Congregations of Christians can have a powerful positive (or negative) influence as congregations. That does not mean everyone in a congregation is good and spiritually mature or bad and spiritually immature. Consider 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 4 as compared to 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 and consider Revelation 3:1-6 as examples. Evidently the congregation at Thessalonica had a powerful (good) influence as a congregation (consider 1 Thessalonians 1:8). Evidently the congregation in Sardis had a powerful negative influence, discouraging others who placed faith in Jesus Christ, because they claimed to be spiritually alive but were spiritually dead.
[Christians in the first century often used the word “church” in some ways we of today do not use it. For example, what we commonly refer to as a “congregation” they might call a “church.”]
Most Christians are familiar with the importance of a congregation’s reputation. If you as a Christian are visiting, you likely will be asked, “Where do you attend church?” If you respond to that question and your response meets with silence, it usually means one of two things. Either the asker never heard of that congregation, or the asker is trying politely to ignore your response. If the asker responds in a disapproving fashion, “Oh—you go there,” the asker has a negative view of “that congregation.” If the asker responds, “I have heard about your wonderful mission work (or benevolent work, or inner-city outreach, etc.)” the asker has a positive view of what the congregation is known for. Regardless of the response or if the response is correct, you are reminded that the congregation’s reputation has an immediate impact on others and on you. A congregation does lead through its work and the reputation that work generates!
Consider today’s texts. In the two letters to the congregation in Thessalonica, this congregation was widely known for the loving way they cared for each other. Faith in Jesus Christ drew them together. Every congregation in a large area knew them. Even Christians they did not know heard about them. This congregation was so well known for its faith and love that Paul did not need to say to other Christians, “Have you heard about the relationships in the congregation at Thessalonica?” (See 1 Thessalonians 1:8.)
However, this congregation was not known for its correct understanding of the resurrected Jesus’ return. They thought if a Christian died before Jesus Christ returned, the Christian lost his eternal blessings (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). They were convinced that Jesus Christ was returning soon (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5).
Their misunderstandings of Jesus Christ’s return contributed significantly to their problems. Some Christians concluded there was no need to have a job because others would take care of them until Jesus returned. Some of these Christians lived undisciplined lives (idleness often results in foolish involvements and thoughtless decisions). Some had so much time that they meddled in others’ affairs (idle people tend to be full of “expert advice”). Some knew too much about everyone, so they filled their time with gossip and gossiping (the “I know more than you know” attitude tends to invent things to say best left unsaid).
Two things are worthy of notation and remembrance. (1) Christians everywhere can be wonderfully correct about some things and woefully wrong about others. We all are a mixed bag of correct and incorrect. We are not accepted by God because we are l00% correct, but because we are forgiven. Read 1 John 1:5-10 and be sure to note verse 10. All of us need forgiveness—continually!
(2) There is always room for spiritual growth and development! No matter how correct we are about some matters, we can be certain that we are misguided in other matters. Do not allow your ignorance or your convictions to deceive you! Always be willing to learn and to grow.
In 2 Corinthians 8, congregations in unbelievable poverty taught congregations much better off about the attitude of generosity. These Christians were so poor that Paul saw them as candidates for Christian benevolence. They amazed Paul. Why? They refused to be left out of a gift to those in need in Jerusalem. They did not merely give sacrificially. Paul said they gave what they should not have given.
Why did they act this way? They had first given themselves to the Lord. When they understood what Paul sought to do, they understood how that act could achieve God’s will. Because they belonged to the Lord, they had to be involved—even if involvement meant giving what they had no business giving.
Their poverty only heightened the power and impressiveness of what they did. Their example still teaches us 2000 years later what it means to belong to the Lord.
The number one point: congregations lead by influencing other Christians in other places through the attitudes and the works of those congregations. Personally, use your life and your involvements to allow your congregation to be a positive encouragement to Christians in other places. Help the congregation be a people that others in the community wish to be in—may we attract people to Jesus Christ by revealing the positive impact Jesus Christ has on us.
For Thought and Discussion
1. Is every person in a good congregation good or in a bad congregation bad? Use 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 4 compared to 3:6-12 and use Revelation 3:1-6 as an illustration.
2. Use this lesson to illustrate that first-century Christians did not always use “church” as we do.
3. Discuss the importance of a congregation’s reputation.
4. The congregation at Thessalonica was known for what? How well known was it for these positive qualities?
5. For what was this congregation NOT known? What did they think would happen to Christians who died before Jesus’ return?
6. When did they think the resurrected Jesus would return?
7. Discuss 4 ways this incorrect understanding of Jesus’ return significantly impacted their error.
8. What two things are worth noting and remembering?
a.
b.
9. Discuss the poor congregations in 2 Corinthians 8.
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 5