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[Announcer] (0:00 - 0:17) Think about the Bible like you never have before. You're listening to Christian Questions. Access more audio, videos, and Bible study resources at ChristianQuestions.com.

Our topic is: "How Do We Genuinely Appreciate Those Who Guide Us?" Here's Rick and Jonathan.

[Rick] (0:19 - 0:27) Welcome, everyone. I'm Rick. I'm joined by Jonathan, my co-host for over twenty-five years.

Jonathan, what's our theme scripture for this episode?

[Jonathan] (0:28 - 0:39) 1 Thessalonians 5:12: "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."

[Rick] (0:39 - 1:57) Christians are supposed to live lives that reflect godliness every day and in every way. This is not only difficult, but also, frankly, looked down upon. Because our world is driven by technology and social media, we are daily saturated with images, commentary, suggestions, and pressure

to stand for ourselves with pride and conviction. To stand as one subservient to God through Christ and to be guided by the Bible, which, to many, is misguided, ancient, and outdated, is seen as a useless and even dangerous way of life. So, what do we do? How do we stand firmly and confidently as disciples of Christ?

It all begins with the biblical principles we claim to hold as sound and true. This episode is going to be the first of a multiple-part series that examines what our Christian conduct should look like, as explained by the Apostle Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonian church. We're asking a specific question, and we need to lay the groundwork not only for that specific question, but for introducing this whole concept of Christian conduct.

To answer this question, how do you genuinely appreciate those who guide us, that's where we need to start.

[Jonathan] (1:58 - 2:17) One, we'll define what true leaders in God's true church look like and what they are responsible for. Two, we'll look at Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians and trace his own behavior as a model for how our spiritual guides should be acting, so we can learn how to appreciate them.

[Rick] (2:17 - 2:37) We're going to look at what he defines as true leadership, and then we're going to look at his example with a microscope. We're really going to look at how he acts. To put this all in place to get started, first and foremost, Jonathan, Christian leadership has to be humble.

Simple, straightforward; John 13:14:

[Jonathan] (2:38 - 2:43) "If I then, the Lord and the teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet."

[Rick] (2:44 - 3:11) Simple statement by Jesus. We know the whole context of that statement. It just makes it simple.

You are to serve. It's that simple. It's that straightforward.

That's the baseline. Secondly, Christian leadership is to be founded on good character and integrity, not just on Sunday, not just on the weekend, but in all areas of life all the time. Let's look at Titus 1:5-9:

[Jonathan] (3:11 - 3:55) Paul writes: "... appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able to both exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."

[Rick] (3:56 - 3:58) Wow. So that's a list, huh?

[Jonathan] (3:58 - 3:58) It sure is.

[Rick] (3:59 - 5:00) Yeah. It's a very comprehensive list, and it really does touch every aspect of an individual's life. This kind of character, though, is essential, but so is fidelity to the Gospel and all it stands for. That's why he says at the very end of this, "...so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."

It's not just about being a good person and standing with high integrity. It's about being a good person, standing with high integrity in the context of knowing God's Word, and we're going to really expand that. When we look at leadership in the early church--because, again, our question, how do we genuinely appreciate those who guide us--

well, what did those who guide look like back then? In the early church, there was no hierarchy of elders, bishops or overseers, pastors or shepherds. It did not exist.

These titles are various ways of describing any individual who's given responsibility for Jesus' flock.

[Jonathan] (5:00 - 5:12) These leaders came from within the congregations among each small group of believers in the early church. There were no job interviews or salary discussions. Those never existed.

[Rick] (5:13 - 5:45) You're right, and there were no salary discussions, well, what does the job pay? Because this was a service; washing one another's feet. That's what this ended up being.

Here's what we want to look at. We want to understand. We've got these words; elder, bishop, overseer, pastor, shepherd. In some places, some denominations, you have different individuals covering those different responsibilities, but that's not the way it was in Scripture.

