Family Ties:
Living Together as a Healthy Local Church
Part Two:
Caring For Each Other(1 Thessalonians 5:13-15)
Dr. Jim Cecy
Introduction:
1 Thess. 5:12-22 “But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among
you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly
in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with
evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not
quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that
which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” (NASB)
Review of Part One: Caring For Our Leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)
Now in Part Two: Caring For Each Other (1 Thessalonians 5:13-15)
1 Thess. 5:13b-15 “Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage
the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil,
but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
The Seven Commandments for Caring for People
Commandment #1
Thou shalt continually live in peace with one another
“…Live in peace with one another.” (1 Thess. 5:13)
• Whereas, God designed the local church to be a blessed experience of feasting and fellowshipping in too
many churches, it is a time of feuding and fighting.
• Gal. 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”
• No church family can grow spiritually without its members being at peace among themselves.
• We are being commanded to not just MAKE peace but to MAINTAIN peace among ourselves.
• Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."
(Eph. 4:1-3, 14-16, 25-27, 29-32)
• Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God."
• "Make me an instrument of Your peace.” (Francis of Assisi)
Commandment #2
Thou shalt continually admonish the unruly
1 Thess. 5:14 “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly…”
• unruly = Greek: ataktous = speaks of a soldier who has stepped out of rank/out of step.
• admonish = Greek: noutheteo = warn them, put some sense into their head, bring to their minds the
consequences of what they are doing
• 1 Thess. 5:14 “…admonish (warn and seriously advise) those who are out of line – the loafers, the
disorderly and the unruly…” (The Amplified Bible)
• Col. 3:16 “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one
another…”
Commandment #3
Thou shalt continually encourage the fainthearted
1 Thess 5:14b “….encourage the fainthearted…”
• fainthearted = Greek: oligopsuchous = little souls/discouraged/frightened
• encourage = Greek: paramutheomai = called along side to cheer up (i.e. share the good news)
• Prov. 15:30 “Bright eyes gladden the heart; good news puts fat on the bones.”
• Prov. 25:25 Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.”
1
• The Good News of the Gospel (Jn. 10:10)
• The Good News that they are not alone (Is. 40:9)
• The Good News that God is still in charge (Is. 52:7)
• The Good News of the promises of God (Acts 13:32)
• The Good News that God has a wonderful plan for their lives (Jer. 29:11; Rom 8:28)
• The Good News that we as a church family are here to help
Commandment #4
Thou shalt continually help the weak
1 Thess. 5:14 “…help the weak…” = Greek: ton asthenon = those without strength
• Help = Greek: antechesthe = keep oneself directly opposite the weak ones/sustain them/support
them/cling to them/hold on to them cf. Romans 15:1
• “Instead of letting the weak brother drift away and finally vanish altogether, the Christian community
should make a deliberate attempt to grapple him to the church in such a way that he cannot escape.”\
cf. 1 Cor. 12:22-26
Commandment #5.
Thou shalt continually be patient with everyone
1 Thess. 5:14d “…be patient with everyone.”
• Patience is one of the attributes of God (1 Pet. 3:20)…one of the nuances of true love (1 Cor 13:4)…and
one of the fruit of Holy Spirit’s ministry in our lives (Gal 5:22)
• The problem is not in our understanding of patience but in our being patient.
• Eph. 4:1-2; Col 3:12-13; 1 Tim. 1:15-16; Eph 4:32
Commandment #6.
evil
Thou shalt continually see that no one repays another evil for
1 Thess. 5:15 “See that no one repays another with evil for evil…”
• Vengeance is one of the strongest impulses of human nature. Every one of us is born with a heart of
retaliation
• Matt. 5:38-29 "You have heard that it was said, ' An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth' But I say to
you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
• Rom. 12:17-20 “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If
possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but
leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. But if
your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning
coals on his head."
• 1 Pet. 3:9 “…not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were
called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.”
Command #7 Thou shalt continually seek after that which is good for one another
and for all people
1 Thess. 5:15 “…always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”
• Pursue those things that will bring others the greatest benefit.
• Matt. 5:44-48 "But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that
you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and {the} unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward
have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do
more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.”
• The example of Jesus 1 Pet. 2:23-24 “…and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while
suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously…”
Concluding Thoughts:
Hebrews 10:24 “…stimulate one another to love and good deeds”
© 2008 Dr. James M. Cecy, Campus Bible Church, Fresno, CA. 93726 www.campusbiblechurch.com
2