Growing in Faith: Addressing What is Lacking

Summary

### Summary

This evening, we delved into 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, focusing on the question Paul posed to the Thessalonian believers: "What is lacking in your faith?" This question is crucial for all of us to consider in our spiritual journey. We often feel something is missing in our lives, whether it's a lost item or a deeper spiritual void. Paul wanted to visit the Thessalonians to help perfect what was lacking in their faith, emphasizing that standing firm in faith is not enough; we must continually grow and progress.

Paul's desire was to see the Thessalonians increase and abound in love towards one another and all people, establishing their hearts unblameable in holiness before God. He highlighted that being saved is not the end but the beginning of a journey towards spiritual maturity. We must strive to perfect our faith, which means completing it, not just standing still. Standing still in our faith is the first step towards going backward.

Our spiritual perspective is often colored by our culture, but regardless of our background, we are complete in Christ. However, being complete doesn't mean we are finished; we still have much to learn and grow. Paul pointed out that the Thessalonians had a weak spot in their hope, and he wanted to help them strengthen it. Similarly, we all have areas in our faith that need growth, whether it's knowledge, zeal, love, follow-through, or forgiveness.

To address these lacks, we need humility to admit our shortcomings and a willingness to let God work in us. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians night and day, showing the importance of prayer and seeking God's help in our spiritual growth. We should care about what is lacking in our faith because we want to be blameless and holy before God, focused on Christ's return.

To alleviate the lack in our lives, we need the ministry of God's servants, God's working in us, and God's strength in our hearts. We must cultivate the means by which God works in our lives, such as reading the Bible, attending church, and spending time in prayer. Ultimately, we are as close to God as we want to be, and we must manage our lives in a way that allows for spiritual growth.

### Key Takeaways

1. Continual Growth in Faith: Standing firm in faith is not enough; we must continually strive to grow and perfect our faith. Being saved is just the beginning of a lifelong journey towards spiritual maturity. Standing still in our faith is the first step towards going backward. [17:47]

2. Cultural Influence on Spiritual Perspective: Our spiritual perspective is often influenced by our cultural background. Regardless of where we come from, we are complete in Christ, but being complete doesn't mean we are finished. We still have much to learn and grow in our faith. [20:28]

3. Identifying and Addressing Weaknesses: We all have areas in our faith that need growth, whether it's knowledge, zeal, love, follow-through, or forgiveness. Admitting our shortcomings with humility and seeking God's help is crucial for spiritual growth. [27:52]

4. Importance of Prayer and God's Work in Us: Paul prayed for the Thessalonians night and day, showing the importance of prayer in addressing what is lacking in our faith. We must allow God to work in us, increasing our love for others and strengthening our hearts. [30:29]

5. Cultivating Spiritual Growth: To alleviate the lack in our lives, we need the ministry of God's servants, God's working in us, and God's strength in our hearts. We must cultivate the means by which God works in our lives, such as reading the Bible, attending church, and spending time in prayer. [38:02]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[10:33] - Introduction and Personal Story
[15:41] - Missing Something in Our Spiritual Life
[16:34] - Perfecting What is Lacking in Faith
[19:59] - Cultural Influence on Faith
[23:03] - Identifying Weaknesses in Faith
[27:52] - Addressing Weaknesses with Humility
[30:29] - Importance of Prayer
[35:38] - Ministry of God's Servants
[38:02] - God's Work in Us
[41:00] - Cultivating Spiritual Growth
[43:43] - Conclusion and Call to Action
[48:50] - Closing Prayer and Announcements

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 (ESV)
> "For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

### Observation Questions
1. What was Paul's main concern for the Thessalonian believers according to 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13?
2. How did Paul express his desire to help the Thessalonians grow in their faith? [16:34]
3. What does Paul pray for the Thessalonians to increase and abound in, according to verse 12?
4. What does Paul hope to establish in the hearts of the Thessalonians by the time of Christ's return?