Let's examine just for a moment, how did it work in Scripture? Let's look at 1 Peter 5:1-3:

[Jonathan] (5:46 - 6:23) "Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder..." Rick, let me pause right there. Peter is a fellow elder.

He says it plainly. I love that. "...and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge,but proving to be examples to the flock."

[Rick] (6:23 - 8:33) Here's the thing, and you really hit the nail on the head there. The Apostle Peter, which many, many denominations look at as, okay, he kind of stands above the crowd--he doesn't. He tells them, I am like you, and you are to accomplish all of these responsibilities.

He's telling those who serve, those who lead, serve not because you must, but serve out of a willing heart. Serve because you're driven to do so. Serve not for money, but for sheer eagerness to serve God through Christ.

Serve not in a dominating way, but rather as living examples of Christ-likeness. Again, 1 Peter 5:1-3 really gives us a baseline for understanding these things. There's several things, several descriptions here, and we mentioned elders, bishops, overseers, and pastors and shepherds.

Let's just quickly put those things in order. An elder; what does elder mean in Scripture?

It describes the care for the flock of Jesus in terms of maturity. Somebody older, not necessarily in age, but in Christian maturity. That's what elder is showing us, somebody who's got that maturity level.

Bishop or overseer; in the Scriptures, those two things are the same. They're describing the same thing, and what that describes is the care for the flock of Jesus in terms of oversight, watching the details of the things that happen as a group.

It's really looking on and focusing on the functionality of what the flock does, bishop and overseer. The word for pastor and shepherd; those words describe personal care for the flock and their varied and challenging life experiences.

The overseer takes care of the functionality. The pastor-shepherd part of the responsibility is about the practicality, the life-giving help, the counsel that goes along with these things. You can see elder, bishop, pastor.

They're three different areas that we need to be responsible for if you are in a position of leadership. Let's look at just a couple of Scriptures here. Let's look at Acts 20:28:

[Jonathan] (8:33 - 8:45) "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the holy spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood."

[Rick] (8:45 - 9:11) The "overseer" word has to do with the functionality. The feeding has to do with the practicality. It's mixing them.

It is not a hierarchy. It is the responsibilities that are given to individuals who...you read those Scriptures in Titus that listed all of those character aspects and things? That's what you look for, someone who's got those types of characteristics. Jonathan, this is serious stuff.

[Jonathan] (9:11 - 9:13) It is.

[Rick] (9:14 - 9:22) You look at this, and we see the elevation of what we're being shown. Let's look at one other Scripture here on this aspect, Ephesians 4:11:

[Jonathan] (9:23 - 9:52) "And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers (or instructors)." Leaders have different talents and abilities, as you said, Rick. Therefore, having more than one elder in an ecclesia can bless the church as a whole.

For example, some are better at leading Bible studies, and others are better at giving sermons. Some may be better counselors, and some may have a talent for evangelizing.

[Rick] (9:52 - 10:47) You're right. That's why in Ephesians 4, it's giving, okay, there are different areas of stronger focus. It doesn't mean that the elders or those that we put in positions of leadership have only one thing that they can do, but what it means is we want to maximize whatever their capacities are to the highest spiritual well-being of the flock.

This is what leadership looks like, and with all of these descriptions and all of the character traits and the integrity and the humility, you're looking at something pretty serious and pretty big. The next piece really is kind of the sort of the crowning touch. Christian leadership is supposed to be--and I say supposed to be--the first line of defense against wolves in sheep's clothing.

Christian leadership is supposed to stand against such things. Let's look at Acts 20:28-30:

[Jonathan] (10:47 - 11:13) "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the holy spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which he purchased with his own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them."

[Rick] (11:13 - 11:55) The Apostle Paul says it's going to happen. They're going to come in because this is a situation where people want to take advantage of it, and the thing we need to do is we need to be on our guard to stave those things off, keep them away from us. Jonathan, just from a personal perspective, you and I have been elected by our local congregations to be shepherds.

We have been put in that position of great responsibility, and I know you and I talk about it regularly. It is ominous, the responsibility. It's a big thing, and it's hard to get your head around what you are supposed to do, and we attempt to approach it with great fear and trembling, I would say, to just want to do it the right way.

