Introduction:
A. Children often say some of the funniest things, and yet children occasionally say remarkable or insightful things.
1. Here are some insightful gems from children:
a. “Never trust a dog to watch your food.”
b. “When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?’ don't answer.”
c. “When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair.”
d. “A puppy always has bad breath - even after eating a Tic-Tac.”
e. “You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.”
f. “If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse.”
g. “When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone.”
h. “Felt-tip markers are not good to use as lipstick.”
B. Sometimes we make things more complicated than they have to be.
1. Some of the most important lessons and principles of life are simpler than we think.
2. Over 20 years ago, Robert Fulghum came to prominence when his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (1988), stayed on the New York Times bestseller lists for nearly two years.
3. There are currently more than 16 million copies of his books in print; published in 27 languages
4. Here is his list of the things he learned in kindergarten that he has used throughout his life:
• Share everything.
• Play fair.
• Don’t hit people.
• Put things back where you found them.
• Clean up your own mess.
• Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
• Say you’re sorry when you hurt somebody.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Flush.
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
• Live a balanced life – learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
• Take a nap every afternoon.
• When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.
• Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
• Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup – they all die. So do we.
• And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.
5. Those are very simple yet profound principles for life.
6. And isn’t it amazing that we learn some of the most important lessons in life in kindergarten.
7. If we can just hold onto those life 101 lessons, then we will be much more effective in life.
C. The same is true about our spiritual lives – If we just hold on to the Christian 101 lessons, then we will be more effective.
1. As we turn to our text today from 1 Thessalonians 5, we see that Paul concluded his first letter to the Thessalonians by giving them what looks like a grab bag of miscellaneous exhortations and instructions.
2. Scholars have long debated whether such sections in Paul’s letters reflect specific issues in a particular church or are merely generic admonitions that have no specific connection to the circumstances of the recipients.
3. In my opinion, what we see here is more generic than specific.
4. What I think that Paul was doing was trying to give the young church at Thessalonica some basic guidelines in Christian behavior that covers a number of areas.
5. So I’ve titled today’s sermon “Christian Behavior 101.”
6. Rather than making the Christian life very complicated, we need to keep it simple.
7. Let’s spend some time quickly touching on these basic commands and principles given by Paul.
8. I have grouped them into three categories to help us organize the material.
I. Guidelines for Leaders
A. The biblical section begins: Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you (1 Thess. 5:12).
1. Paul begins by addressing two key factors to the health, growth and maturity of the church – godly leadership and graceful followership.
2. Verse 12 begins with a command for followers to respect their leaders.
3. What is assumed in the verse is the fact that the leaders are being godly leaders.
B. So what are the basics for the behavior of godly leaders?
1. Godly Leaders must Work Hard.
a. The word Paul used here that is translated “work hard” means “to toil, to strive, to struggle, and to grow weary in doing so.”
b. It means to labor to the point of sweat and exhaustion, to work until we are weary.
c. Being a godly leader in God’s family is not easy, to do it well requires a lot of time and effort.
d. The godly leader is intent on serving rather than being served – they must work hard.
2. Godly Leaders must be Worthy of Respect.
a. It’s really hard to follow a leader that you don’t respect.
b. So if we want to make it easier for our followers to follow, then we must make it our intention to live a life that is worthy of respect.
c. Certainly this includes many things, like: how we treat our families, how we work and play, and how we treat others.
d. Are we approachable, humble, honest, kind and caring?
e. Do we treat others with respect?
3. Godly Leaders must Lead and must Correct Wrong Behavior.
a. Paul mentions those who are “over you in the Lord and admonish you.”
b. Leaders must not be afraid to take the lead and provide the needed direction for the congregation.
c. Certainly the godly leader is sensitive to the input and needs of the congregation, but in the end the sheep aren’t supposed to lead the shepherds, but the shepherds lead the sheep.
d. And when necessary, the godly leader must be ready to correct those who have gone astray and bring them back in the right direction.
e. This is not an easy or pleasant part of the job, but it is necessary.
C. So these are basic behaviors for godly leaders and when they are providing good leadership, it is easier for the followers to follow.
