How to Recognize a Gospel Teacher
Intro:
1. How about someone who comes to your door, gives you literature & volunteers to have Bible studies in your home?
2. How about going to other churches who don’t teach the way you were taught about certain doctrines?
3. How about the preacher on the street or on television?
4. How do you know who’s right? Look at their character!
I Thessalonians 2:1-16
I. v3 - Character a Gospel Teacher Would Not Have
A. His appeal would not be from error.
1. Error (πλάνη) = Lit. to wander around, deception, delusion, perversion, (KJV) deceit.
2. Gospel teachers have been accused of being mentally deranged because their teaching is contrary to the generally accepted flow of their culture.
a. Paul. Act 26:24 - At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
b. Even the Lord’s family accused Him. Mk 3:20-21 - Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
c. We Christians, because we are different from the flow of society, appear to them to be a little weird!
3. Many false teachers deceive themselves into thinking what they proclaim is gospel truth.
B. His appeal would not be from impure motives.
1. Impure motives (ἀκαθαρσία) = (KJV) uncleanness, immorality, filth, has the idea of sexual impurity.
2. This idea was not unfounded: Christians were accused of uncleanness because they were known to have “love feasts” (potluck suppers & communion services) & greeted one another with “a holy kiss” (5:25).
a. Nasty minds interpret rumors in a nasty way!
b. Actually it was the false teachers whose lives were inconsistent with their teachings.
c. The Lord called them hypocrites for that reason. (Matt 6:2, 5 & 16)
C. His appeal would not trick others.
1. Trick (δόλος) = bait, deceive, set a trap for.
2. v5 - He wouldn’t use flattering words.
3. Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945 - "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.
II. v7-12 - Character a Gospel Teacher Would Have
A. v2 - He teaches with boldness.
1. Paul had been imprisoned in Philippi because of his preaching. ILL: The Philippian Jailor
(Act 16:16-34)
2. Even when persecuted, Paul preached with boldness.
3. Boldness is not arrogance - it’s courageous.
4. When you have a passion for what you say, it shows.
B. v7-8 - He teaches with gentleness.
1. v7 - The analogy here - a mother nursing her baby.
2. v8 - In this way, gospel teachers nourish their students with the milk of the word. I Pet 2:2-3 - Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
C. v10-11 - He teaches with a consistent life to back up his message. ILL: Make Me Like Joe!
1. v11 - The analogy here - the example of a loving father to his children.
2. ILL: “Live & Learn” (Read).
D. v12 - He teaches by encouraging, comforting & urging.
1. Encourage (παρακαλέω) = to call to, exhort, invite.
2. Urge (μαρτύρομαι) = to witness, bear personal testimony (martyr).
III. v13-16 - The Result of the Gospel Teacher’s Teaching
A. v13 - His teaching will be received as God’s teachings.
1. ILL: The Sower & the Seed (Matt 13:1-23).
2. The condition of the heart - the soil - determines how the seed would produce.
3. The Thessalonians were the good soil & received the teaching as the word of God.
4. 1:7 - The Thessalonians had probably only been Christians for less than a year, but the fruit of the gospel produced a faith that was a model for other churches!
B. v14-16 - His teaching will produce fruit in committed lives.
1. The church can grow even when persecuted. ILL: When Glory Shines Through.
2. v16 - Salvation is the result of teaching the gospel message!
How do you recognize a gospel teacher?
Look at their character!
http://biblelifemessages.org/