[Jonathan] (11:55 - 12:17) Exactly, and as long as we're seeking the Lord's help and guidance in all of our services, we're on the right track. If we're doing it for selfish reasons or our own way, then we're going down the wrong road, but elections in our different churches are held annually. The choice of elders is not according to earthly preference or a family kinship or a selfish ambition.

[Rick] (12:17 - 12:42) That's important. It's not about who knows whom. It's about what we are looking for to guide the flock in a way that helps us walk in Jesus' footsteps.

That's the key. That's the bottom line. When we look at all of this, we want to understand how to "Appreciate What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church."

Where are we as we put this on the table?

[Jonathan] (12:42 - 13:01) The privileges and responsibilities given to those who shepherd the flock are many and are serious. Our shepherds are tasked with awareness and protectiveness. Understanding this just from the perspective of knowing what the workload is helps us focus on the need for us to have appreciation.

[Rick] (13:02 - 13:25) We really want to focus on being able to appreciate those who are guiding us. I just want to add one thing here, and we'll expand this later, but shepherds who guide also have those who guide them. We all have this need for appreciation.

Those who step into the role of shepherding Jesus' flock step into a profound and difficult privilege. Let's think about that!

[Jonathan] (13:26 - 13:33) With all of these responsibilities laid out before us, how do we determine what accomplishing them really looks like?

[Rick] (13:33 - 14:19) A surefire way to find true church leadership in action is to closely examine one who was there in the early church when all of these things came to being. Through the power of God's spirit working in him, the Apostle Paul had been a big part in not only writing down what church leadership is supposed to look like, but in showing us how it works by his personal example. When we think about that, Jonathan, there's a saying; I don't know the whole saying, but it's, "I'd rather see a sermon than hear one."

That's essentially what we want to do today. As we go through this episode, we want to see the sermon of the Apostle Paul in action and watch how all of these things unfold. Paul's request to the Thessalonians--and this is going back to our theme scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:12:

[Jonathan] (14:19 - 14:38) "But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate (or see) those who diligently labor (or work hard) among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction."

[Rick] (14:39 - 16:36) His request in 1 Thessalonians 5 is, I want you to appreciate those who work hard for you for your spiritual benefit. I want you to take time, I want you to stop, I want you to pause, I want you to consider. This is an interesting perspective, because this is not brought up too often in Scripture, but the Apostle brings it up here, and it brings our attention to, why is he saying this?

What is so important? As we unfold it, it really does become a remarkable lesson. Before we get into the lesson, though, let's introduce the context of the Apostle Paul's experience with the brotherhood in Thessalonica, because it wasn't what the typical experience was when he founded a new church.

We went to GotQuestions.org because they did a really succinct description of several aspects of Paul and Silas's mission in Thessalonica, and we're going to break it up into pieces and just unfold some of the background, and it's all very, very, very easily scripturally verified. "Paul and Silas traveled to Thessalonica from Philippi on Paul's second missionary journey to preach... He spent three weeks teaching in the Jewish synagogue, but most of the Thessalonian Jews became indignant and formed a mob to drive the men (to drive Paul and Silas) out of the city.

However, 'some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women (that's shown to us in Acts 17:4).' That was the beginning of the church of Thessalonica." The beginning stages were full of difficulty, and notice it only talks about being there and preaching for three weeks. We're going to expand upon that later, but this is how Thessalonica's church began. "Appreciating (Seeing) What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (16:36 - 16:39) Watch with an open heart!

[Rick] (16:39 - 17:21) It's so important. Watch, but don't just watch to kind of take notice of.

Watch with an open heart to let what you see take root. Paul, throughout 1 Thessalonians, shows us what the work of shepherds looked like. What we're going to actually do is go through most of the book of 1 Thessalonians, not every verse, but we're going to go through most of the book to get us up to chapter 5 and unfold all of the things Paul talks about that bring us to 1 Thessalonians 5:12 about appreciating those who diligently lead. We're going to start with 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5. Let's take those verses one at a time:

[Jonathan] (17:22 - 17:28) Verse 2: "We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers..."

