stopped him.
c. He could try to send back another member of his ministry team, but that would leave him in a vulnerable situation.
d. It wasn’t an easy decision.
5. Nevertheless, he decided to potentially harm himself in order to try to help the Thessalonians, so he sent Timothy back to check on them and minister to them.
6. Paul mentioned some encouraging things about Timothy in these verses.
a. Paul called him his brother and God’s fellow worker.
b. And Paul expressed a confidence in Timothy that Timothy would be able to strengthen and encourage them through his ministry to them.
c. It was a challenging assignment for the young evangelist.
7. Paul loved Timothy and had confidence in him, and even selfishly didn’t like having to be separated from him.
B. So, How did Timothy’s trip back to Thessalonica go? Let’s look at Paul’s assessment of it.
1. Paul wrote: 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
2. So Timothy safely traveled to Thessalonica and then returned to Paul with good news.
a. It is interesting that this is one of the only two places in the NY that the word “gospel” is used for something other than the story of Jesus.
b. That gives us an idea of just how good the news about the Thessalonians was to Paul.
3. Timothy’s report included the fact that the faith and love of the Thessalonians was intact.
a. He also reported that the Thessalonians had good feelings about Paul and that they longed to see him as much as he longed to see them.
4. All of this was such a relief to Paul.
a. Even in the midst of his distress and persecution, this news was an encouragement to him.
b. He said, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”
c. Does he mean that he wouldn’t be alive if they weren’t standing firm? Of course not.
d. How would you feel if you received news that someone you cared about had left the faith? Certainly you would still be alive, but man that news would hurt.
5. In everyday life, when parents receive news that their children are well, then they are thrilled – they can really live or breathe deeply.
a. But when they receive news that their children are not doing well, then they are devastated.
b. The same is true in the spiritual sense.
6. Paul was so encouraged by the good news about the Thessalonians, that he asked the question: How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy you give us?
a. Are there people in your life you feel that way about?
b. That’s the kind of effect that faithfulness can have on people.
c. Our faithfulness can bring encouragement and joy to others.
C. Paul finished up the chapter in prayer: 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
1. Paul’s praying for them was constant and fervent.
a. He said he interceded for them “night and day.”
2. Paul prayed that God would clear the way for him to visit them – which it appears never happened. See, even some of Paul’s prayers were answered with a “no.”
3. Then Paul prayed for their love to increase and overflow for each other and everyone else.
a. Love is such an important part of the Christian life.
b. There is nothing more important that we can pray for each other than for our love to grow and overflow.
c. Notice that this love needs to be for both Christians and for everyone else – including our enemies, those who persecute us.
4. Finally, Paul prayed for their hearts to be strengthened and purified.
5. As always, everything in this letter looks forward to the coming of Jesus.
a. Jesus is coming with all his holy ones, and we want to be found blameless and holy in his presence when He comes! Amen! That’s something to pray about!
II. Applying the Text
A. So how can we be an encouragement to others?
B. First, We can be an encouragement by being present.
1. Our faithfulness and regularity in attendance when the church comes together is of great encouragement. Especially considering the distance and obstacles some face.
2. Hebrews 10:25 says it well: Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
3. A lack of attendance is discouraging for everyone.
a. It is discouraging for those who come to worship when they see so many are missing.
b. It is discouraging for the one who didn’t come to worship, because they miss out on the spiritual blessings of being together with the body of Christ, and receiving the spiritual empowerment that comes through worshiping together.
4. God’s people should long to be together.
a. Paul experienced that longing when he was separated from the Thessalonians, and we ought to feel the same way about each other.
b. I don’t like to miss our church gatherings, because then I feel separated and isolated.
5. I want to be with the church, which I consider to be a place of encouragement.
a. I want to see you and know how you are doing.
b. I want to draw encouragement from your love for God, and to offer encouragement to you.
6. So the first way to be of encouragement is to just be present.
a. That presence certainly includes being present in worship, but our presence can also be encouraging at an important school or sport function, in a person’s home, at the nursing home, funeral home, or the hospital – just being there is encouraging.
