Introduction
I. As a church, we believe in what is called the “imminent return of Christ.”
A. The imminent return of Christ, means that we believe that Jesus Christ could return at any time, even before this church service is completed, to take His bride, the church back to heaven.
B. The belief in the imminent return of Christ is not a new theology.
1. In fact, believers from the very beginning of the church age believed that Christ would return at any moment.
2. Evidently some in the church of the Thessalonians had such a belief that Christ would return at any moment, that they even stopped working because,
a. Why work if Christ is coming back soon?
b. Why continue to pursue life in this world, since life in the next was going to happen; maybe even today?
(1) Every prophecy has been fulfilled that must be fulfilled.
(2) The world certainly seems to be getting worse and worse with each passing day, and we believe that as the world gets worse and worse, the return of Christ gets nearer and nearer.
C. However, Mark relates Jesus as saying, ““See to it that no one misleads you. 6 “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7 “And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 “For nation will arise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”
II. The logical answer then to the questions of the return of Christ is,
A. It well could be today, or tomorrow.
B. It just as well could be a thousand years from now.
C. Again, Luke quotes Jesus as saying, ““It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; (Acts 1:7)
1. And Acts 1:7 is followed by Acts 1:8 - “but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
III. Most commentators see 2nd Thessalonians 3 as Paul’s admonition to believers in Christ who had stopped working in the secular work force because they thought Jesus was coming back.
A. That may well be the case, BUT, I believe this passage also has application to those in the body of Christ who have stopped “working” to fulfill Acts 1:8.
IV. Acts 1:8 are the last recorded words of Jesus Christ to his followers.
A. After He spoke came the ascension, and the Apostles standing, looking into heaven,
B. As they looked for the imminent return of Jesus Christ, two angels appeared with these words, - “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”
C. In other words,
1. Don’t concern yourself with when or how Jesus will return.
2. Get to work doing that which He commanded you to do.
D. GET TO WORK.
E. Those same words apply today as well, “Get To Work”
V. And how do we go about getting to work?
A. First, “Have Confidence”
Have Confidence In Your Leaders (vs. 6-14,15)
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep aloof from every brother who leads and unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
14 And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man and do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame.
15 And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
I. I believe that verses 6 should be coupled with verses 14 and 15 because they kind of become “book stops” for what comes in between.
A. In verse 6, Paul says, “We command you.”
B. And in 14 and 15 he states, “if anyone does not obey...” here are the consequences.
II. As I was reading these verses, I thought two things,
A. First, “Would I be qualified to say, ‘I or we command.”?
B. Second, “I wonder what would happen if church leaders today said ‘I or we command you.”
1. Actually, in today’s church climate I can well imagine what would happen.
a. Either several people would stop fellow shipping or
b. The pastor would immediately be “asked” to step down.
c. At least here in America
2. But why?
a. Would it be because church leadership should not make demands on the body, or
b. Because we as Americans have an aversion to being “commanded.”
C. I know it’s because when Paul says, “We command” it doesn’t really mean, “command.”
III. Actually, that word “command” means exactly what it looks like, “command” or “direct.”
A. The word is a military term, used of a military leader commanding his troops.
B. Arranging the troops for battle.
C. Paul says,
1. “We command you, brothers and sisters in Christ.”
2. “We command you, those who have entered into the battle to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.”
IV. Who the “we” are is not spelled out, but we can probably assume that it is either the Apostles or the church leadership.
A. In order for the church of the Thessalonians to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ, they must demonstrate confidence in the “We”, the leadership.
B. In order for any church to be an effective witness for Jesus Christ, they must demonstrate confidence in their own leadership.
1. Yes confidence and commitment to Jesus Christ, but also
2. Confidence in the leadership that Jesus Christ has appointed.
V. And in this case what are the “we” commanding,
A. That the body get to work
B. That the church spend more time being a witness for Christ, and less time “waiting” for the return of Christ.
VI. Paul is speaking to the church, concerning certain persons within the church, and he is commanding that a certain type of church discipline be administered, and who needs this discipline;
A. “Every brother who walks disorderly,
B. Every brother that is not walking in the tradition of the church, that is not walking according to proper teaching,
C. Every brother who does not obey the teaching of Paul’s letter.
VII. Even though, so called “church discipline” is not exercised in many churches today, this passage has often been used, to call for some form of shunning.
A. Even the commentators I used for this study stated that these verses called for a strong form of church discipline.
B. I believe the “withdrawal” Paul is calling for may not be of that type of disciple, rather I believe Paul is calling more for a type of self-discipline.
C. Check this out,
1. “Withdraw” - the Greek word means “to set in order.”
