05.09.2010 Becoming Emotionally Healthy in a Biblical Way

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SermonAudioLord, thank You for the worship time this morning. Thank You for each of the moms here today – those who have sacrificed for their children and who exemplify Your love. Lord, thank You that You care about our cares this morning. Knowing that – we can move forward in service. Open Your Word to us this morning – In Jesus’ Name – Amen.

We are closing down this series – how to become emotionally healthy in a biblical way. Looking at it – from a Biblical perspective – because the Bible does address our emotions. Today, I want to focus on a passage in 1 Thessalonians 2 – to look at how we, at Grace Summit, can promote or encourage spiritual growth and emotional health in our church.
The church in Thessalonica – there were some concerns that they would continue – as a young church – he was reminding them of his visit there.
1 Thessalonians 2: 2:1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain,
You yourselves know – he says this phrase 6 times in 12 verses – there must be a reason he is doing this – he wants them to remember. They are getting a lot of pressure from the world to go back to their old way of life. We face the same temptation; we make progress and then this pressure comes in to try to make us stop. Paul is reminding them – that they might have the courage and strength to keep doing what they were doing.
It was not in vain – it was fruitful – in Chapter 1 – he described that – they turned from idols to serve the living God – they were changed – they were dramatically changed. Each of us has a time when we come to Christ and there is a change that takes place inside of us – and Paul wants that change to continue – so he is reminding them that this happened. When you think you haven’t changed – you need to be reminded of the positive things that have taken place – that is what Paul is saying – don’t get discouraged! Look how much you’ve grown! You’re doing well! Our tendency is to not feel that way. But you are living victoriously. The enemy would like you to think you have failed – but when God looks at you – He sees victory, progress, and growth.

