We Cared For You Because We Loved You So Much - 1 Thessalonians Series

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

In our recent podcast episodes, we have been looking at Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, a letter that he wrote not long after he started a church in their Greek city. The New Testament book of First Thessalonians is a great encouragement to church planters. It tells about a very positive, joyful, and fruitful church planting experience. I hope you will read or listen to the whole book all in one sitting this week.  It will nourish your church planter’s heart.

Listen now as I read the words Paul wrote to describe his church planting experience: “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Wow, those words have always challenged me. I love people. But I am not sure that I live up to the standard of love Paul set.  Listen again to what this man of God said, “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

That’s right, this man of God compared himself to a nursing mother who tenderly, constantly, sacrificially spends time with very young children to help her boys and girls grow up to be strong and wise. Even though I don’t think my love often meets this standard set by church planter Paul, I do think we should strive to have love like that for all people we serve as church planters. 

Paul told the Ephesian Christians that that “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”  You are a village church planter.  It is very likely that you have apostolic gifts, evangelistic gifts and/or pastoral gifts.  Perhaps those with pastoral gifts find it easier to love like Paul did, like a nursing mother caring for her children. Pastors tend to be very people oriented. Apostles, evangelists, and teachers are often much more task oriented than pastors. But regardless of our gifting, we have been given an example of love and we need to use the grace God gives us as we work to share our very lives with the people to whom we give the word of God.

How can you increase the love you feel for your people in order to serve them better?  Here are some actions that help me:

• Remember how much Jesus loves you. He loves them as much as he loves you.

• Remember how much Jesus loves them; he loved them enough to die for them.

• Remember that in spite of their sins and shortcomings, each one is created in the image of God. For that reason they are lovely.

• Remember that each one has potential to achieve greatness because they have been created in the image of God. They might not be great right now, but by God’s grace they can be great men and women of God.

• Forgive quickly; don’t keep an account of every wrongdoing, shortcoming or failure of others.

• Pray much.  Pray like a nursing mother prays for here kids. Pray with compassion. Pray for your church members with the same heart you pray for your own family.

As you do these things your feeling of love will grow. And so will the love you show through your service to the people God has given to you as a church planter. 

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today? 1T-16

#EncouragementForVillageChurchPlanters #LoveLikeJesus #LoveYourNeighbor