The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
August 9, 2026
      • Bible Trivia
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      • 1 Thessalonians 5:15NASB95

  • He Has Made Me Glad
  • Wonderful Grace Of Jesus
  • Doxology
  • 10,000 Reasons
  • God Is Good All The Time
  • His Eye Is On The Sparrow

  • A Distinct People

    ILLUST: What does it look like to blend in, to fit in. Find the “CHRISTIAN”
    POINT - Don’t be hard to be noticed as a Christian
    Ever feel like it’s you against the world?
    It’s true, and the world is relentless, settles for nothing less than victory
    It’s easiest to blend in, not stand out
    INTRO: This section, verse 15 really needs included with 12-14
    We covered a lot last week (Healthy excellence) - let’s add this in, and summarize what God expected from the Thess church, and us as well
    The Thess church was distinct in their area - they did not blend in well
    Cornerstone - we are to be distinct in our area - goal is not to fit in or blend in
    If we can do THIS well, it certainly says a lot
    READ 1 Thess 5:12-15 - review and repeat, adding v. 15
    Realization about this chapter:
    it is about church functionality, more than I’ve seen before
    Why do you got to church? Worship?
    Really, why are you coming to church?
    What are you seeking from church?
    What do you have to contribute?
    What drives you to be here, besides feeling good about showing up?
    LET’S TALK REALITY, LET’S TALK CHURCH

    1) The Human Reality

    The battle is constant, flesh vs spirit
    Galatians 5:17 NASB95
    For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
    Holy Spirit
    Can be resisted
    Choices are made all the time
    The Challenge in the Church - Working Together
    Back to verse 14 - BRETHREN - written to believers in that church
    So let’s talk to believers here today
    Let’s listen to what the Spirit has to say in this inspired Word

    Resist Revenge

    The last in this list of “urges” for the church, along with leaders
    “eye for an eye” - context is from Exodus 21, the Law, in that case regarding harming woman/baby
    The context was to let the Law be in place
    NOT to take matters into your own hands
    Evil is real
    The human response is real
    The believer’s desire for justice - very real
    The concern here is vengeance
    God makes it clear that vengeance is His
    Romans 12:19 NASB95
    Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
    You will be wronged
    You will be hurt
    When laws are broken - then take it to law enforcement
    When personal sin occurs - take it to Matthew 18
    Quick review there - Points
    Go to the person
    Take 2-3 others
    Take it to the church
    Us vs the world - spoiler alert, this not how the world does things
    But this is how a church does things, at least a church who wants to excel still more
    ASIDE - QUESTION
    When there is sin between people, who should go to whom?
    Matthew 5:23–24 NASB95
    “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
    So…go to the person you have wronged
    WAIT…
    Matthew 18:15 NASB95
    “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
    So…the person who was wronged should go to the offender
    Which one? YES!
    This is what mature believers do - meet in the middle
    The flesh says - “Get even”
    The Spirit says - reconcile with your brother
    EVEN WHEN……
    The believer is concerned about the well-being of the offender
    That looks ridiculous to the world

    2) Reality in the Church

    Put this all together, besides the revenge issue
    Admonish the unruly
    Unruly vs disciplined - spiritually
    The church needs the disciplined, spiritually
    Encourage the fainthearted
    Fainthearted vs courageous
    The church needs the courageous
    Weak vs Strong
    Morally and spiritually vs Spirit-controlled
    The church needs the strong
    All while living peaceably
    And you need to make a choice
    You need to recognize your own condition
    Starts with truly being a believer, part of the kingdom
    NOT EVERY PERSON COMING TO CHURCH IS A BELIEVER
    New Testament is full of examples
    Best example, perhaps, 1 John 2:19
    1 John 2:19 NASB95
    They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.
    THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT WERE PART OF THE LOCAL CHURCH - AND NOT BELIEVERS
    So first - get it settled, trust Christ, become a believer
    THEN
    Recognize
    Some here are disciplined, some are unruly
    Some here are strong, some are weak, spiritually
    Some are vengeful, some are peaceable
    Some here are courageous and bold, others are timid fearful
    POINT
    Recognize your own growth needs
    Discipline, strength, peaceful, courage, patience
    Then be part of our growth here
    Not arrogant, prideful - but confident in hope
    What I love about the church in Thess…
    These people did not GO to church
    These people WERE the church!
    (same mix we have, likely some unbelievers there as well)
    They recognized responsibility to others…

    3) The church and the Church

    Local church
    All believers - Church

    Not everyone in the church is in the Church

    Biggest concern here - some not truly saved believers
    WRAPPING
    See, you, believers, you do the hard things
    Do the right thing, always
    Believers - these words apply to you
    As Paul tells us to seek after/pursue the good
    GOOD
    ALWAYS
    for EACH OTHER (one another)
    for EVERYONE ELSE (all people)
    Contrast this with the world
    Pursue what is best for YOU
    for YOURSELF
    Help the weak - vs “look out for yourself”
    Encourage the fainthearted - vs “do what makes you feel good yourself”
    Teach the less disciplined, be patient with everyone - vs “get out of my way”
    Reconcile with others, be at peace with them - vs “seek revenge, get my proper payback”
    These are hard
    JESUS
    Helped you when you were/are weak
    Provides strength when you lack the courage, want to give up
    Admonishes, teaches you when your spiritual discipline is lacking
    Is patient with you - ‘nuff said
    And you sinned - and while you were sinners
    Romans 5:8 NASB95
    But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
    God will exact His vengeance, judgement comes
    BUT GOD - rich in mercy
    Ephesians 2:4 NASB95
    But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
    Ephesians 2:5 NASB95
    even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
    If revenge was his primary goal, Jesus would not have died for you
    The plan? Reconcile the lost
    QUESTION
    Are you part of the Church? That’s where we need to really nail this down
    1 John 5:13 NASB95
    These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.
    (emphasis mine)
    Let me encourage you today
    Settle this today: Are you truly part of the Church—do you know that you belong to Jesus?
    THEN: If you do, accept the challenge
    Live differently from the world
    …by always pursuing what is good for one another and for everyone.
    YOU - focus on your Love for Christ, first
    Let that love for Him spill over to love for others
    And…Christ, who intercedes for you, has your back
    Let HIM take care of you

      • Galatians 5:17NASB95

      • Romans 12:19NASB95

      • Matthew 5:23–24NASB95

      • Matthew 18:15NASB95

      • 1 John 2:19NASB95

      • Romans 5:8NASB95

      • Ephesians 2:4NASB95

      • Ephesians 2:5NASB95

      • 1 John 5:13NASB95

  • For God So Loved The World
  • Cornerstone

      • Romans 12:19NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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