1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Give yourself for the sake of the gospel!

1. With tender love

Have you ever thought of your ministry as being like a “nursing mother”?

• Gentle, like Jesus (Matthew 11:29)
• Growing in affection for those we serve
  • Inherent value – made in God’s image
  • Investment value – I’ve given myself for them
• Enduring personal pain for their benefit

2. With hard work

“Labor and toil” ought to describe our approach to our families, our careers, and our ministries.
If jobs and families were exceptions to God’s call to reach the lost…

• We’d all be excused
• We’d all be missing out

The gospel is most effective in the midst of my life, not instead of my life!

3. With godly character

What are we portraying by our holiness?

• We value God’s Word enough to obey
• We have hope because of the gospel
• We are calling people to Jesus, not works

Our testimony shares a transformation from sinfully falling short to gracefully growing holy
Jesus rebuked the Pharisees’ empty appearance of holiness! (Matthew 23:27–28)

4. With tough love

Can we “walk worthy” of the God who calls us?

• We come alongside others to aim together for this endeavor.
• We continually encourage others as we struggle together.
• We firmly charge others of our mutual
  purpose of trusting and following Jesus!

We must earn this place in people’s lives!

Application Questions for Reflection

1. What questions or reactions do you have? What is one application you will make?
2. What kinds of sacrifices might an investment in people’s lives to this extent entail?
3. Have you ever grown in affection for someone you were ministering to (1 Thessalonians 2:8)? Why might that happen?
4. What lessons can we learn from a gentle mother that can influence and shape our evangelism (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8)?
5. What lessons can we learn from a lovingly rigorous father that can influence and shape our evangelism (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)?
6. How does sharing ourselves (1 Thessalonians 2:8) open us to a vulnerability that enables us to demonstrate faith and grow together with others?