Flourishing Faith and Increasing Love in Community
Summary
Living righteously as we await the return of Christ is a journey that requires a flourishing faith and an increasing love. Drawing from 2 Thessalonians 1:3, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude for our church community. Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians express a deep thankfulness for their faith and love, which serve as a model for us today. We are encouraged to reflect on our own church communities and to cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the unique blessings and challenges they present.
In any family, including our church family, there are dynamics that can lead to disagreements and misunderstandings. However, it is crucial to approach these situations with a heart of thanksgiving and a commitment to unity. By doing so, we can prevent the self-inflicted wounds that often arise from criticism and division. Instead, we should strive to be a healthy family, where love and faith are at the forefront of our interactions.
A flourishing faith is one that is deeply rooted in belief in Jesus Christ and His gospel. It is a faith that stands out in a world that often opposes it. This kind of faith is not only personal but also communal, as it contributes to the overall strength and witness of the church. As individuals, our flourishing faith can inspire and uplift the entire body of Christ.
Increasing love, on the other hand, is about genuinely caring for one another within the church. It is about moving beyond superficial interactions to a place where we selflessly seek the best for each other. This love is not always convenient, but it is essential for building a strong, unified community. By prioritizing agape love, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.
Ultimately, the call is to be thankful for our church, to nurture a faith that flourishes, and to cultivate a love that increases. In doing so, we reflect the heart of Christ and become a beacon of hope and grace in our world.
Key Takeaways:
- Gratitude for the Church: Embrace a spirit of thankfulness for your church community, recognizing both its strengths and challenges. Gratitude helps prevent division and fosters unity, allowing us to appreciate the unique role our church plays in our spiritual journey. [03:00]
- Flourishing Faith: A flourishing faith is deeply rooted in belief in Jesus Christ and His gospel. It stands out in a world that often opposes it, inspiring both personal growth and communal strength within the church. [12:50]
- Increasing Love: Genuine love within the church is essential for building a strong, unified community. This love is selfless and seeks the best for others, even when it is inconvenient, reflecting the heart of Christ. [17:01]
- Unity in Diversity: Recognize that every church has its unique dynamics and challenges. By focusing on unity and love, we can overcome differences and work together for the common good, reflecting the diverse yet unified body of Christ. [21:08]
- Living Righteously: As we await Christ's return, we are called to live righteously by nurturing a flourishing faith and increasing love. This involves a commitment to personal growth and communal support, embodying the values of the gospel in our daily lives. [21:08]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:30] - Introduction to the Series
- [01:15] - Gratitude for the Church
- [03:00] - Paul's Thankfulness for Thessalonica
- [05:00] - Challenges in Church Families
- [07:30] - The Importance of Unity
- [09:45] - Flourishing Faith
- [12:50] - Belief in Jesus Christ
- [15:00] - Increasing Love
- [17:01] - Genuine Care in the Church
- [19:00] - Selfless Love
- [21:08] - Unity in Diversity
- [23:00] - Living Righteously
- [25:00] - Conclusion and Blessing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Observation Questions:
1. What are the two key attributes Paul is thankful for in the Thessalonian church according to 2 Thessalonians 1:3?
2. How does Pastor Chris describe the dynamics within a church family, and what is his advice for handling disagreements? [09:45]
3. What does Pastor Chris mean by a "flourishing faith," and how does he suggest it should manifest in a believer's life? [12:50]
4. How does Pastor Chris illustrate the concept of "increasing love" within the church community? [17:01]
Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Paul emphasize gratitude for the church community, and how does this gratitude help prevent division? [03:00]
2. In what ways does Pastor Chris suggest that a flourishing faith can impact both personal growth and the communal strength of the church? [12:50]
3. How does Pastor Chris differentiate between agape love and other forms of love, and why is agape love essential for church unity? [17:01]
4. What challenges might arise in striving for unity in diversity within a church, and how can these be overcome according to the sermon? [21:08]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own church community. What are some unique blessings and challenges you are grateful for, and how can you express this gratitude more regularly? [03:00]
2. Consider your personal faith journey. What steps can you take to ensure your faith is flourishing and stands out in your daily life? [12:50]
3. Think of a recent situation where you had to choose between convenience and selfless love. How did you respond, and what might you do differently next time? [17:01]
4. Identify a specific way you can contribute to increasing love within your church community. How can you prioritize agape love in your interactions this week? [17:01]
5. How can you actively work towards unity in your church, especially when faced with differences or disagreements? What practical steps can you take to foster a spirit of unity? [21:08]
