1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NASB)
1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been treated abusively in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— 6 nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, 8 in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.
Theme: The privilege of proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples comes with the God-pleasing responsibility of personal integrity and godly character.
1) The Christian discipler’s message must be the true Gospel of God (2:1-2, 4, 8)
2) The Christian discipler’s manner must be godly love for others (2:7-8)
3) The Christian discipler’s motivation must be to sincerely please God (2:3-4, 5-6)
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