HOW TO RECOGNIZE A GOSPEL TEACHER. I Thessalonians 2:1-4 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been

HOW TO HOW TO RECOGNIZE A RECOGNIZE A

GOSPEL GOSPEL TEACHERTEACHER

I Thessalonians 2:1-4I Thessalonians 2:1-4

You know, brothers, that our visit to you was You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong you his gospel in spite of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.our hearts.


You know we never used flattery, nor did we You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed — God is put on a mask to cover up greed — God is our witness. We were not looking for praise our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else. As from men, not from you or anyone else. As apostles of Christ we could have been a apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.because you had become so dear to us.


Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. who calls you into his kingdom and glory.


And we also thank God continually because, And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.God, which is at work in you who believe.


For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.them at last.

How do you know who’s right?How do you know who’s right?

Look at his character!Look at his character!

I. Character a Gospel Teacher Would I. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Not Have Not Have - v3- v3

A. His appeal would not be from A. His appeal would not be from error. error.

I. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Not HaveI. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Not Have

A. His appeal would not be from A. His appeal would not be from error.error.

1. 1. ErrorError ( (πλάνηπλάνη) = to wander ) = to wander around, so deception, delusion, around, so deception, delusion, perversion, deceit.perversion, deceit.



2. What have gospel teachers 2. What have gospel teachers been accused of in the past?been accused of in the past?




Acts 26:24 - At this point Festus interrupted Acts 26:24 - At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mindout of your mind, , Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insanedriving you insane.”.”




Mark 3:20-21 - Then Jesus entered a house, Mark 3:20-21 - Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “to take charge of him, for they said, “He is He is out of his mindout of his mind.”.”



3. Many false teachers deceive 3. Many false teachers deceive themselves into believing what themselves into believing what they proclaim is gospel truth.they proclaim is gospel truth.



B. His appeal would not be from B. His appeal would not be from impure motives.impure motives.



1. 1. Impure motives Impure motives ((ἀκαθαρσίαἀκαθαρσία) = ) = uncleanness, immorality, filth, uncleanness, immorality, filth, sexual impurity.sexual impurity.


2. Christians were accused of 2. Christians were accused of uncleanness because:uncleanness because:

a. They had “love feasts” a. They had “love feasts” (communion services)(communion services)

b. They greeted one another b. They greeted one another with “a holy kiss”.with “a holy kiss”.- I Thessalonians 5:25.- I Thessalonians 5:25.




C. His appeal would not trick C. His appeal would not trick others.others.



1. 1. TrickTrick ( (δόλοςδόλος) = to bait, ) = to bait, deceive, deceive, set a trap for.set a trap for.



1. 1. TrickTrick ( (δόλοςδόλος) = to bait, ) = to bait, deceive, deceive, set a trap for.set a trap for.

2. He wouldn’t use 2. He wouldn’t use flatteringflattering words.words.



II. Character a Gospel Teacher II. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Have Would Have - v7-12- v7-12

A. He teaches with A. He teaches with boldnessboldness..I Thessalonians 2:2 - We had previously I Thessalonians 2:2 - We had previously

suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God you know, but with the help of our God we we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong oppositionstrong opposition..

II. Character a Gospel Teacher Would HaveII. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Have

A. He teaches with A. He teaches with boldnessboldness..

1. Paul was imprisoned in 1. Paul was imprisoned in Philippi because of his teaching.Philippi because of his teaching.

Acts 16:16-34Acts 16:16-34



1. Paul was imprisoned in 1. Paul was imprisoned in Philippi because of his teaching.Philippi because of his teaching.

2. This is not arrogance - it’s 2. This is not arrogance - it’s courageouscourageous!!



B. He teaches with B. He teaches with gentlenessgentleness..I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were gentlegentle

among you, like a mother caring for her among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.because you had become so dear to us.


B. He teaches with B. He teaches with gentlenessgentleness..

1. What is the analogy here?1. What is the analogy here?I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were gentle I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were gentle

among you, among you, like a mother caring for her like a mother caring for her little childrenlittle children. We loved you so much that . We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.because you had become so dear to us.