1. So let’s move on to the basics for Christian followers.
II. Guidelines for Followers
A. Let’s return to the text: 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. (1 Thess. 5:12-13)
1. What do we learn about the proper basic behavior for followers?
B. First, Godly Followers must strive to respect their leaders and hold them in the highest regard in love.
1. Let’s take a moment to have all our elders, deacons and ministers stand – here are some of your spiritual leaders.
a. What are you doing to communicate your respect and appreciation for these men?
2. The burdens of leadership are many and often times the encouragements are few and far between.
a. Many times leaders don’t hear from people unless they are doing something wrong or there is a problem. (You all can be seated)
3. Let me say that I want you to know how much your love and acceptance means to me personally.
a. I sense an incredible amount of love and support from you – many of you express your appreciation to me and you tell me that you pray for me – that means so much to me.
b. As I near the end of my 25th year serving with you, I praise God for the blessing of being a part of this church family – there has never been anywhere else that I have wanted to be serving.
4. I want to encourage you to continue to strive to respect all your leaders and hold them in the highest regard in love.
a. You might disagree with a decision the leadership makes, or you may not care for the personality of one of your leaders, but we are called to love and respect each other, nonetheless.
C. Second, Godly Followers must strive to cooperate with their leaders.
1. Ephesians 4 tells us that we all have roles to play in the church.
a. One of the roles of the leaders is to equip the members for works of service.
b. Godly followers should seek to employ their gifts and welcome the equipping and training they need.
c. And when correction is needed, the wise follower will welcome the correction.
d. Proverbs 12:1 says: Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
2. The Hebrew writer gave these instructions to followers: Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Heb. 13:17)
a. It is in all of our best interests to cooperate with godly leadership – that’s basic.
b. Let’s move on to the third grouping of basic Christian behaviors.
III. Attitudes and Actions for All
A. I’m grouping these into three sections as well.
B. Attitudes and Actions with regard to Others
1. Our text continues: Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else (1 Thess. 5:13b-15).
2. Here we see some of the basics that lead to healthy relationships.
3. First, We must strive to live in peace with others.
a. Effective leadership and effective followership will translate into harmonious relationships.
b. If you have ever been around churches, groups or families filled with constant friction, tension, and conflict, then you know that that is no fun!
c. Scripture commands us to live at peace with everyone as far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18).
d. We are commanded to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
e. I heard about a group of children who worked long and hard on their own little cardboard shack. It was to be a special spot–a clubhouse where they could meet together and have fun.
1. They posted these rules for their club: 1. Nobody act big. 2. Nobody act small. 3. Everybody act medium.
f. Not bad theology! In similar words, God has told us the same thing:
1. “Honor one another above yourselves” (Rom. 12:10).
2. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others (Phil. 2:3-4).
g. With God’s help we can learn to live at peace with others.
4 With regard to others, a second basic of Christian behavior is to treat each person individually.
a. Paul addresses three kinds of people and their needs, and then suggests how to minister to them.
b. He said to warn the idle, encourage the timid, and help the weak.
c. We don’t have time to go into a lot of specifics, but the person who is idle – or better translations of the word might be wayward, unruly or undisciplined – that person needs to be corrected and warned.
d. The other two kinds of people aren’t being willfully disobedient but are somehow wounded, weak and helpless – they don’t need correction or a kick in the pants, they need assistance and encouragement.
e. It is so important to treat people individually – to understand them and their needs and to treat them accordingly.
5 With regard to others, a third basic of Christian behavior is to be patient with everyone.
a. That includes leaders and followers.
b. That includes the idle, the timid and the weak.
c. When we consider how patient God has been with us, do any of us have a right to get impatient with others? I don’t think so!
6. With regard to others, a fourth basic of Christian behavior is don’t be vengeful.
a. It is not our place to pay back wrong for wrong.
b. We must never seek to retaliate.
c. Vengeance belongs to the Lord and we must trust Him to bring about justice.
d. Keep in mind that those Christians in Thessalonica were facing persecution.
e. They must not abuse their abusers, but must overcome evil with good.
