1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

October 4, 2020

Title: The Heart of Ministry

Two weeks ago, when we began our series through 1 Thessalonians, we looked at how Paul outlined the themes of this book by reminding the church of how he lived with them when he first came, how readily they accepted the Word of God, and how eagerly they were awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. Now, last week we had our Mission Fest speaker, so we had to take a quick break from the series, but today, in the first part of the second chapter, Paul reminds them of his ministry among them. He recalled how they knew that his love for them was genuine. He does this by outlining three different examples of the heart he had when ministering to them. Each of these examples is given in the context of family. He said he came to them with the innocence of a child, the tenderness of a nursing mothers, and with the expectations of a hard-working father. This really fits what Paul said also to the church of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 9:22-23, ^“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³ I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” Paul was willing to minister in whatever way he could to bring people to accept the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul remined the Thessalonians, and he teaches us today, that ministry is about pouring your life into the lives of others. This truly is the heart of ministry.

I. The Innocence of a Child

First, Paul shows that he and his companions came with the innocence of young children. What he means by this is that they came with pure motives. In verse 3 he explains, “³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.”

Paul impresses on them that they came with pure and clear motives. Like children, they didn’t mask their intentions. They did not resort to trickery or duplicity. They meant what they said, and they lived out their teachings.

The impure motives of the false teacher are often clear to see – money, honor, power & control, or inappropriate relationships with women. But Paul points out that they should know that their motives were honest, because they didn’t take anything from the church. They made no demands of them. Instead, they worked hard in order not to be a burden to them. They didn’t take advantage of anyone; they didn’t seek honor or power. As Paul says in verse 9-10, “Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”

Paul and his companions lived holy and blameless lives among those they were ministering to. They didn’t seek money or gifts; they didn’t seek positions of power and honor; they didn’t chase after women, but instead they sought to pour their lives out for the sake of the new believers. They didn’t seek pleasure, but they were willing to share in the hardships that the new believers were facing.

Paul also reminds them that like a child, they were straight in their speech. In verses 4-5 he says, “We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness.”

We all know that out of the mouth of babes comes the truth. Sometimes children can be honest to a fault. They don’t often mask what they are thinking. So, we too, need to be willing to be honest with people. We need to make sure that we are pure and honorable in our intentions and motivations to minister to others. To make sure that our heart of ministry is genuine.

II. The Tenderness of a Mother

Second, Paul says in verse 7, “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you.” The picture Paul gives here is not just of a mother, but a nursing mother. This is a powerful example of compassionate tenderness and patient sacrifice. For the cries of a child do not always a convenient time or place. Nursing can be a tremendous sacrifice, but it is worth it. For nursing not only provides nourishment, but it also is a source of great comfort as it strengthens the bonds between mother and child. For children nurse not just when they are hungry, but when they are scared or uneasy. Being close to mom provides them with reassurance and comfort.

This was Paul’s heart of ministry for the church in Thessalonica as well. He nourished them with God’s word, and he worked to bring them comfort, even during hard times. Paul and his companions poured out their lives into the lives of the new believers. They were patient with them, as it says in verse 6, they didn’t assert their authority as Apostles, but came along side and supported the new church.

We too, need to minister to others in tenderness and patience. Now, don’t mistake tenderness for weakness. Paul was no wimp. He suffered tremendously for the sake of the Gospel. And of course, there was no one tougher and more willing and able to bear suffering than Jesus – and yet, people were always amazed by His tenderness and compassion.

Ministering in tenderness doesn’t mean you are just milquetoast, and go with the flow by approving of everything in the name of compassion. No, there needs to be a direction and purpose just as a mother also corrects their children, so, too, as we minister we need to constantly point people to God’s Word. We cannot neglect to give them nourishment, and Paul speaks of this when he outlines the fatherly work he did among them as well.

III. The Expectations of a Father

In verses 11 & 12, Paul speaks of the fatherly heart with which he ministered to them, “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, ¹² encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

As a father guides his children, so too, Paul brought encouragement and comfort to them in the expectation that they would live lives worthy of God. As we minister we, too, should have expectations of people. Like a good father, we need to set the example as to how we should live as believers in Christ. Paul asks them to remember our toil and our hardship. Remember how we were willing to work hard among them, and he exhorts them to follow his example by being willing to work hard for each other and for new believers. We need to be willing to enter into the hardships of others. Paul didn’t have to go to Thessalonica or any of the other pagan cities he went to. He could’ve planted a big church in a safe place, grew a following, and lived a comfortable life. But he continuously put himself in danger by going into hostile, pagan cities because of his heart to minister to the lost.

But as he ministered, he always had expectations, even for new believers. He expected that the Gospel of Christ would change their hearts and their lives. He expected them to live a new life in a new way. As he reminds the Thessalonians in verse 12 to “live lives worthy of God.” Don’t give opponents any excuse or ammunition to discredit you. Don’t give people a reason by your bad behavior to reject the Gospel. Remember what we are living for – the Kingdom of God and His Glory (v. 12)

That is why we need to ask God to give us a heart of ministry. A heart of family. A heart that honestly desires to see others saved. A heart that is patient and compassionate to those blinded by sin. A heart that expects that God can radically change people’s lives. A heart that is willing to pour our lives out into others, as Christ has pour His life into ours.  Amen.