6. As you await Christ's return, what does living righteously mean to you, and how can you embody the values of the gospel in your daily life? [21:08]
7. How can you support and encourage others in your church to nurture a flourishing faith and increasing love? What role can you play in building a strong, unified community? [12:50]
Devotional
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Quotes
Paul is very thankful for the church in Thessalonica and ask some questions Sunday are you thankful for the church in Thessalonica are you thankful for your church and and I asked that question listen I'm going to acknowledge I know there are some great good solid churches in in saint mary's county and around the world i mean there are god's people everywhere and that's kind of the part of uh the gospel is we want to see the word of god expand um you know and we should be thankful for the church that we have [00:04:56]
And so I think sometimes we break fellowship too easy, and I think that usually happens when we become disgruntled. We become critical. We're disgruntled. I'll talk a little bit more about that tomorrow, probably, or that maybe Friday or Thursday, excuse me, but we need to guard our hearts against that. And Paul is saying, look, Thessalonica, you got it good. You got some good stuff going. They had issues, though. They had affliction and persecution, but he's saying, be thankful. I'm thankful for you. I'm boasting about you. [00:09:35]
And so when we look at justification by faith, and we look at, uh, you know, that righteousness we have before God, that standing before, God. And then we have, uh, faith that is the evidence of things we hope for. It's the faith that leads us to believe the things we believe. By faith, I place my faith in Jesus. So a faith that flourishes, I think, is strong in belief. Belief in Jesus. [00:12:41]
Belief in what Jesus has done. Belief in the crucifixion. Belief in the resurrection. Belief in the ascension. Belief in his return. Belief in the resurrection. Belief in the resurrection. Belief in the resurrection. So, you know, you've got that crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, his return, all those things. You know, that's pretty much obedience to the gospel. That's the gospel message, right? So that, and this church is focused on making sure that their faith in Jesus Christ in the midst of a pagan world flourishes. [00:13:09]
I have five essential things up on the wall. And the first two, if you've ever been in my office, the first two is reminding me, create a culture of grace. I've worked hard at that, you all. And I think we're getting there. What we saw Sunday is an example of grace. Grace. Will we have a church that has a culture of grace? Secondly, though, is biblical truth. Will we be biblically true? [00:14:09]
And then the last, the fifth one is unity. Will we have a unified purpose? Will we be a unified body of Christ? Imagine those things coming. That's if our faith flourishes, I believe we do those things. There's grace. There's grace. There's grace. There's grace. There's grace. There's grace. There's grace. There's truth. There's belonging. There's create a home, a sense of home family, right? We create unity. [00:15:02]
What's increasing love mean? You know, our love increasing, you know, I mean, John the Baptist used language like this, like, I must decrease so he can increase, meaning Jesus. But Paul says, I see that your love for each other is increasing. This is a very positive thing, right? Because one of the things, and it's one of our values, is to love God and love others, loving God and loving others. [00:15:53]
Now, now we need to love even our enemies and love the world. And there's levels of that. So don't, don't think I'm only compartmentalizing this, but I need to, for a moment, focus on the love that we have for each other in the church should be genuine. And it should be growing, increasing, right? It should be increasing. We love God and we love one another. So there's a horizontal and there's a vertical, there's a vertical, excuse me, and a horizontal. [00:16:41]
But when we come together and we're in community, we should be known for our love. We should genuinely care for one another and love one another. Genuinely desiring to see good things for you. Agape love. I want to love you. Selflessly. And that's hard to do. It is hard not to love. And eros, you guys, I'll be honest. It's hard not to love with a love that's like, what's in this for me, right? [00:17:30]
I can almost look at every single person that's ever left a church that I've pastored at, or I've been a part of love was absent. I can't even think back as a little boy at Harris Creek Baptist church, the issues they had love was absent. It was more of eros. What's in this for me. I think the more selfless we become, the more love can increase. And so I think an objective for you and me and me too, man, I gotta work on myself. [00:19:45]
Then that's love that what God wants for her, right? If I want that for you as the people of God, as your pastor, but also your friend, as your brother, I really want you to experience the fullness of God and, and have his love poured out in your life and have his spirit empower you and have you experience all the goodness that God has for you and to bless you. I want to love you that way. That's selfless. [00:20:34]
And then may we be thankful for the church that God has given us. So Lexington park Baptist church. I love you. I'm encouraged that our faith grows. And I am thankful to be a part of this family, even through the difficult times and the good times. And obviously the good times are better, but no matter what love requires us to work through life together and love can flourish and increase just like faith can increase and flourish. [00:21:49]
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