[Rick] (17:28 - 17:39) Pause right there. We want to appreciate our shepherd's prayerful handling of our lives. He brings that up right up front. I always make mention of you in my prayers.

[Jonathan] (17:40 - 17:51) Verse 3: "...constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father..."

[Rick] (17:52 - 18:11) Pause there again. What should we appreciate? See, the apostle is just pouring out his heart, and what we want to do is we want to take this pouring out of his heart and pause and say, okay, that's something to appreciate because he's giving them everything that he has within him. Appreciate our shepherd's thoughtful and specific understanding of who we are.

He knew who they were.

[Jonathan] (18:12 - 18:27) Verses 4 and 5: "...knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the holy spirit and with full conviction..."

[Rick] (18:28 - 19:01) Pause there again. What do we appreciate? We appreciate our shepherd's clarity in observing God's spirit and providence in our lives.

Paul saw these things happen and he commented, I've seen it with my own eyes. We want to appreciate those who are observing us in our attempts at spiritual growth and maturity. That gives us a baseline of things that we can learn to appreciate from those who are called to guide all of us.

Let's go a little further. 1 Thessalonians 1:6:

[Jonathan] (19:01 - 19:11) "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the holy spirit."

[Rick] (19:12 - 19:58) A couple of points: "...imitators of us and of the Lord, and having received the word in much tribulation..." We're going to come back to those because we want to go back to the GotQuestions.org description of the Thessalonian experience. Let's go back there: "In Thessalonica, Paul and Silas stayed with a man named Jason, and when the Thessalonian mob decided to get rid of (Paul and Silas) the missionaries, they (these angry Jewish citizens) rushed Jason's house, dragged him into the streets, and after a hasty consultation with city officials, they made Jason post bond and released him." What happens is they made Jason promise, you're going to take these people out of the city or you're going to suffer.

[Jonathan] (19:58 - 19:59) Wow.

[Rick] (19:59 - 20:37) Yeah, so when it says "you...became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation," now you were getting a sense of what that tribulation looked like, actually looked like. What do we appreciate here?

We appreciate our shepherds' observation of our heartfelt application of discipleship. He says, the Apostle says, "you also became imitators of us and of the Lord." He loved them and he saw it in them and he was telling them.

We want to appreciate their heartfelt appreciation and observation of our growth. Let's continue. 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8:

[Jonathan] (20:38 - 20:53) "...so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you...in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything."

[Rick] (20:54 - 21:41) What a great set of scriptures. You've become an example to people all over the place. What do we want to appreciate here? Appreciate our shepherds' appreciation of our work of growth and maturity in Christ.

Folks, as you're listening to this, you might say, okay, you're really picking this apart and you're trying to find these little things. Yes, we are. Why?

Because he writes this driven by God's spirit and he's giving us a template for what shepherding looks like, and we want to take that template and say, this is beautiful because this is from God, through Christ, through the pen of the Apostle Paul. Let's take that and appreciate what we're being given. 1 Thessalonians 1:9:

[Jonathan] (21:41 - 21:51) "For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God."

[Rick] (21:51 - 22:27) All of these others are telling us about your great faithfulness. Again, the Apostle is not shy about writing to them about that. Let's appreciate our shepherds remembering the powerful transformation from our own past lives.

We've all had some kind, some level of transformation. When you have those shepherds that recognize that, we want to appreciate the fact that they're paying close enough attention to make that something that's important. Now let's go to chapter 2 of 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-2:

[Jonathan] (22:27 - 22:42) "For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition."

[Rick] (22:43 - 23:53) There you have the opposition thing coming up again. Let's revisit a few more details about the depth of opposition the Apostle Paul faced there in Thessalonica. Let's go back to the GotQuestions.org:

"Meanwhile, the new Thessalonian believers hid Paul and company until dark and then sent them on to Berea, a city about 45 miles to the southwest (that's from Acts 17:10)." Now remember that it's a city forty-five miles away. That's kind of a journey in those days.