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the need for continual growth in faith rather than just standing firm? [17:47]
2. How can cultural influences affect our spiritual perspective, and what does it mean to be "complete in Christ" yet still needing growth? [20:28]
3. What are some specific areas of faith that Paul identifies as needing growth, and why is it important to address these weaknesses? [27:52]
4. How does Paul illustrate the importance of prayer in addressing what is lacking in our faith? [30:29]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. What areas of your faith do you feel are lacking, and how can you begin to address them? [16:34]
2. How has your cultural background influenced your spiritual perspective? In what ways can you ensure that your faith is rooted in Christ rather than cultural norms? [20:28]
3. Identify a specific weakness in your faith, such as knowledge, zeal, love, follow-through, or forgiveness. What practical steps can you take this week to grow in that area? [27:52]
4. How can you incorporate more prayer into your daily routine to seek God's help in your spiritual growth? What specific prayers can you start with? [30:29]
5. What role do church attendance, Bible reading, and prayer play in your spiritual growth? How can you better cultivate these practices in your life? [38:02]
6. Think of a time when you felt spiritually stagnant. What changes did you make, or can you make, to move forward in your faith journey? [17:47]
7. How can you support others in your small group or church community in addressing what is lacking in their faith? What actions can you take to encourage and help them grow? [35:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Continual Growth in Faith
Standing firm in faith is not enough; we must continually strive to grow and perfect our faith. Being saved is just the beginning of a lifelong journey towards spiritual maturity. Standing still in our faith is the first step towards going backward. Paul emphasized that the Thessalonians needed to increase and abound in love towards one another and all people, establishing their hearts unblameable in holiness before God. This means that our faith journey is dynamic and requires constant effort and dedication.

We often feel something is missing in our lives, whether it's a lost item or a deeper spiritual void. Paul wanted to visit the Thessalonians to help perfect what was lacking in their faith. Similarly, we must identify areas in our faith that need growth and actively work on them. This involves humility to admit our shortcomings and a willingness to let God work in us. [17:47]

Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV): "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

Reflection: What is one specific area in your faith that you feel needs growth? How can you take a step today to actively work on it?

Day 2: Cultural Influence on Spiritual Perspective
Our spiritual perspective is often influenced by our cultural background. Regardless of where we come from, we are complete in Christ, but being complete doesn't mean we are finished. We still have much to learn and grow in our faith. Paul pointed out that the Thessalonians had a weak spot in their hope, and he wanted to help them strengthen it. This highlights the importance of recognizing how our cultural context can shape our understanding of faith and the need to transcend these influences to grow spiritually.

Being complete in Christ means that we have all we need for our spiritual journey, but it doesn't mean we have reached the end. We must continually seek to understand and apply God's truth in our lives, regardless of our cultural background. This requires a willingness to learn and grow, acknowledging that our cultural perspectives can sometimes limit our spiritual growth. [20:28]

Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: How has your cultural background influenced your understanding of faith? What steps can you take to ensure that your spiritual growth is not limited by cultural perspectives?

Day 3: Identifying and Addressing Weaknesses
We all have areas in our faith that need growth, whether it's knowledge, zeal, love, follow-through, or forgiveness. Admitting our shortcomings with humility and seeking God's help is crucial for spiritual growth. Paul prayed for the Thessalonians night and day, showing the importance of prayer and seeking God's help in our spiritual growth. We should care about what is lacking in our faith because we want to be blameless and holy before God, focused on Christ's return.

To address these lacks, we need humility to admit our shortcomings and a willingness to let God work in us. This involves self-examination and a commitment to growth. By identifying our weaknesses and seeking God's help, we can strengthen our faith and become more like Christ. [27:52]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: What is one area of your faith that you recognize as a weakness? How can you seek God's help to address this weakness today?

Day 4: Importance of Prayer and God's Work in Us
Paul prayed for the Thessalonians night and day, showing the importance of prayer in addressing what is lacking in our faith. We must allow God to work in us, increasing our love for others and strengthening our hearts. Prayer is a vital tool in our spiritual growth, helping us to connect with God and seek His guidance and strength.

Through prayer, we can ask God to reveal areas in our faith that need growth and seek His help in addressing them. By relying on God's strength and guidance, we can overcome our weaknesses and grow in our faith. This requires a commitment to regular prayer and a willingness to let God work in our lives. [30:29]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: How can you incorporate more prayer into your daily routine to seek God's guidance and strength in your spiritual growth?