C. Second, We can be an encouragement by being faithful through trials.
1. No doubt, going through trials can be discouraging for people.
2. But the last thing we should think is that my trials are discouraging to others - The opposite is actually the case.
3. It is so encouraging when we see people being faithful in spite of their trials.
4. Being faithful through our trials doesn’t mean always wearing a happy face and pretending that our trials don’t hurt, don’t discourage, or don’t burden us.
5. Encouragement comes when we see others honestly expressing the struggles of their trials, while at the same time expressing their commitment to God or their trust in God in the midst of them.
6. Whenever we face the trials of disease, divorce, or death, that is not a time to stay away because we don’t want to burden others or discourage them.
7. I can’t tell you how many times I have been encouraged by the faithfulness of my brothers and sisters as they have faced some of life’s hardest trials.
D. Third, We can be an encouragement by expressing our appreciation for others.
1. The apostle Paul was quick to express his love and thanksgiving for others.
2. It means so much to me when I receive a word of appreciation or an encouraging card. I keep every one of them.
3. Did you know that Abraham Lincoln carried with him a newspaper clipping stating he was a great leader? Even Lincoln needed encouraging words!
4. I love the story of the boy who said to his father: “Let's play darts. I'll throw the darts. And you say ‘Wonderful!’ ”
a. Most of us aren’t that upfront about our need for encouragement, and yet we all need it.
5. Words of encouragement and appreciation are so powerful.
6. This is something that all of us can learn to do.
a. Look for ways to express appreciation for a great effort or a job well done.
b. Look for people who might be discouraged and send a note of encouragement.
7. I guarantee that you will be encouraged and so will they.
E. Fourth, We can be an encouragement by spending time with others.
1. What more encouraging gift can we give than to say that I’d love to be with you.
2. When we spend time with others, we are saying, “I like having you around” and “I want to know you better” and “I want to share myself with you.”
3. Ultimately, it is an expression of how much we value them.
4. How can we spend time with others?
a. We can invite people to come to our home, or to go out somewhere together.
b. We can take a walk at the park or around the mall.
c. We can get together for lunch or coffee.
d. We can go to a ballgame or to the movies or go fishing.
5. The activity isn’t the most important part. The most important part is the notion that someone wants to be with you – and that’s encouraging!
F. Finally, We can be an encouragement by praying for others.
1. Have you ever had someone tell you that they were praying for you? How did it make you feel?
2. On my recent trip to Cameroon, it helped me so much to know that so many people were praying for me.
3. During Glenn’s failing health and after his passing, it has meant so much to know that we were being held up in prayer.
4. Our prayer ministry is such an important one – and all of us can be involved in it.
a. I really appreciate Kathryn’s efforts to keep the prayer list accurate and up to date.
b. I really appreciate the way we spend time, when we are together, praying for specific people and their needs.
c. Whenever our elders and staff meet, we always spend time praying for people.
5. So we need to keep on praying, and we need to share with others that we are praying for them – that’s one way to be of encouragement.
Conclusion:
A. I hope that all of us leave here today encouraged.
1. I hope we are encouraged by each other’s faith and faithfulness.
2. I hope we are encouraged by thinking about how we can be of encouragement to others.
3. It is easier to be of encouragement than we sometimes realize.
B. Let’s review the simple ways we can be encouraging:
1. By being present.
2. By being faithful through trials.
3. By expressing appreciation to others.
4. By spending time with others.
5. By praying for others.
C. I pray that you and I will be encouraged, and will be an encouragement!
Resources:
The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Michael W. Holmes, Zondervan, 1998.
The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, John MacArthur, Moody, 2002.
The Bible Exposition Commentary, 1 Thessalonians, Warren W. Wiersbe, Victor Books, 1989.
The Daily Study Bible Series, 1 Thessalonians, William Barclay, Westminster Press, 1975.
Encouragement I Get From You, Sermon by Sherm Nichols, SermonCentral.com