Listen to this: "Even though Paul and Silas had left their city, the unbelieving Thessalonian Jews were not satisfied. They followed the missionaries to Berea and tried to stir up the crowd against them there as they had done in their own city

(Acts 17:13 verifies this). The Berean believers smuggled Paul to the coast where he boarded a ship for Athens. Silas and Timothy remained in Berea to teach and strengthen the new church there."

He said in those verses, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2, "...we had boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel amid much opposition." That is the opposition.

[Jonathan] (23:54 - 23:57) They had to hide him twice from people that wanted vengeance.

[Rick] (23:57 - 24:39) Yes, forty-five miles away. This is days journey away. They were intent on destroying him,

and yet he kept shepherding. He kept preaching. He kept teaching.

He didn't let anything get in his way. They had to hide him to save his life, but he kept going. What do we appreciate here?

See, he is a living example of shepherding. Let's appreciate our shepherds' continuous, unrelenting, and often fearless efforts for the sake of the gospel. Let's appreciate what the Apostle Paul is sharing and say, these are the principles that we should look at to those who guide us, and say thank you.

Thank you for being that kind of example. Let's continue. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6:

[Jonathan] (24:39 - 25:03) " For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed...nor did we seek glory from men... "

[Rick] (25:04 - 26:24) Now we're looking at this, these verses 3-6 in chapter 2, and learning to appreciate our shepherds' clearly distinguishable humility in the service of God. I've been approved to God. It's not about pleasing men,

it's about doing the service to the word of God. Jonathan, just want to pause for a second. We talked about the fact that we have been elected to be shepherds, to be elders in our own local churches, and I know several other individuals that I have just such profound respect for.

I won't mention any names to not embarrass this one individual. We were at a Bible convention several months ago, and I saw this brother sitting by himself, and he's several years older than I am, and he has got this work ethic in the gospel work that is just remarkable. He travels all over the place, and I looked at him, you know, I was a few rows away, and I thought, I just need to go appreciate him, and so I just plopped myself down.

I said, Brother so-and-so, how are you? I want to let you know how much your work inspires me, and we had this wonderful conversation. It's important to be able to recognize what others do, and even though somebody may be a shepherd, doesn't mean they don't have that deep, profound inspiration and appreciation that they get from others.

Let's go a little further. 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9:

[Jonathan] (26:25 - 26:54) "But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God."

[Rick] (26:54 - 27:23) Several things in those verses. Verse 7; appreciate our shepherds' tender care for us, as children in Christ, like a mother cares for her infant. Verse 8; appreciating our shepherds giving us the word and their wholehearted giving of themselves.

It's not just imparting the word; it's imparting their very lives to us. In verse 9; appreciate their selflessness on every level, and their not seeking temporal, physical support in return.

[Jonathan] (27:23 - 27:32) On that point, the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker, which allowed him to earn a living to support himself. He is our pattern for elders today.

[Rick] (27:33 - 27:47) He is. That's something we want to really, really embrace. This was not about financial gain. This was about the spreading of the gospel and the building up of others.

"Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (27:47 - 28:07) When we look with an open heart at the responsibility and work of our shepherds, we can truly begin to see the depth of heartfelt selfless giving that they display. Instead of merely acknowledging what we observe, let us instead take careful notice and remember what we see.

[Rick] (28:07 - 28:26) Take notice. Don't just say, oh yeah, yeah, I saw that. Take notice. Have it be something that can make a difference in our lives.

The work of shepherding Jesus' flock is a full-time commitment to daily building up and protecting the lives of those who are called of God.

[Jonathan] (28:26 - 28:35) It's hard to fathom all that we are given by those who are truly in positions to lead us. How do we genuinely show REAL appreciation?

