These are the blueprints – the plans - for our new sanctuary.  Now I am the first to admit that I don’t read these very easily.  I don’t understand all that is on them.  But I sure am glad that Dan Varnum and Tom Flitch and their crews, and others, know exactly how to read them and to apply what is on them.  Otherwise we might end up with a three-walled, no windows, crooked and maybe even upside down and unusable sanctuary.

            In a similar way, Paul’s ministry at Thessalonica is a blueprint.  In his letters to the Thessalonians and especially in these particular verses, Paul gives us the detail of his blueprint for life.   I think Paul’s blueprint is so much easier to read. It is even easier to understand than these Building Blueprints.  Perhaps for some though-it is more difficult to apply.   Paul walks us through.

To bring you up to date, remember that in July and August we heard about the smear campaign against Paul and the others who came to minister in Thessalonica.  Their critics were determined to discredit them in any way they could.  In his writings, Paul reassures the new believers at Thessalonica that his – and Silas and Timothy’s - visit with them has not been a failure.   Paul assures these men and women that their new faith in Jesus Christ is a right decision.  He encourages them to continue to hold on to their new faith and way of life.

Remember, this is one of Paul’s most personal and caring letters.  Here he shares with his readers at Thessalonica - and with us, about his mind – how he thinks.  He also expresses his emotions and bares his soul.  Paul does this because the truth of the gospel and the future of the church are at stake.   Because we are a priesthood of all believers, this message is one for each of us. 

And yet we find the first thing Paul talks about is a burden.  Life is never easy, is it?  The burden Paul speaks of is the demands that power or authority can make.  These missionaries could have pressed this congregation to do certain things – meaning - house them, feed them, care for their every need during their visit, even to support them financially.  This is because of their apostolic authority – that is, their authority and calling from God.

Instead of making their “apostolic or missionary weight” felt, Paul and Silas choose to express their authority in a much different manner.   Paul identifies with the power and strength of maternal love and care, specifically gentleness.  

We have several new moms – and dads – in our congregation.  As I am sure you know, a nursing mom is gentle.  She is focused on her child.  When dads bottle feed their babies they, too, are gentle (perhaps not quite as focused, but gentle).  This very act of feeding, especially nursing, is life-giving.  It is giving part of herself, literally from within. Yes, Paul, this manly man chooses to be gentle in this same life-giving way to the Thessalonians.  

Now the Greek definition of gentleness is “power under control.”  That Greek description comes with a word picture of a very powerful horse that has been tamed.  So gentleness is also like a wild horse with its power in check.  

I personally think one of the most beautiful creatures is a horse.  I suppose that’s why the old television shows like My Friend Flicka, National Velvet or Fury – and the more recent films, Black Beauty, and Hildalgo – all hold a dear place in my heart.   When the horse-ie set – and you know who you are – describes horses that have been tamed, they refer to the horse as having been “gentled.”  To break a horse is to “gentle” that horse.  The horse is still a powerful force.  But now that force is under control. 

In this, Paul tells us that when God “gentles” us, we become powerful under His control.  So whatever difficulties the Thessalonians may have presented to Paul and Silas as new believers, these two missionaries recognize that these new Christians have not grown up yet.  They have not matured in their faith.  So rather than deal with the new Christians, with a heavy hand - in an authoritarian manner, Paul gently and lovingly gives life to their spiritual development.  Paul chooses for God’s power to be patient, kind, affectionate, and life giving – that is, gentle like a good mother.   The power like a mother’s gentleness helps to develop the child to be a healthy and balanced person.   The power of God’s gentleness helps to develop us to be healthy and strong believers.  Then we are to allow God’s power in us to show God’s gentleness to others.

Gentleness is just one way we are to show God’s love.  It has been said that to Paul, love is always a verb…an action verb at that.  So showing God’s love for Paul is always doing something.   As Paul’s behavior is gentle, his action of love is to share his daily life with these people.   Sometimes it is easier to share our lives, isn’t it?  By that I mean that sometimes we may say or think:  “My co-workers, staff, family and friends, know I am a Christian because of how I live my life.  That is my witness.”  That’s fine.  However, non-believers live good and giving lives also.  So what’s the difference?  Paul tells us.  He does not stop with sharing his life.   As a matter of fact, he does not even begin there.  He says they are “delighted to share with these men and women not only the gospel of God,” but also their lives.  So sharing the gospel of God is first.  We need to have the priority of sharing Christ with others.  It is not an either/or proposition.

As new members, non-members, seekers, non-Christians, mature Christians, we need to hear the truth of Jesus.  We need to learn what it means to trust and follow Jesus Christ.  That is one very important reason we offer the Sunday School Hour – for all ages.   In the winter quarter of 2006 (we don’t plan ahead here), one of the adult classes, Pastor Dave and Moses Pulei will be team teaching on Friendship Evangelism.  This will be a great time of learning how to be more comfortable and competent in sharing with others about Jesus Christ.  It will be a time to learn how to apply what you hear and learn in worship and in Sunday School and your small groups. I encourage to consider attending that class come January.

But now back to Paul.  Paul chooses to share another aspect of his blueprint of life with the Thessalonians, and us.  As I said Paul and his colleagues could have insisted on financial support while they were there.  During that era, when philosophers and speakers traveled from place to place teaching and speaking, they were usually paid by their followers.  Paul could have taken advantage of that cultural practice. 

I think it is interesting that Paul places this bit about working hard and not accepting payment, right in the middle of this more touchy-feely, emotional section.  It appears that Paul’s teaching intention includes teaching this young church what it means to be a tireless worker, not just the how.  As we will see in Chapter 3 (7-13), there seems to be some laziness going on in this congregation.   That is possibly because they have not matured in their faith.  Paul and his colleagues are examples of hard workers – toiling and not being afraid of hardship - working night and day for Christ.  Living and sharing the gospel message of Christ is not always easy.  But that is not to stop us.  Paul’s model of hard work for the sake of the church is for us as well.

