First Baptist Church
July 20, 2025
  • Who Is Like The Lord (Psalm 113)

      • Psalms 150.1-4ESV

      • Psalms 150.5-6ESV

  • Psalm 150 (Praise The Lord)
  • Praise Him Praise Him (Joyful Song)
  • Only A Holy God

      • Colossians 2.6-7ESV

  • Show Us Christ
  • 1 Thessalonians 3:6–10 ESV
    6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?6-10

    1. Maturity over comfort: A healthy church will prioritize spiritual growth over ease.

    2. Marvel at growth: Never lose awe for spiritual progress.

    We talked about the value of of marveling at growth in others.
    We are going to give you an opportunity for practical application.
    Next week is our testimony time.
    This week, prayerfully identify one or two people that have encouraged you over the last couple of months or so and write down a testimony you can read about how they’ve given you life through their growth!

    3. Presence Matters: Face-to-Face Encouragement Fuels Maturity

    1 Thessalonians 3:10 ESV
    10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

    3. Presence Matters: Face-to-Face Encouragement Fuels Maturity

    Paul was thrilled with the strength of the Thessalonians’ faith.
    Yet he STILL prayed night and day.
    Literally begging God to allow him to see them face-to-face.
    Paul longs to see them in person to “supply what is lacking” in their faith.
    He knows the best way is to be face to face.
    He pray’s earnestly night and day.
    This is an intense prayer.
    To supply what is lacking in their faith.
    To render complete.
    It is our great joy to be a fellow laborer with Christ to fill up what is lacking in our fellow Christians to present them complete to Christ.
    This isn’t done with haphazard conversations.
    Paul recognized their growth.
    And he recognized that things were lacking that needed to be filled up.
    Despite the wonderful news of their relentless faith, these Christians were still not fully developed in Christ.
    Spiritual progress is always to be commended, but it is never to be considered complete.
    Let’s try to understand the importance of face-to-face ministry.

    A. Jesus modeled it.

    Mark 3:14 ESV
    14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach

    A. Jesus modeled it.

    He was calling them to live their lives with him, learn from Him, and imitate Him.
    He appointed - intentionally sought out and marked off.
    He actively look for them.
    They didn’t come into his life by accident.
    Paul is praying night and day - this is intentional.
    He extended a formal invitation.
    Come follow me.
    He appointed.
    that they might be with him - He gave them access to his life.
    They saw His humility.
    They saw His reliance on the Father.
    They saw His passion for people.
    that he might send them out to preach - and end goal in mind.
    Multiplication.
    He sent his disciples to preach and share the gospel.
    Jesus did this through…
    Intentional teaching moments.
    Intentional teachable moments.
    Modeling it what our lives should look like.
    Application: If we want a healthy church we cannot ignore Jesus’ example of intentionally being teaching and leading a few.

    B. Truth is heard best when delivered in the natural rhythms of life.

    Colossians 3:16 ESV
    16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

    B. Truth is heard best when delivered in the natural rhythms of life.

    We know that we must be teaching and admonishing one another.
    Sunday mornings are an opportunity to do this corporately as well as a teaching and training opportunity for you.
    That opportunity is just part of living that verse.
    This is best done in the natural rhythms of life.
    We often talk about doing life together.
    That’s why Paul wanted to be face to face with the Thessalonians.
    He wanted to be able to do life with the Thessalonians.
    Truth is delivered more practically and sticks better when it’s connected to life.
    Paul wanted to be able to encourage, strengthen and comfort them in person.
    As they walked through life.
    He could know specifically how to build them up.
    He would be walking through it with them.
    Paul knew it wasn’t simply about passing on information.
    It was about building a relationship with them.
    Learning their their struggles.
    Learning where they were lacking.
    Learning how they would best receive truth.
    “Discipleship is a relationship before it is a task, a ‘who’ before a ‘what.’” - The Pillar New Testament Commentary
    Disciples cannot be mass produced.
    That was not the example we saw in Jesus.
    We must take the time to get into people’s lives so we can be in their natural rhythms.
    This doesn’t mean you don’t study the Bible with them regularly.
    But it is more than a Bible study.
    Jesus took advantage of the moment.
    He spoke truth in the moment not just in a Bible study.
    When you are in the middle of it truth sticks.
    Riding in the car.
    Having lunch.
    Running errands.
    Sitting around a campfire.
    In the middle of those life conversations.
    Instead of just available, Paul longed to be present.
    So he know them well enough to help them specifically.
    Application: If we want a healthy church we need to position ourselves in people’s lives so we can speak truth in life’s natural rhythms.

    C. Discipleship is more than passing on information - it’s imitation and formation.

    Paul had already been there once.
    Paul had already written a letter.
    Paul had already sent Timothy.
    He wanted to go back.
    To be face to face with them.
    1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV
    1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
    Sometimes we struggle with the idea of asking someone to follow us.
    It feels arrogant.
    Paul didn’t say this just once.
    “I urge you…” (1 Cor 4:16)
    “Join in imitating me…” (Phil 3:17)
    Philippians 4:9 ESV
    9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
    Learned, received, heard, AND seen in me…
    We can never forget that this is about Jesus.
    Ultimately we are imitating Jesus.
    1 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV
    6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—

    C. Discipleship is more than passing on information - it’s imitation and formation.

    “Thought kindly” in Paul’s day meant: maintaining and practicing the teachers model or pattern.
    Paul knew that he could pass on information through a letter but being face to face with be much better.
    Being face to face offers a visible example of Christlikeness.
    Paul has called many to watch how he lives.
    It offers a living demonstration of how to follow Jesus.
    We should do the same.
    Not because we are perfect, but because we are walking in the direction of Jesus.
    Paul didn’t think he was perfect.
    Philippians 3:12–14 ESV
    12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
    If you haven’t already, are you willing to invite someone to follow you to Christ?
    Paul understands we must have these face to face interactions to have a healthy church.
    2 Timothy 3:10 ESV
    10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness,

    C. Discipleship is more than passing on information - it’s imitation and formation.

    Paul is saying: listen to my teaching, but also walk beside me and see how I handle life.
    Application: If we want a healthy church, we must be willing to invite people to follow us to Jesus.
    Conclusion:
    The joy of ministry isn’t found in ease, applause, or results—it’s in seeing people rooted in Christ.
    This why Sunday nights this summer.
    This is why come to church with a heart looking out not in.
    This is why discipleship.
    If we want a healthy church we need to embrace the role God has given us as his coworkers to help people be rooted in Christ.
    Then Paul says: “What thanksgiving can we return to God for you?” (v. 9) — Let that be the heartbeat of every disciple-maker.
    Remember, next week we will have an opportunity to rejoice in the growth we are seeing in others.

        • 1 Thessalonians 3:6–10ESV

        • 1 Thessalonians 3:10ESV

        • Mark 3:14ESV

        • Colossians 3:16ESV

        • 1 Corinthians 11:1ESV

        • Philippians 4:9ESV

        • 1 Thessalonians 3:6ESV

        • Philippians 3:12–14ESV

        • 2 Timothy 3:10ESV

        First Baptist Church
        howardcitybaptist@gmail.com
        2319374809
        https://fbcohc-howard-city.faithlifesites.com
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