[Rick] (28:35 - 29:45) To observe and appreciate the love, zeal, wisdom, fearlessness, and tireless efforts of those who effectively lead us is to open our hearts and minds to fully receive what they have to give. However, this is only the beginning. True appreciation cannot be genuinely achieved until we learn to internalize what we have seen, what we have felt, what we have learned.

Here's the thing; this internalization opens us up to being able to transform what we've been given into what we are now capable of giving. That's where we're heading next--

transforming what we've been given to what we're capable of giving. That, in a nutshell, is the greatest way to appreciate, to become givers as we have received. By continuing in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians, we're now going to begin to observe ways that we can and should show the appreciation that we've been noticing.

Now these are ways to show it. We've just been noticing what to appreciate, what to appreciate. Now let's look at ways to show it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13-14:

[Jonathan] (29:45 - 30:16) "For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews."

[Rick] (30:16 - 30:45) You've endured what you've seen others endure. What the apostle is showing them is you are now learning to reciprocate. You are now looking to turn things around.

When you reciprocate, you give back what you've been given. Daily strive to live according to and to be strong in the high standards of God's word and not the words of men. That's the reciprocation.

To turn it into: It's God's word, therefore I stand in it and I'm going to give back what I've been given.

[Jonathan] (30:45 - 30:58) There's no sectarianism with that. Paul also encouraged these new converts to imitate the brethren in Judea. They had similar trials.

There's no difference in Christ. They were all equal.

[Rick] (30:59 - 31:21) That's another powerful, powerful point. It doesn't matter who's more mature, who's less mature, who's brand new, who's been there for years and years and years, they're all equal in Christ. There is a power in that, and that's where reciprocation can work so, so well. Let's look at a good supporting scripture for these scriptures in 1 Thessalonians.

Let's look to Ephesians 6:10-12:

[Jonathan] (31:22 - 31:44) "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

[Rick] (31:44 - 32:13) Stand "strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." It's not about how strong you think you are or I think I am. It's standing in the strength of His might, and that's where the reciprocation comes in,

because we draw our strength, everyone draws it from the same source. That's what we want to grab hold of, and this is how, by reciprocating, this is one way to actually show our appreciation. "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (32:14 - 32:18) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (32:19 - 32:25) Now that is an important baseline for us to understand. Say that again.

[Jonathan] (32:25 - 32:30) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (32:30 - 32:57) Remember that. Let us be mutually supportive in our challenge to stand firm and equally in God's strength.

Follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ. We'll expand this as we go. Let's go back to 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 to look for other ways to actually show this appreciation that the Apostle is asking us to show:

[Jonathan] (32:57 - 33:37) "But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. For we wanted to come to you — I, Paul, more than once — and yet Satan hindered us. For who is our hope or joy or crown of exaltation?

Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? For you are our glory and joy." Paul only knew them for three weeks.

He loved them instantly, and he certainly built them up.

[Rick] (33:37 - 34:16) It's amazing when you recognize that he was only able to be there for three weeks, and that three weeks wasn't easy. And he said, "you are our...joy." You are our "crown of exaltation."

It's you because you are in Christ. We want to reciprocate that. Absorb the depth of dedication given to us, and in turn give it back, and then give it to others, as well.

If we've been given such powerful dedication, we want to pour it back out because it's not given to us just to sit. It's given to us so we can have it expand. Let's look at Romans 12:2 as a good companion scripture here:

[Jonathan] (34:17 - 34:25) "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is..."

[Rick] (34:26 - 34:37) See, you can't have that reciprocation without the transformation of the mind because it's got to be on a spiritual level. "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (34:37 - 34:44) I'm going to say it again, Rick. We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (34:45 - 35:00) Only as they follow Christ. Let us walk with them toward living the spiritual transformation of our minds, only as they follow Christ.

If our shepherds are starting to go down different roads and they're not following Christ, well then let's think about that.

[Jonathan] (35:01 - 35:41) Rick, I'm amazed about the connection that Paul has with these individuals. They are so close. His heart has been pouring out.

We recently had several people write in from around the world complaining about their ministers and not knowing what to do about it. Let's read one of the questions: "I'm in a church where the pastor controls everything.