 Paul continues to share candidly.  He tells us he knows that people watch him, and watch the new believers there, and watch us.  People have that right.  So Paul calls on these new believers themselves as witnesses to what he is about – and to what he says.  If anyone could dispute what he says it would be these people.  Remember, Paul lived with them shoulder to shoulder, he helped clean out their drains, helped get their lawn mowers going – even if it meant tethering the family goat.  I imagine he helped pack their homes when they were moving.  I bet he helped white wash the walls of some of the homes.  He ate cheese and olive pizza with them.  He probably had more than one cup of Starbuck’s Turkish coffee with them.  He sat with their sick and dying.   These people know Paul.               Then Paul goes one further.   Paul also calls God as his witness.  Paul knows that, above all, he is answerable to God.  God is always able to see deep within our heart.   We cannot hide much when we live day in and day out with the same people.  We cannot hide anything from God.  We as Christians, leaders, youth, church-goers, will always be examined to see if our words match the way we live our Christian life. 

So with this backing, even support of unquestionable witnesses in these converts themselves, and God, Paul goes on to make some very strong claims.  He characterizes himself and his colleagues as holy, righteous and blameless.  Very strong claims, indeed!   Now, whether Paul intends or not, he has been giving us a concise definition of integrity.  He sums up that definition here.  In future sermons in this series we will go into more detail of each, but for suffice it for now that for Paul, and us, holy has to do with being devout.  That is, being devout, that is intentional, in our behavior toward God.  Righteousness or just is moral correctness.  It means doing what God defines as just and good and right.  They were just in their behavior toward the Thessalonians.  And, blameless does not mean perfection.  Rather it means a life characterized by godly habits - in the tough times, and the good times.   That includes being up-to-date on confession before God and apologies and right relationships with people.  

This is how Paul refers back to the charges leveled against them about flattering speech, greed, seeking glory for themselves.   Paul says he and his colleagues have nothing to fear in the face of these charges, because of the complete quality of their behavior and integrity in all dimensions of the way they live out their blueprint of life.  As we live in Christ, call on Christ for help, we also have these characteristics.

What we see in all of this, is that Paul believes that one of his basic responsibilities is to support these new converts in their Christian life.  Because he writes in the present tense, it is implied his leadership and support are on going.   Paul began this section with a parenting illustration.  Then he talks about living with integrity, with people and with God.  He closes it with another parenting illustration.  Paul tells us that his ongoing support resembles that of a good father.  Let me remind you that Paul was not a father, although he considered Timothy his spiritual son, and treated him as his birth son.  Whether we are parents or one day hope to be, or never will be, we each have parents.  Some of those parenting examples are good and some are, well, not so good.  Paul gives us these good examples specifically for how we should be living out our witness as Christians in Christ.

So Paul’s ongoing support includes encouraging these new believers as would good father.  This is a heart-felt term that is not a one-time shot-in-the-arm just to make a person feel better.  It is the strong support and trust that gives courage to the one who might be hesitant in their own faith with Jesus. That could be any of us from time to time.  As Christian we need to be filled with courage again and again – as a matter of practice.  This way we are emboldened – we can be bold – in what we know is right in our walk with God…and then carry through.  

Good parents comfort their children.  Paul comforts these new Christians.  To comfort someone is a gentle empathy.   This is such a strong message for each of us.  There is encouragement in the very act of comforting.  The demands of discipleship are rigorous.  To be a committed follower of Jesus Christ is always costly.  Failure is a regular part of the Christian life.  There is no such thing as a perfect Christian.  So giving comfort to those who are weary in their Christian walk is a part of our blueprint of life for Christ.

Paul also uses firmness as he implores or exhorts these new Christians.  In this Paul earnestly urges these men and women, like a good father, toward the clear path of what is right in Christ.  Remember, these people have recently been won from pagan idol worship.  So Paul urges and leads them, and us, through the maze of emotions and conflicts, which often confuse issues.  Paul has a clear and earnest view of the situation of living in Christ – as a way of life.  He asks nothing less of the Thessalonians, he asks nothing less of us,  than what he asks of himself.  We are to live life in Christ because it is the right thing to do.  

Why does Paul tell us to be gentle, encouraging, comforting.  Why does Paul want us to be firm in our urging others to walk the right path in Christ?  Why is it important for us to have integrity with others, and with God?  Why are we to be   always working hard for the gospel of Christ, whether in our marriages, our parenting, our families and our workplaces, schools, neighborhoods and our friends?  

Well, Paul tells us his motivation in verse 12.  Paul says we are to live this life worthy of God.  In this, Paul is no doubt reminded of Christ.  In a very real way Christ’s all-powerful, all-sacrificing and all-action love is the embodiment of gentleness and firmness.  Jesus always had integrity with God, His Father.  Jesus always had integrity in how He treated people.    So as we walk in Jesus Christ we are to help each person see what it means to “live lives worthy of God….”  

You see, it is God who calls us, into His way of life – that is God’s kingdom right here on earth.   The kingdom of God is more than a concept.  It is a present reality.  It is neither political nor geographic.  It is not even religion.  The kingdom is something that happens within us as we commit ourselves to God in Jesus.  Here we all learn from Paul that we are to serve as examples of right living and dedication to God and God’s people – in every day living.  The kingdom is here and now.  Just like the Thessalonians then, you and I are the presence of Christ in this time and age and in this place.  God is always calling us to live His Blueprint of life.  Then we are to show and share His kingdom and glory wherever we are.