The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
May 24, 2026
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      • Psalms 139:13NASB95

  • He Has Made Me Glad
  • Awesome God
  • Doxology
  • Since Jesus Came into My Heart
  • Song Of The Saints
  • It Is Well With My Soul

  • Ministry Toward Believers

    Toward and among believers
    ILLUST: They say it’s not really work if it is something you love to do. Thoughts?
    I think….the work could still be hard, and if the work is rewarding, then you will endure the work.
    Ministry is HARD
    If you do not love it, then you won’t do it or stick with it. And…
    “If you forget why you do ministry, you’re done”
    READ 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12, focus on 8-12
    Context for Paul here and next chapter - His thankfulness
    Paul worked and received some support in Philippi
    Some from the church, most from outside of there
    In Thessalonica, he wanted ZERO support from the church, so as not to have his motives questioned
    He has very little at times
    He worked hard outside the church, he NEEDED to, financially
    He worked hard inside the church, spiritually rewarding, he WANTED to
    APPLICATION for us: We ask much of servants in the church; we ask for more servants in the church, and we are not promising money as the reward
    Our Testimony to the World is important
    So is our testimony to believers, those we minister to and with
    Ministry toward other believers

    Conduct of Surrendered Ministers

    1) Hard Work

    There is hard work, and then there is work that is hard.
    Ministering to and with others is hard work
    And you must work hard at it to do it well
    It will be difficult to be a disciple if you are not willing to work at it
    It will be difficult to help disciple others if you are not willing to work at it
    Paul and others were pleased to do this hard work
    Sharing the Gospel
    ASIDE: What IS the Gospel?
    Saved, and then living the saved life for Jesus - the repentance merely starts the saved, Gospel life.
    Willingness to work
    This is a challenge today - in the world (wax nostalgic) - culture has become lazy?
    This is a challenge today - in the church - become lazy?
    Paul’s example - working hard OUTSIDE the church in order to stay and serve
    ASIDE - TODAY: many pastors (35%) are bi-vocational - earning little financially from the church while working outside the church - for the love of serving in the church
    It’s not for the love of money, it’s for the love of ministry
    For the church, servants
    It is hard to ask people to serve for no monetary return
    Those serving faithfully do so for the concern of others
    And to please the LORD
    I can only offer this: It has to be “enough” to know that God is pleased when you serve

    2) A Personal Plea

    To others to serve Jesus
    Begging, basically
    Let’s look at each description:
    Exhorting
    Urging to a point of action
    Strongly persuading
    You will not strongly urge someone to do something you are not willing to do yourself
    You will strongly urge someone to serve in ministry, if it is important to you
    When ministry opportunities are brought up
    I exhort - I strongly urge you to pursue that and develop that ministry
    Ministry alongside others
    Not just - “Hey, I think you should do this. I’m not going to, but you should…”
    If you exhort someone to do something (live for Christ), the implication is that you HAVE, and you will pursue what you know is a great cause, great purpose
    Encouraging
    This is a comforting confidence and support
    Reminding people of the hope that is shared
    It is hard to encourage someone to keep doing something that seems a waste of time
    Paul is in ministry, encouraging people to keep going, when…
    Ministry is hard, thankless, frustrating
    And worth every hard minute spent
    When it’s done for the Lord and His glory
    When you are asked to serve, it is important that you are encouraged to do so
    (Awana, e.g. 9 years is a long time, those serving need encouragement - by others serving and by those NOT serving)
    Imploring
    This is URGENT
    This is emotional
    Paul is fearful that the request of others to minister and persevere will be ignored
    It’s a reality, people just don’t want to serve and minister
    Paul won’t lay a guilt trip, he just gives an emotional plea
    For the good of the Kingdom
    For the glory of the Lord
    Paul worked around the clock with a central purpose
    Give people the Gospel
    REM - Gospel is more than a prayer of salvation
    POINT - hard-working ministry is not selfish - just the opposite
    WHY? Why the exhorting, encouraging, imploring?
    To walk in a manner worthy of God
    Who called you and saved you, made you a part of His Kingdom
    - TO SERVE and MINISTER

    3) The Witness to Believers

    V. 10
    Devoutly
    Holy, Distinct
    Gospel-centered ministry is distinct, above all other types of work
    (oh…everything you do in life can be Gospel-centered, it’s a description of you, not the work)
    Uprightly
    Righteously
    Morally upstanding
    Immorality crushes ministry
    Blamelessly
    Not perfect
    But untainted, unstained by fault in motives
    WHY? Again, to walk in a manner worthy of God
    Who called you, saved you, invited you into His Kingdom

    An Early Father’s Day Challenge

    (BONUS)
    Challenge today, encouragement on Father’s Day soon
    Consider it homework till then, then we check in
    Biggest need for the church today is men leading, serving, stepping up
    Humbly acknowledging the need to learn and grow
    ALL of this (above)
    Demonstrated by fathers and children
    (gentleness - mothers, v. 7)
    Fathers, discipling starts at home:
    All of this (exhorting, encouraging, imploring)
    Fathers - questions for you:
    Are you persuading your children to walk in a manner worthy of God
    Are you encouraging them to do so, with regard to the Kingdom
    The hope of eternal life?
    Is this plea urgent, emotional?
    Does it even matter to you?
    EXAMPLE
    Your son says ‘I want to be a pastor”
    Your son or daughter says “I want to do missions work”
    Your child says - I want to be a doctor, mechanic, farmer, musician…
    Which will you support more?
    Perhaps you encourage homework, chores, practicing a skill or budding talent
    Do you read the Bible with them?
    Do you pray with them? For them?
    Do you discuss Biblical truths with them?
    Here is what I hear, often
    “I’m not sure what happened, he/she always went to church”
    But what was taught there?
    CRUCIAL - What was taught at home, where most of life is spent?
    Your job:
    Provide the best Biblical foundation you can, then let them choose.
    But…if this spiritual walk you desire in them is not modeled and encouraged, do not be frustrated when you don’t see it in them!
    CLOSE
    This chapter - so much about Paul and others modeling ministry
    Modeling the walk of the surrendered believer
    It can and will be physically exhausting, done right
    It can and will be financially costly
    It can and will be emotionally draining, when done for the purpose God intended
    Surrendered ministry is life given to the cause of Christ
    Knowing there will be few converts, fewer surrendered servants
    But never quitting
    I think we are reminded in this chapter about mothers and fathers
    Never quitting
    Jesus did not quit on you
    “It is finished” - He modeled surrender for you
    What does it take for us to surrender?
    What does it take for us to minister for Him?
    I have to answer that.
    We all do.
  • Softly And Tenderly
  • Cornerstone

      • 1 Thessalonians 2:12NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
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