He doesn't allow anyone to make suggestions or contribute to church matters. No one has any idea how the church finances are managed. The pastor makes all the decisions and won't allow anyone to question him.

Is this biblical?"

[Rick] (35:42 - 36:32) No. No and no. I mean, first of all, Jesus allowed his disciples to question him, for goodness sakes. Jesus, remember, had others handle the financial matters of the situation.

There were those that were given responsibility in the early church. No, it is... look, if we are in a situation like that, we have to start to ask ourselves, am I in a situation where the shepherding is Christ-like?

What is it teaching me? Is it that we are their joy and their crown and their exaltation? That's what we look for.

Folks, think about that. If you want to be Christ-like, you need to follow those who are showing you the steps of Christ-likeness. Be very careful with situations like that.

Let's continue. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5:

[Jonathan] (36:33 - 37:10) "Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy...to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we had been destined for this.

For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you..."

[Rick] (37:11 - 38:01) In these verses, the Apostle is saying that I told you I was going to suffer afflictions and I'm suffering them. It's okay. It's okay.

It's okay. But I got so concerned for you that I started to have this internal anxiety that maybe Satan was going to tempt you. So I had to send Timothy.

I had to send somebody. They couldn't text, they couldn't call,

so you had to send the messenger to go there to check to see if they were standing strong. What's happening here...we're seeing the concept. We talked about reciprocating to show our appreciation.

Here, we're just talking about plain, straightforward appreciation for this, recognizing the depth of trial and testing that we are all subject to, and steel our hearts and minds to truly stand together. Notice the Apostle Paul wasn't able to stand fully until he knew his brethren were okay.

[Jonathan] (38:01 - 38:05) He sent his right-hand man, Timothy, to make sure they were covered.

[Rick] (38:06 - 38:25) And that's what happened, because it was too important not to. That's what shepherding is. We need to be able to show our appreciation for that by putting ourselves in the position of having that same concern for others.

That's how we show it. A good companion scripture for this is 1 Peter 5:6-9:

[Jonathan] (38:25 - 38:53) "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

[Rick] (38:53 - 39:25) You see the connection? You see how we're supposed to be tied together, not just with those in our local group, but with those of like faith, wherever they may be? Cast your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

Satan is looking to derail the true church. We need to be able to stand together in this appreciation so that we can build one another up, because that's the example that true shepherds are giving us. Once again, "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (39:25 - 39:31) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (39:31 - 39:32) You said that again.

[Jonathan] (39:32 - 39:33) I did indeed.

[Rick] (39:33 - 39:56) It's so important. It's so important. That's the key.

We follow these shepherds only as they follow Christ. Let them help us be inspired to stand our ground against all challenges. If our shepherds are helping us stand our ground, then we can certainly stand strong.

Let's continue. 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8:

[Jonathan] (39:56 - 40:32) "But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord." Wow. Now that's a true shepherd.

He said, "...for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord." What an intimate relationship.

[Rick] (40:32 - 41:16) That's something to appreciate. For those of us who are called upon to be given the responsibility for shepherding, that's the standard. That's what we want to stand up to.

For those of us who are being shepherded, that's what we want to look for and be able to embrace. We want to be able to sincerely imitate. We started with reciprocate, and then we went to appreciate.

Now we want to sincerely imitate that kind of thinking, that kind of life. Learn by receiving, and then live by giving. Learn by receiving, then live by giving.

Recognize the interconnectedness that the body of Christ MUST have in order to be functional. Companion scripture, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 26:

[Jonathan] (41:16 - 41:44) "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one spirit. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;

if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."

[Rick] (41:45 - 41:53) It starts with the leadership, and we want to appreciate that. Again, "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (41:53 - 42:00) I'm going to say it again, Rick. We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (42:00 - 42:09) Absolutely. Work with them as they build-- they're responsible-- they build the interconnectivity of the body of Christ.