2. “Disorderly” - this Greek word means, “disorderly” or “out of ranks”
VIII. If my translation is correct, these verses are not saying to shun the disorderly, but rather something like this, “Brothers, ...set yourself in order, as opposed to those brothers who are not in order.”
A. In other words,
1. “Brothers in Christ, place your confidence in correct teaching as opposed to those who disobey correct teaching.”
2. “Brothers, police yourself and do not get caught up with those that are out of step with Jesus Christ.”
IX. Now I know verse 14 says, “do not keep company with” but I’ll get to that in a minute.
X. But what about that word “tradition”?
A. Does that mean the traditions of the church; NO.
B. Tradition is another word for “teaching”
C. Therefore, “withdraw” from those out of step with teaching, and those which disobey.”
XI. For the church of Jesus Christ to be effective, have confidence in your leaders.
XII.
XIII. Now for the “Do not keep company” of verse 14 -
A. “Do not keep company” means “do not be intimate with.”
B. And verse 15 says “admonish” which means “to teach” or “to warn”
XIV.
XV. At least in 2 Thessalonians 3, what does church discipline look like?
A. It looks like having confidence in the leadership God has appointed.
B. It looks like policing our selves as individual’s
C. It looks like warning those that are out of step with proper teaching and respect for church leadership that they are also being disobedient to Christ.
XVI. For the church of Jesus Christ to be an effective witness, it must keep confidence with the leadership, AND
XVII. That leadership must set an example that will help instill confidence.
Set An Example For Others
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you; 9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example. 10 For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat. 11 For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
I. It is believed that Paul worked for about three years in Thessolonica to begin a church of Jesus Christ.
A. It is also believed that while doing that work, rather than receive financial support from the churches, Paul worked as a maker of tents.
B. But did not fully support himself by tentmaking.
1. According to Philipians 4, however, Paul also received some financial support from the Philippian church during his stay.
2. And according to Acts 18, verse 5, while in Corinth Paul also worked as a tentmaker, but at some point in time, Paul stopped devoting time to making tents, and began putting all his time and energy into sharing the gospel.
II. 2nd Thessalonians 3 may be addressing a specific issue of some church members not working, but I believe it is addressing a larger issue of church members setting an example for others to follow.
A. Twice in verses 7 to 9 Paul states, “follow our example.”
1. While in your midst we did not act disorderly or out of ranks.
2. We did not impose our “right” to financial support on you.
3. We sought in every way possible to not be a burden,
4. We were busy doing the work of God.
B. Some within the Thessalonian church, rather than working setting an example of faithfulness to God and family ended up with way to much time on their hands.
1. Verse 11 states that for those, gossip had become more important than service.
III. How many of us know someone or even someone’s that seem to know all the “dirt” about someone else.
A. Maybe it’s someone that every time you get around them they have plenty to complain about, but not much in the way of good to offer.
B. Or worse yet, maybe you have even found yourself to be that person!
IV. Paul says,
A. You know what kind of example we set for you.
B. We set an example that we are not ashamed to say, “you should follow us.”
V. Here are some questions that grow out of verses 7 to 13,
A. Number one, - “What kind of example are you setting?”
1. Am I an example of Christian love and work ethic.
2. Can I be so bold as to say, “Follow the example that I am setting?”
3. Am I busy building up or tearing down?
B. Question two - “What do I do when I find myself in a conversation with someone that seems to have to much time on their hands?”
1. Do I get dragged in to a negative conversation.
2. Do I stand up boldly and say, “This is not for me.”
C. In verse 13, Paul says, “Do not grow weary in doing good.”
1. The point is not, “be sure to get plenty of rest.”
2. The point is,
a. “If you are weary, make sure it is weariness born out of the right thing.
b. Be about the business of building up, not tearing down.”
God’s Work Brings Peace
16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 17 I Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
I. The two Thessalonian letters are thought to be some of the first that Paul wrote.
A. He was most likely in Corinth when he wrote this letter.
1. Although Corinth would become a mighty church, Paul also faced strong opposition to the gospel from some.
2. Paul had begun in verse 3 by asking for prayer that the gospel would go forward, both in Corinth and among the Thessalonians.
B. There wasn’t a lot of peace in the first Century.
C. The church of Jesus Christ was to stand for something different than the rest of the culture; the church of Jesus Christ should be a place where peace reigns.
1. Peace when Christ is worshiped in spirit and in truth.
2. Peace comes when the people of Christ clothe themselves with the attributes of Christ, compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, forbearance and forgiveness.
3. Peace comes, when the people of Christ work hard at achieving peace in the community of believers.
4. Peace comes when the church of Christ works hard at making Christ visible to this community, at this time, in the way that God has chosen for that church to make worship Christ.
II. So I command myself, and you, “Let’s get to work seeking the things of God.”
