1Th2:9-12 The Father's Heart of Discipleship

# The Father's Heart of Discipleship
## 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12

---

# What is a **good father** like?

[###](#/outline)

>>>
+ work hard, earn **money**?
  + throw **football** with kids?
  + obey **wife** + don't **mess up**?
+ not many good **role models**
+ look at one who never had **kids**
  + ⇒ **mentored** many
  + learn about **heavenly Father's** love toward us
  + applies to **all**, not just fathers

---
<span class="ref">9</span>
For you remember, brothers, <br/>
our **labor** and **toil**:

we worked **night** and **day**,<br/>
that we might not be a **burden** to any of you,

while we **proclaimed** to you the gospel of God.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)
</div>

---
<span class="ref">10</span>
You are **witnesses**, and God also, <br/>
how **holy** and **righteous** and **blameless** <br/>
was our **conduct** toward you believers.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV)
</div>

---
<span class="ref">11</span>
For you know how, <br/>
like a **father** with his children,

<span class="ref">12</span>
we **exhorted** each one of you <br/>
and **encouraged** you and **charged** you

to **walk** in a manner worthy of God, <br/>
who **calls** you into his own kingdom and glory.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV)
</div>

---

## Father's Heart of Discipleship
1. Fruitful **Labour** <span class="ref">(v9)</span>
2. Training for **Holiness** <span class="ref">(v10)</span>
3. The Father's **Comfort** <span class="ref">(v11-12)</span>

---

For you remember, brothers, <br/>
our **labor** and **toil**:

we **worked** night and day, <br/>
that we might not be a **burden** to any of you,

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ supporting nouns + participle:
  + *"labor"* (κόπον): beating, trouble, tired
  + *"toil"* (μόχθον): hardship, difficulty, distress
  + *"working"*: i.e., tents
  + not to **burden** (ἐπιβαρῆσαί) any of you

---

in **toil** and **hardship**,  <br/>
through many a **sleepless** night,  <br/>
in **hunger** and thirst, often without food,  <br/>
in **cold** and exposure.

<span class="ref">28</span>
And, apart from other things,  <br/>
there is the daily **pressure** on me <br/>
of my **anxiety** for all the **churches**.

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 11:27-28 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ but "work" is only **participle** (*"working"*)
  + main verb is:

---

while we **proclaimed** to you the gospel of God.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:9 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ main verb: *"preached"* (ἐκηρύξαμεν): **herald** / proclaim out

---

If I am to **live** in the flesh, <br/>
that means **fruitful labor** for me ...

<span class="ref">25</span>
Convinced of this, I know that I will **remain** <br/>
and **continue** with you all,  <br/>
for your **progress** and **joy** in the faith

<div class="ref">
Philippians 1:22,25 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ what gives **strength** to persevere?
+ labour is **fruitful**
+ for children's **progress** + **joy**
  + not in academics
  + not in having faith in general
  + "the faith": trust in Christ

---

# Does my **labour** proclaim the **gospel**?

---

## Father's Heart of Discipleship
1. Fruitful Labour <span class="ref">(v9)</span>
2. **Training for Holiness** <span class="ref">(v10)</span>
3. The Father's Comfort <span class="ref">(v11-12)</span>

---

how **holy** and **righteous** and **blameless** <br/>
was our **conduct** toward you believers.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:10 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ all adverbs:
+ *"holily"* (ὁσίως): pious/moral/duty
  + by inner principles / religion (e.g., man's law)
  + LXX: faithful to covenant
+ *"righteously"* (δικαίως): by God's standard
+ *"blamelessly"* (ἀμέμπτως)
+ main verb is (ἐγενήθημεν) aorist passive, "were become": God did it
  + Christ's **grace**
  + not by **own** strength

---

While **bodily training** is of some value,  <br/>
**godliness** is of value in every way,

as it holds promise for the **present** life  <br/>
and also for the **life to come**.

<div class="ref">
1 Timothy 4:8 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ e.g., D gout pain, swearing, praying:
  + **teaching** us how to **cope** with extreme **stress** beyond what we can bear
  + ⇒ **seek** out opportunities to show own weakness

---

# Do I **train** that God might make me more **holy**?

>>>
+ interplay between **active** + **passive**:
+ I **train**, just as exercise
+ God **refines** me to be **holy**, **righteous**, **blameless**

---

## Father's Heart of Discipleship
1. Fruitful Labour <span class="ref">(v9)</span>
2. Training for Holiness <span class="ref">(v10)</span>
3. **The Father's Comfort** <span class="ref">(v11-12)</span>

---

<span class="ref">11</span>
For you know how, <br/>
like a **father** with his children,

<span class="ref">12</span>
we **exhorted** each one of you <br/>
and **encouraged** you and **charged** you

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ individual attention: *`ena 'ekaston* ("each of you"): each and every one
+ all present participle nominative:
  + *"encouraging"* (παρακαλοῦντες): called alongside
  + *"comforting"* (παραμυθούμενοι): speech / narrative to console (of past) or admonish (of future): amongst human
+ e.g., I'm scary when angry
  + *"urging"* (μαρτυρόμενοι): testifying

---

to **walk** in a manner worthy of God, <br/>
who **calls** you into his own kingdom and glory.

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:12 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ purpose is to **walk** (περιπατεῖν, "live lives") worthy of God
  + hope is into His own kingdom & glory
+ proof is in them: "you remember", "you are witnesses", "you have known"

---

And you show that you are <br/>
a **letter** from Christ delivered by us,

written not with **ink** but with <br/>
the **Spirit** of the living God,

not on tablets of **stone** <br/>
but on tablets of human **hearts**.

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 3:3 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ letter of recommendation

---

For what is our **hope** or **joy** <br/>
or **crown** of boasting <br/>
before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

Is it not **you**?

<div class="ref">
1 Thessalonians 2:19 (ESV)
</div>

---

# Do I **encourage**, **comfort**, and **testify** to my children in the Lord?

>>>
+ such that their daily **walk**
  + is **worthy** of God who **calls** them?

---

For you know how, <br/>
like a **father** with his children,

<span class="ref">12</span>
we **exhorted** each one of you <br/>
and **encouraged** you and **charged** you

to **walk** in a manner worthy of God, <br/>
who **calls** you into his own kingdom and glory.

---