BIG IDEA:
SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION MERITS A GOOD REPUTATION
I. (:3b) OBSERVABLE SPIRITUAL GROWTH
A. In Faith – Growing in their relationship to God
“because your faith is greatly enlarged”
B. In Love – Growing in their relationship to one another
“and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.”
Piper: “He does not say that he thanks God simply because they have faith and love, but because their faith is growing abundantly and their love for each other is increasing. It’s the beauty of growth and progress that fill him with joy.”
II. ENCOURAGEMENT FROM A GOOD REPUTATION
A. (:3a) Encouragement from the Thanksgiving of Others to God
1. Ongoing Thanksgiving
“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren”
2. Appropriate Thanksgiving
“as is only fitting”
B. (:4) Encouragement from the Praise of Others – Testifying to your
Good Example among the Churches
1. Source of Praise
“therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you”
2. Sphere of Praise – “among the churches of God”
3. Focus of Praise
a. “for your perseverance”
b. “and faith”
4. Degree of Difficulty
“ in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”
Hiebert: “Persecutions designates the hostile actions of the enemies of the gospel, while afflictions relates to the varied pressures and painful experiences they have endured because of their faith.”
Transition to the eschatological emphasis of the epistle:
C. (:5) Encouragement from the Conviction of the World
1. Perseverance and Faith Speak Loudly
“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment”
2. Our Conduct Should Measure up to Our Calling
“so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God”
Piper: “God’s design in the suffering of his persecuted people is that they be found worthy of the kingdom at the last day. This doesn’t mean that we become deserving of the kingdom. It means we become fit for it. There is a holiness (though not a perfection) without which we will not see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14) and God works that holiness in us (Hebrews l3:2l) largely through the discipline of suffering (Hebrews 12:3-11).”
3. Suffering is Painful but Passing
“for which indeed you are suffering.”