2. How do gospel teachers 2. How do gospel teachers nourish their students?nourish their students?

I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were gentle I Thessalonians 2:7-8 - but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted we were delighted to share with you not to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as wellonly the gospel of God but our lives as well, , because you had become so dear to us.because you had become so dear to us.


2. How do gospel teachers 2. How do gospel teachers nourish their students?nourish their students?

I Peter 2:2-3 - I Peter 2:2-3 - Like newborn babies, crave pure Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milkspiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up , so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. that the Lord is good.




C. He teaches with a C. He teaches with a consistentconsistent life. life.I Thessalonians 2:10-11 - You are witnesses, I Thessalonians 2:10-11 - You are witnesses,

and so is God, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who blameless we were among you who believedbelieved. For you know that we dealt with . For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own each of you as a father deals with his own children.children.


C. He teaches with a C. He teaches with a consistentconsistent life. life.

1. What’s the analogy here?1. What’s the analogy here?I Thessalonians 2:10-11 - You are witnesses, I Thessalonians 2:10-11 - You are witnesses,

and so is God, of how holy, righteous and and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you each of you as a father deals with his own as a father deals with his own childrenchildren..



2. Is anyone learning any of these 2. Is anyone learning any of these things from you?things from you?





D. He teaches by D. He teaches by encouragementencouragement, , comfortingcomforting & & urgingurging..

I Thessalonians 2:12 - I Thessalonians 2:12 - encouragingencouraging, , comfortingcomforting and and urgingurging you to live lives worthy of God, you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.who calls you into his kingdom and glory.



1. 1. EncourageEncourage ( (παρακαλέωπαρακαλέω) = ) = to to call to, exhort, invite.call to, exhort, invite.



1. 1. EncourageEncourage ( (παρακαλέωπαρακαλέω) = ) = to call to, exhort, invite.to call to, exhort, invite.

2. 2. UrgeUrge ( (μαρτύρομαιμαρτύρομαι) = to ) = to witness, bear personal testimony.witness, bear personal testimony.



II. Character a Gospel Teacher II. Character a Gospel Teacher Would Have Would Have - v7-12- v7-12

III. The Result of the Gospel III. The Result of the Gospel Teacher’s Teaching Teacher’s Teaching - v13-16- v13-16

A. His teaching will be received as A. His teaching will be received as God’sGod’s teachings. teachings.

I Thessalonians 2:13 - And we also thank God I Thessalonians 2:13 - And we also thank God continually because, when you received the continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, word of God, which you heard from us, you you acceptedaccepted it not it not asas the word of men, but as it the word of men, but as it actually is, actually is, the word of Godthe word of God, which is at , which is at work in you who believe.work in you who believe.

III. The Result of the Gospel Teacher’s Teaching.III. The Result of the Gospel Teacher’s Teaching.


1. “The Sower & the Seed” 1. “The Sower & the Seed” Matthew 13:1-23Matthew 13:1-23




a. What determines how a. What determines how the the seed will produce?seed will produce?




b. Theyb. They received it as the received it as the word of God!word of God!

I Thessalonians 1:7 - And so you became a I Thessalonians 1:7 - And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.Achaia.


B. His teaching will produce B. His teaching will produce fruitfruit..I Thessalonians 2:14-16 - For you, brothers, I Thessalonians 2:14-16 - For you, brothers,

became imitators of God’s churches in became imitators of God’s churches in JudeaJudea, which are in Christ Jesus: , which are in Christ Jesus: You You sufferedsuffered from your own countrymen the from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.prophets and also drove us out.


B. His teaching will produce B. His teaching will produce fruitfruit..

1. The church can grow even 1. The church can grow even when when persecutedpersecuted..


B. His teaching will produce B. His teaching will produce fruitfruit..I Thessalonians 2:16 - . . . in their effort to keep I Thessalonians 2:16 - . . . in their effort to keep

us from speaking to the Gentiles us from speaking to the Gentiles so that so that they may be savedthey may be saved..


How do you recognizeHow do you recognize

a gospel teacher?a gospel teacher?

Look at his character!Look at his character!

Documents

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A GOSPEL TEACHER. I Thessalonians 2:1-4 You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been