The Thessalonians # 8

. Why? Among other things, his team won three consecutive world championships at Green Bay. Anyone who knows anything about professional football knows this is a tremendous achievement.

There has to be a reason for a team to make such an outstanding achievement and the reason was because of Vince Lombardi. Lombardi had a very special talent. He was able to look inside of a player. That is, he could see talent in a player that no one else could see. What made him such a great coach was that once he recognized greatness, he knew exactly how to motivate that player to become what he was capable of becoming. For example, during a practice session, the Green Bay Packers were not looking good.

Lombardi could see all the many mistakes his team was making. Rather than tackle all the problems, he singled out one big guard and zeroed in on him. This is what he said to the guard, “Son, you are a lousy football player. You’re not blocking. You’re not tackling. You’re not putting out. As a matter of fact, it’s all over for you today, go take a shower.” This big guard did just that.

Now anyone could have done what Lombardi did up to that point However, about forty-five minutes later, the great Lombardi walked over to that same player. The guard had his chin on his chest and was a very discouraged football player. Coach Lombardi said to him, “Son, I told you the truth. You are a lousy football player. You are not blocking. You are not tackling. You are not putting out. However, in all fairness to you, I should have finished the story, Inside of you, son, there is a great football player and I am going to stick by your side until the great football player inside of you has a chance to come out and assert himself.”

With those words, Jerry Kramer straightened up and felt a great deal better. He was so encouraged by Coach Lombardi’s words that he went on to be voted the all-time guard of professional football.

That never would have happened had there not been a Vince Lombardi who recognized that talent and then motivated him to become the best he could become.

Coach Lombardi had the ability to inspire his men to use the talent they had.

I wonder how many all-time greats are in our church today--that is, in this congregation:

• Perhaps the greatest Sunday school teacher who ever taught a Sunday school class is sitting here with us.

• Perhaps the best deacons in this city are right here with us today.

• Perhaps the teen who could go on to be a great missionary and minister of the gospel is with us today!

All they may need is to have someone recognize their potential and say a few encouraging words to motivate them to become what God would have them become.

We are quick to pounce on people when they make a mistake, but real leadership occurs when we go back and:

• Pick them up.

• Brush them off

• And nurse their wounds by speaking words of encouragement.

Later, when Vince Lombardi moved to Washington, everyone wondered how he would be able to control the talented, but undisciplined Sonny Jurgensen. What kind of strategy would he use to make this player become the very best he could become?

This was heavy on the minds of sports’ journalists. One of the reporters asked about this. This is what Lombardi did. He called Sonny to his side, put his arm around him, and said, “Gentlemen, this is the greatest quarterback to ever step on a football field.” That year Sonny Jurgensen went on to have his best year ever.

The church in Thessalonica was an outstanding church. There had to be a reason why that church reached the level of greatness it reached. What brought about this greatness? The apostle Paul recognized their potential and motivated them to become what God created them to become.

• The SPORTS WORLD is in desperate need of men today like VINCE LOMBARDI.

• The SPIRITUAL WORLD is in desperate need today of men like PAUL who can look at people and see their potential and then motivate them to become what God intended them to become.

In other words, the church is in need of some builders.

We certainly have enough who go around trying to tear down and destroy lives. The church needs some men and women who know how to build lives.

In 1 Thess. 3:6-13 we see how Paul motivated the Thessalonian Christians to be the best they could become. First...

I. HE ENCOURAGED THEM BY HIS PLEASURE

Look at 1 Thess 3:6-9. We read, “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God.”