The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
May 10, 2026
      • Bible Trivia
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  • Great Is Thy Faithfulness
  • I Love You, Lord
  • Doxology
  • Trust And Obey
  • What A Friend We Have In Jesus
  • Goodness Of God

  • The How and Why of Ministry

    ILLUST:We don’t build things just for the sake of building
    We desire a purpose in the work
    Paul doesn’t preach the Gospel, just for the sake of doing it
    He has a bigger purpose in mind
    Mothers, today - we honor your hard work
    And we see the purpose that motivates you
    Paul, in this next major section of the letter (ch. 2-3)
    Defends himself
    Gives much thanksgiving
    And understands there is and will be opposition
    READ 1 Thess 2:1-7

    “Successful” Ministers

    Paul states that his/their visit to them “was not in vain”
    It was successful
    The Gospel was shared, received, people trusted - success

    1) Godly concern

    A genuine concern for others with regard to salvation
    A burden for the lost
    Built upon a genuine concern for your own relationship with the Lord
    Remembering when YOU were lost
    What did it take for you to trust Jesus?
    There was no changing Paul’s belief and conviction
    About the truth
    He and the others came to them in Thess.:
    After being mistreated in Philippi, suffered there (See Acts 16)
    Dragged into the market place
    Beaten with rods
    Imprisoned - the inner prison - the most secure, dark, underground
    And God used an earthquake to free them
    Instead of quitting, they head on toward Thessalonica
    Concern for others who need the Gospel
    Always concerned for others’ spiritual well-being
    No obstacle or threat is sufficient to deter the speaker of God’s Gospel - commentary
    This same message that was given in Philippi could very well have led to the same treatment in Thessalonica
    “Much opposition” = an athlete struggling to gain first place, pushing hard - this is the opposition against Paul and the others
    And we see in Acts 17 that these opposers pushed Paul, and the Gospel away
    Friends, let me tell you, people will push you away, they will push the Gospel away
    And you’ll think “But I love you, I care for you, I ache for your soul to belong to Jesus”
    Keep pushing on, do not lose that burden, that Godly concern
    Mother’s Day Application: (Mothers, this is raising children, you never lose that love, though they may go differently)

    2) Check Your Motives

    Separate the “lower” vs “higher” motives
    “Lower” = for your self, what’s in it for you? - SelfISH
    ‘Higher” = thinking of others and the glory of God - SelfLESS
    Remember this, as Paul did
    Boldness and courage is possible because God is the one approving you to be His witness
    Let God test your motives - it’s his Gospel; He’ll let you know if you are off when it comes to motives (then you need to listen…)
    Paul puts to rest any impure motives or error
    REM - His teaching came from Jesus directly
    He goes to great lengths to make sure his teaching is way above board, no hint of lack of integrity - like it or not
    A couple dangerous motives:
    1 - People-pleasing and flattery
    People SAY they want truth, no compromise, and then you preach truth without compromise, and they are not happy (tempting to change the message)
    Paul preached to please GOD, and ONLY GOD
    I will strive to do the same
    I will boast in Christ
    And point people to His truth
    I want people to feel welcome here, and I also want people to be very uncomfortable with their sin when the truth touches on that
    2 - Greed/money
    Paul did not do this for the money - he could have, but did not.
    Paul also elsewhere says that preachers like him are OK to receive payment.
    POINT - Money is never to be the motivation behind solid Bible teaching and preaching
    3 - Popularity - Glory from men
    1 Corinthians 1:31 NASB95
    so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
    Quoted from Jeremiah 9:24
    Jeremiah 9:24 NASB95
    but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.
    The truth preached from this pulpit boasts in the LORD’s mercy, justice, righteousness
    Tempting to listen to popular preachers, online, on TV, etc.
    Be able to discern their teaching
    And remember, these popular human preachers - are flawed sinners saved by grace, just as you
    We all need the Gospel, every single day
    And since Jesus provides that Gospel - boast in Him
    Paul notes that he COULD assert authority, he COULD seek all the glory, riches, honor
    Rather, he urges gentleness, as in humility or meekness
    Strength under control, meekness is not weakness
    Be motivated by the humility to point the glory to God, and know that you play a part in Kingdom growth and discipleship-making

    3) Examples Among Us

    Paul, Silvanus, Timothy
    Boldly - Preached the Gospel with the care and concern, gentle like a mother
    Strength under control
    Concerned with the glory going to God, not themselves
    Allowed God to examine their hearts and motives
    Did not seek their own advancement
    Truest of motives, genuineness of heart
    So that through their efforts, The Kingdom would grow
    People encountered them, and thus encountered Jesus
    Proverbs 31:25 NASB95
    Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.
    We are to be examples of the Gospel, as seen in the care of mothers
    Mothers
    A mother nursing a baby - a great picture of God’s design
    Oxytocin released by the pituitary - induces emotional bonding
    Also causes warmth from skin-to-skin contact
    Dopamine and serotonin enhance the bonding/attachment
    Prolactin released from the pituitary, ensuring future milk production
    Mother - an example of God at work
    A picture of selflessness in nursing a baby, raising a child
    (Funny quotes)
    “Motherhood: because privacy is over-rated”
    “Mom, thanks for raising me to be a fully-fledged, totally independent financially stable adult who still completely needs you pretty much all the time”
    A picture of constant care and nurturing
    “Mothers don’t sleep, they just worry with their eyes closed”
    A picture of special effort, heroic effort, to provide for every need, at great personal sacrifice
    Mothers
    You have a Godly concern for your children
    You have checked your motives
    You are examples among us
    When you do the work God has placed before you
    Selflessly, at times thanklessly
    Emotionally pouring your hearts into your children
    Doing the work husbands cannot, by God’s design
    GENTLY - great strength, under control
    You make God look amazing!
    I know it doesn’t always feel “worth it,” though deep down you know it is
    I’ve seen the hard work it takes, and it doesn’t end, regardless of the age of your kids
    My prayer for you today
    When your kids, your husband, your family, your friends watch your work at being Mom
    They see Jesus and His glory!
    Allow us as a church to pray for you now…

      • 1 Corinthians 1:31NASB95

      • Jeremiah 9:24NASB95

      • Proverbs 31:25NASB95

  • Just as I Am
  • Living Hope
The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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