Kind of like when the kids were little – all those marks on the wall where we would measure them – starting 19 years ago – they want to grow – and you look as a parent – and wow! It just happens. We used to go down every day. We had one who wanted to become a basketball player – at Duke – he told us recently – you let me believe that it was possible for way too long!
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
What happened in Philippi – Paul was thrown into prison – and got out through miraculous events – then he goes down to Thessalonica – and had to make a quick exit. Productivity and growth requires difficulty and sometimes suffering. All spiritual growth comes through difficulty. It never happens any other way – don’t let anyone tell you differently. Ministry – Serving – Growing – is emotionally taxing – because we serve people and people are emotionally taxing – even those of us who don’t think we are – we are.
Creating an atmosphere where people are safe to grow spiritually, emotionally, biblically healthy – is difficult – it is not easy. There is a lot of pressure when we try to live that way. Something happens and the weight of pressure comes on when you try to do this. But Paul was more than glad to do this for them…
3 For our exhortation does not [come] from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.
The next thing – he reminds them of the fruitfulness – then reminds them of the difficulty – then he reminds them of his motives – why he does what he does. Why does he do it? To please God. It is not about him. He is approved by God and his ministry is called by God to this service – it is God who makes him adequate – and it is no different for us. The only way a community can come together for spiritual progress is to understand that God has called us and approved us and chosen us for this work. In doing that – when we understand that – then – and from that as a foundation – we can live in a way pleasing to God. We can make our motive to please God and not ourselves –
I was reading Henri Nouwen – when he talks about motive – “what is the most important thing about you?” We think all kinds of things – career – status – but for some it is our failure – like the AA thing – when you sit there – my name is Mike and I am an alcoholic. Some people’s image of themselves is their failure – nothing against AA and all that – I understand what they are trying to do there.
When Jesus was baptized…”This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased” – we need to see ourselves as God’s beloved children with whom He is well-pleased. Is this the way you think of yourself? Or do you think you haven’t done enough? It is kind of the goal of raising children – You are my beloved child with whom I am well-pleased. That is God’s attitude toward you. It does not matter what you did yesterday – you are his child – and it is from that that you can live to please God. You will never have a life that is motivated to please Him – when you look at how you’ve failed and how to get better. It MUST spring from the understanding that you are loved by God and He is satisfied with you. Not because of what we have done but because of what Jesus did for us.
Paul uses two sets of threes…
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.
In creating an atmosphere in a church to produce biblically healthy Christians – first there needs to be truthfulness. His theology needed to be right 0 faithful to His word. He wasn’t deceitful or tricky – trying to gain something falsely – but a deep sense of honesty and openness.
Last week Cindy, Sue, and Linda spoke – there was a deep sense of honesty there. We need to become a community that allows for that. That is how Paul was.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-- God is witness-- 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
Paul is saying – they didn’t use anybody – We want to be a church that does not ‘use up’ people. Some come to our church – what you hear from them – they were feeling ‘used up’ and have felt safe here. The orators were the rock stars of the day – But Paul says – we were different – we were safe – honest – having right motives –
6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
There is a lot here – I won’t take a lot of time on this – but Paul was saying – as an apostle – he had certain rights – but he chose not to use his rights – his leadership was not authoritarian but relational. He goes on and explains – and here is where I force the mother’s day part into the sermon!
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing [mother] tenderly cares for her own children.
Proved to be GENTLE – literally is BABES – gentle – like babes. He is using a word to show the degree of his gentleness in relating to them. In their concern and love, they were so kind. It is so hard to think of that – being gentle – we are not a gentle nation – sometimes gentle people are looked down upon and stepped on.
Then he uses 3 things when talking about a nursing mother – it shows the affection and care for these people.
Tenderly cares…
Fond affection…
Dear to us…
These are emotional words. Paul is saying – the relationship he had with the Thessalonians – that is how he described it – warm love. For a community to be a safe place, we must have that kind of attitude.
When you think about church, how often do you think along those lines? This takes it a lot deeper.
Cindy and I went to the counseling together this week – and she is helping us with emotional communication and it was enlightening to how we don’t do it. It was for my benefit – I am not good at this. As we sat there and went through this exercise – it touched her – and it did – because it was for me – something I am not good at. But that is how Paul was here – tender.
When I think of a mother – she is concerned about the well-being of her children – He imparted his life – not just the message – it is more than coming to church and being an usher, greeter, Sunday school teacher, running the soundboard. Like my grandma – “as long as you are happy” – all she wanted was for my well-being.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, [how] working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and [so is] God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
He was a person of integrity in his relationship with them before God. In light of his responsibility before God, he was a man of integrity – and before people
Blameless in all accounts
Total honesty in the relationships
Completely devoted.
That is a big example – and we won’t arrive there today – but it is the example to move toward.
11 just as you know how we [were] exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father [would] his own children,
He had the tenderness of a mother and the affections of a father. He uses this paternal language in describing his love for them. Mothers are concerned about a child’s well-being – Fathers are concerned about a child’s well-doing – to be doing right.
I think God wants us to be well – and God wants us to do good in our lives.
Paul’s approach to ministry highlights a heart of love and service.
12 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Couple of quick things to close us off – and bring us back to the original proposition –
If we are going to be a safe place, people need to feel safe and recognize their own need and brokenness. That means that we should be so welcoming, straightforward, honest, tender, gentle – of a people – look at all those words – 5 sets of threes – in this incredible atmosphere of relationship.
People can say – I can let my hair down – I’m not okay, and you’re not okay, and that’s okay! I’m a mess, you’re a mess – and we can grow together!
We need to create a community where people don’t have to feel like they are pleasing others. The way churches do that – they create a culture that expects false standards of conformity. Yes, there are levels of holiness we should attempt to achieve – there is no question about that – but when we set up expectations of conformity – they just try to please people. There was this pressure in New Testament days to act in a certain way. The Jews had it with the laws, and the Greco-Roman world had their ‘honor and shame’ culture. If you didn’t fit in just where you were supposed to – Paul was looking at that – not being someone else’s judge – and the reality – when people come into the church, they are coming because of Christ and we want them to follow Christ – and nothing else – not Grace Summit Community Church – not me – not anyone – confident that God will lead them – and that the Spirit rests inside every believer and in that we can have assurance and we don’t put on them what God has not put on them. It is not just a bad thing, but evil – we need to understand that.
In closing – we need to be able to encourage them to move forward – let’s grow – let’s move forward – let’s transform our lives. Paul began this – God has changed you – you were changed – and it can continue – don’t go back!