Preached February 17, 2008 at Longview Missionary Baptist Church

1 Thes. 2:1-16 (ESV)
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. [2] But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. [3] For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, [4] but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. [5] For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed— God is witness. [6] Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. [7] But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. [8] So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
[9] For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. [10] You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. [11] For you know how, like a father with his children, [12] we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
[13] And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. [14] For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, [15] who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind [16] by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But God’s wrath has come upon them at last!

The boy was at a crossroads. His parents had taken him to church when he was younger. But over the last few years, church and Christianity was not a high priority. His parents’ marriage was crumbling and the home was becoming a war zone. Added pressures of a layoff for the father followed by reeducation to try to find a new job and long working hours for the mother left the children to see about themselves much of the time.

The boy was transitioning between middle school to high school, which meant changing schools. Many of his familiar friends were gone. High school brought many new challenges the boy was trying to navigate alone. Alcohol, drugs, sex, rebellion, and paganism were at his finger tips. He was at a crossroads many teenagers face.

What would become of him? Statistically, he was headed for trouble. The deck was stacked against him.

What would you do for that boy? All around us are teenagers and children and young adults and senior adults and median aged adults who are at a crossroads. On one hand, they can go down the path that leads them off of a precipice. Or, they can be led in a different direction. All they need is a guide.

Have you noticed how many guides there are in the world? How many people want to influence you away from God and Christ and truth and hope and faith and love? They try to seduce you to worship the false gods of sensuality and materialism and self. They promise no limits, no boundaries, only freedom to do exactly what you want to do. The result is marriages crumble, addictions slip a noose around necks, and people are desperate.

As a Christian, every single one of us is called to be a guide for others. Jesus used a different phrase. He called us to “make disciples.” A disciple maker is a guide. A person who comes along side and helps others walk with Christ.

Just like that boy who was at a crossroads, we all know people, young and old, who need encouragement in the right direction. Right now you have friend who is about to walk out on her marriage, hoping for something better. You have a friend who is making reckless choices and can’t see the harm that is going to come to him and others. You know teenagers and children who are wandering through life because they don’t know any better. You know someone who is searching spiritually.

And you can make a difference in their lives. As Christians, we know that Jesus Christ is the answer, that the Lord is our only hope. We have the Gospel– the Good News of how Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection can transform our lives and our world. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus is Lord and Savior.

So, as Christians, we are called to make a difference in the lives of people, to be disciple makers.

Whose life do you want to make a difference in for the kingdom of God?

How can we do it?

1. A disciple maker pleases God above all others. (vv. 4-5)

a. We must not begin with the disciple. We must not begin with ourselves. We must begin with God.

i. ILL– Army Boot Camp– not about what the recruit wants or likes. Aim is not to please them, but the Army.

b. As disciple makers, pleasing God is job #1.

i. V. 4– He called us.

ii. V. 4– He evaluates us.

iii. V. 5– He watches us.

John Stott: “No secret of Christian ministry is more important than its fundamental God-centeredness. The stewards of the gospel are primarily responsible neither to the church, [nor to people], but to God himself. On the one hand, this is a disconcerting fact because God scrutinizes our hearts and their secrets, and his standards are very high. On the other hand, it is marvelously liberating, since God is a more knowledgeable, impartial and merciful judge than any human being or ecclesiastical court or committee. To be accountable to him is to be delivered from the tyranny of human criticism.”

c. We play to an audience of 1– The Lord

d. For Paul, Silas and Timothy, being approved by God, trusted by God and searched by God banished any possibility of dishonesty from their hearts and stirred them to fearless, persistent Gospel proclamation.

e. Nothing provides a better check to self-seeking in Christian work than a constant awareness of God.

2. A disciple maker genuinely cares for disciples. (7-9, 11)

a. Many who operate under the banner “Christian” who are merely doing all they can to take advantage of people.

b. We, like Paul, must act like a tender mother and loving father.

i. Nursing mother– gentle, caring, giving without getting anything in return.

ii. Father– carefully guides and instructs his children

iii. Both motivated by sacrificial love for the well-being of the child.

iv. This is what discipleship ought to look like.

c. Giving or sharing our lives with those we are discipling. You can’t make a difference in the life of a person and keep them at arm’s distance.

d. Paul worked hard for the benefit of the Thessalonians. He was self-sacrificing for their benefit.

3. A disciple maker faithfully lives the Gospel. (6, 9-10)

a. The Gospel changes everything. It redirects our lives.

i. If we are going to be used by God to make a difference in the lives of other people, then our lives must be transformed.

ii. Paul modeled the Gospel with his entire life.

b. We must live out the message we share. We are to model the Gospel.

i. Discipleship is more caught than taught.

ii. ILL– easy to teach a lesson on prayer. Must more effective to see prayer in action

iii. Our disciples begin to emulate and reflect us.

c. Our lives must be consistent with the message we proclaim. This is crucial for parents who want their children to grow up to love God.

d. V. 10– Holy living witnessed by the Thessalonians. Can the people you are influencing give testimony to your holy lifestyle?

4. A disciple maker boldly declares the Gospel. (1-3, 4, 11, 13)

a. We have only one message. Not just empty, pointless words. Not false words. We give clear, persuasive teaching of the Gospel.

b. It is often opposed. Those who stand for the Gospel will be persecuted.

c. The Gospel is the message that Jesus is Savior and Lord.

5. A disciple maker calls for commitment to the Lord. (12, 14-16)

a. A disciple maker models, teaches, and then expects the disciple to live it.

b. Accountability to live God’s way sorely lacking today. We don’t expect much from one another. Possibly because we are not living the way we should.

c. We must live holy lives and call others to holiness as well. We must live for Christ, no matter the cost.

Conclusion

Are you a disciple maker? God wants you to be one.

Back to the boy– Several people came into his life at just the right time. They loved God and sought to please him above all others. They genuinely cared for the boy. They modeled the message they shared. They called the boy to commit to Christ, to live for him.

People like Danny and Penny, Chip and Justin, Mike and Bill. They discipled the boy who is preaching this message to you today. I am a product of discipleship. People made a difference in my life. You can make a difference in the lives of others.

Will you make a difference in a life today? Will you be a disciple maker?