7. With regard to others, a final basic of Christian behavior is to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
a. Notice how Paul commands that we must always try to be kind.
b. Our tendency is to look for loopholes, or justification for why we shouldn’t be kind to someone, but Paul doesn’t give us that option.
c. We are to try to be kind to each other and to everyone else and to do it always.
d. Remember that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit – we must allow the Spirit to do His transforming work in us.
C. Attitudes and Actions with regard to Circumstances
1. Paul continues in verses 16-18: 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2. The first basic Christian attitude and action regarding circumstances is: Be Joyful Always.
a. Notice the “always” that doesn’t leave any wiggle room!
b. Joy is another fruit of the Spirit and it is independent of our circumstances.
c. Joy is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ.
3. The second basic Christian attitude and action regarding circumstances is: Pray Continually.
a. To pray continually means to allow prayer and a spirit of prayer to be with us always.
b. When something comes up or comes to mind we are to pray.
c. A Song by Steven Curtis Chapman sums it up well:
Let us pray everywhere in every way
Every moment of the day, it is the right time
Let us pray without end and when we finish start again
Like breathing out and breathing in, let us pray
4. The third basic Christian attitude and action regarding circumstances is: Give Thanks in All Circumstances.
a. Regardless of the circumstance, there is always something for which we can give thanks to the Lord.
D. The final category under attitudes and actions is attitudes and actions with regard to Spiritual Things
1. Paul finished the chapter and the letter, saying: 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
2. In these verses, I see Paul giving us the following Christian Basics with regard to Spiritual things:
a. First, Don’t Put Out the Spirit’s Fire
b. Second, Test Everything
c. Third, Hold on to the Good, and Avoid every kind of evil.
d. Finally, Rely on God
3. In these commands we see an interesting balance and double responsibility.
a. On the one hand, we must not quench anything that is genuinely of the Spirit, but on the other hand, we must not attribute anything false to the Spirit.
b. The primary means of testing and determining what is of the Spirit is the use of Scripture.
c. Nothing that is truly of the Holy Spirit will contradict anything that God has said in His Word.
4. So after we test everything by the Word of God, we must hold on to the good and avoid everything that is evil.
5. In all things, we must rely on God.
a. God is the only one who can sanctify us through and through.
b. God is the only one who can keep our whole spirit, soul and body blameless until the coming of the Lord.
c. God who has called us is faithful and He will do everything He has promised.
d. We certainly can trust in God and rely on God.
e. May His grace be with us!
Conclusion:
A. Many times we try to make things more complicated than they need to be.
1. Leonardo Da Vinchi said: “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Let’s keep it simple.
2. The story is told that during the heat of the space race in the 1960s, NASA decided it needed a ballpoint pen to write in the zero gravity confines of its space capsules.
a. The story alleges that NASA took years and millions of dollars to solve the problem.
b. The story alleges that they developed a pen that worked at zero gravity, upside down, underwater, in practically any surface including crystal and in a temperature range from below freezing to over 300 degrees C.
c. And the Soviet Union, when faced with the same problem, decided to just use a pencil.
3. That’s a funny story, but truth is, both the Soviet Union and the U.S. both used pencils, but because of the substantial dangers that broken-off pencil tips and graphite dust pose in zero gravity to electronics and the flammable nature of the wood present in pencils a better solution was needed.
4. An independent company named Fisher Space Pen Company developed a space pen and sold them to both the U.S. and the Soviet Union.
B. When it comes to Christianity, let’s not make it more complicated than it needs to be – if all we need is a pencil, then let’s use a pencil.
1. These simple basics that Paul laid out here at the end of this letter will take us a long way.
2. Let’s be sure that we are putting these basic Christian commands into practice.
3. Let’s be sure we are being godly leaders and godly followers.
4. Let’s be sure we are treating each other properly.
5. Let’s be sure we are responding to our circumstances properly.
6. Finally, let’s be sure we are handling spiritual things properly.
C. In many ways, we learn the most important things – everything we really need – not in kindergarten, but in Christianity 101.
1. Let’s keep it simple by practicing the basic Christian attitudes and actions we have discussed today.
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.
