2010-04-25
2 Thessalonians
Conclusion
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction
Compact package of the church: faith, love and hope, unity, sharing their lives and... They get to participate in the greatest cause in all of eternity. Should we not pursue...
2 Thessalonians 2: 1 - 3 "You are not in the middle of the Day of the Lord. It is no here." They were being distracted and unsettled. Live for the purposes of God, and fulfill...
Consider the steadfastness of Christ and step in the river of God's love.

B. Keep Away from the Brother who is Idle

There is a problem going on in the body, even though Paul had warned them.
2 Thessalonians 3: 6 - 15
The problem is that some of the people are being unruly, or undisciplined—specifically in the area of idleness.
Their reason was that they were expecting the imminent return of Christ.
Being an unnecessary burden and distraction.

C. Some are Unruly and Undisciplined
Military terms. These idle ones are out of step with the Spirit-led flow.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11 - 12 1 Thessalonians 5: 14
Philippians 1: 27 To be unruly or idle is to be out of rank.
Matthew 18: 15 It certainly seems Paul is encouraging church discipline.
"Don't get caught up with them, or entangled with them."
Not yet a 1 Corinthians 5 situation

D. How to Handle Busy Bodies
The idle ones are probably appealing to those who have mercy.
"You need to go to the person you are talking to me about." (Gentleness)
The body as a whole, handling these things, can keep us on track with our calling.
1 Timothy 5: 13
(Verses 7 - 10) Paul uses the missionary team as an example.
Our lives are to be salt and light (Colossians 4: 2 - 6 and Matthew 5)
(Verse 13) They were possibly tiring of carrying the load. Don't tire of doing good.
1 Thessalonians 1: 3 Use discernment, but keep laying down your life for the sake of the call.

E. Being a Disciple Requires Discipline
(Verses 11 - 13) A more common form of idleness: spiritual idleness.
Ataktos: Idle, unruly, undisciplined, disorderly (military terms)
You can be very busy, but idling spiritually. Are you hearing from God and responding?
Isaiah 50: 4 - 5 Do you get quiet enough for long enough to hear?
The individual parts must be hearing from the Head or the unity falls apart.
To be unruly and undisciplined is to refuse the yoke of Christ.
Matthew 11: 28 - 29 2 Timothy 2: 4 Is your life ordered around plowing in His field?

F. Final Greetings

2 Thessalonians 3: 16 - 18