Day 5: Cultivating Spiritual Growth
To alleviate the lack in our lives, we need the ministry of God's servants, God's working in us, and God's strength in our hearts. We must cultivate the means by which God works in our lives, such as reading the Bible, attending church, and spending time in prayer. Ultimately, we are as close to God as we want to be, and we must manage our lives in a way that allows for spiritual growth.

Cultivating spiritual growth requires intentional effort and dedication. By engaging in spiritual disciplines and seeking the support of fellow believers, we can create an environment that fosters growth. This involves making time for Bible study, prayer, and fellowship, and being open to the ways God wants to work in our lives. [38:02]

2 Peter 1:5-8 (ESV): "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to cultivate spiritual growth in your life? How can you create an environment that fosters your relationship with God?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Have you ever felt like in your life something was missing? I don't know what it could be. Maybe you lost something. I'll never forget. And always, a number of years ago when we were in the Northern Territory. And we were in Darwin. And we were traveling down to Catherine to do Bible studies. And those Bible studies are now, have grown into Savannah Way Baptist Church." [10:33] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "What about if it was like that in our spiritual life? What about if it was like that in our faith? Look at verse 9. It says, For what thanks can we render to God again for you? For all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith." [15:41] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You know what? A lot of times as you read different things, I read this thing and it said the scourge of Christianity is being saved and stuck. Thinking that. Is all there is to be a Christian is just simply a prayer of repentance. A Paul wants these believers to know they still have a lot to learn, yet they're standing firm, but still need to make progress in their Christian faith, and he knows that if they're standing still, they're already going backwards." [17:47] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "No one in this room this evening has arrived. We have not become, like, I have nothing less to learn. I have learned everything I can in the Bible. If that's the case, then let me sit down and you come up here. Because the first thing I've learned, the more I say to the Bible, is how little I know." [19:02] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You know what? Something is missing in our lives. Okay, tell you something something will always be missing until we're in heaven, but we know that instinctively this life was meant to be something better and it can never satisfy fully but you can grow. We can become more complete in our faith than we are today." [42:32] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "What is lacking in my faith? Or what is lacking in your faith? Ask yourself that question. You know what? A lot of times as you read different things, I read this thing and it said the scourge of Christianity is being saved and stuck. Thinking that. Is all there is to be a Christian is just simply a prayer of repentance. A Paul wants these believers to know they still have a lot to learn, yet they're standing firm, but still need to make progress in their Christian faith, and he knows that if they're standing still, they're already going backwards." [16:34] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Now. Perfected doesn't mean, like, without error. It means completed. No one in this room this evening has arrived. We have not become, like, I have nothing less to learn. I have learned everything I can in the Bible. If that's the case, then let me sit down and you come up here. Because the first thing I've learned, the more I say to the Bible, is how little I know." [18:24] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Maybe, maybe for some, their, their point that they need to grow up, that they need to, they have lacking in their faith is a follow through. You know, to actually start something and finish it, to follow it through. And, and, and throughout the word of God, it talks about people. He says, you know, if a man doesn't work, he shouldn't what? Eat. You say why? Because things were different in the Bible times. You didn't go for the government for a handout when you couldn't, you know, when you needed money or you were out of a job or you were sick or something. The government gave you nothing." [28:43] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Maybe it's feeling guilty for not doing what God wants but thinking that those guilty feelings somehow make up for not doing what God wants. You know what? Something is missing in our lives. Okay, tell you something something will always be missing until we're in heaven, but we know that instinctively this life was meant to be something better and it can never satisfy fully but you can grow. We can become more complete in our faith than we are today." [42:32] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So may I ask you this this evening what's lacking in your life? Not just what's lacking in your life, but what are you putting in place to allow God to fill that to fix that the thief that Paul is saying to these believers. Hey, listen in standing firm. That's great that you're standing firm. You're great in rejoicing and you're great in your joy and you're great in your thankfulness. But now I want you to be great in your heart. Your hope and the hope that knowing Christ is returning will be and so this evening." [43:43] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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