[Jonathan] (42:09 - 42:28) As an elder, I want to share the support I receive from other elders in our church. They're always willing to substitute responsibilities if sickness or unexpected travel plans come up, and they do so in a spirit of helpfulness and love. I'm grateful for their examples in my life.

[Rick] (42:29 - 42:47) Again, it's all freely you've received, freely give, because this is the most important, highest level of giving that we can possibly experience. It's a wonderful, wonderful example. There's so many ways to show appreciation, and all of them are centered on building one another up spiritually.

[Jonathan] (42:48 - 42:55) There are obviously many ways we can show our deep appreciation for those who lead us. Where does this bring us?

[Rick] (42:55 - 43:41) As we shall see, the end result of applying this appreciation in our lives is the completion of the body of Christ. That's where we're going. It's the completion of the body of Christ.

Think about the foundation Paul has laid. He has taught us to stand firm in God's strength, live according to a spiritually transformed mind, stand our ground against all challenges, and build the interconnectivity of the body of Christ. He doesn't stop there!

Again, we're going through the book of 1 Thessalonians to see how Paul is explaining what shepherding looks like and how to appreciate it, because our question from verse 12 is, how do we appreciate this diligent laboring on our part? We're in 1 Thessalonians 3. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13:

[Jonathan] (43:41 - 44:05) "Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

[Rick] (44:06 - 44:54) In terms of appreciating those who guide us, we talked about reciprocating and appreciating and imitating. Now we want to elevate. What is it that we elevate?

We can show our appreciation by working to elevate our own standards and interactions to the highest form of love, and this is a selfless kind of love, wherever and whenever appropriate. That's the elevation we need to work at stepping up towards, and that's how you show true appreciation, by stepping up to that standard that you've so often commented on here about Paul's love for them. It was a selfless love because he had their best interest at heart.

A good companion scripture for that is the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:

[Jonathan] (44:54 - 45:29) "Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." That's exactly what Jesus said.

"Love one another even as I have loved you, and love your neighbor as yourself." Paul certainly was following Christ.

[Rick] (45:29 - 45:35) Absolutely, positively, unequivocally. Sum that up; "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (45:36 - 45:37) Bet you don't know what I'm going to say next.

[Rick] (45:38 - 45:39) Yes, I do.

[Jonathan] (45:39 - 45:43) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (45:43 - 46:21) Why do we keep repeating it? Because that's the foundation. If we get off of the foundation, if the shepherds that we are following are starting to go in different directions, we have to ask ourselves, honestly, what are we doing there?

Because that's not the picture, that's not the guidance that we're supposed to be following. Our appreciation of their care is powerfully reflected in our own selfless love towards them and others. If we're receiving that selfless love, we appreciate by giving that selfless love back to them and to others.

Let's continue. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, now we're in chapter 4, we'll look at 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 3-6:

[Jonathan] (46:21 - 47:00) "Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more... For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things."

[Rick] (47:01 - 47:42) Now, we had just talked about elevating to the standard of selfless love, and in that elevation, we need to learn to subjugate. We need to make certain things subject to others. By resisting and removing our fleshly desires, we not only appreciate our examples, but we also become examples to others.

You can't elevate to a higher selfless love if you're bringing all the fleshly junk along with it. You have to subjugate all of those desires, put them aside, put them down, because those are not the important things. Again, what we want to do is appreciate the example we've been given in the lives of those who are shepherding us. Good scripture on this is Ephesians 6:13-17:

[Jonathan] (47:43 - 47:46) "Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God." The very next verse says pray for one another. The armor is not complete without prayer.

[Rick] (48:25 - 49:00) You notice that the victory comes not because we're so strong, but because we're so well-armed, with the spirituality of standing in the strength of the Lord and the power of His might. We are shown how to do that through those who shepherd us, and we need to take that and say, this is a great example.

The Apostle Paul said it; follow me as I follow Christ. I know I'm stealing your thunder in a moment, Jonathan, but it's an important aspect of "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (49:00 - 49:04) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (49:04 - 49:40) Because there is no other qualification. It's following them as they follow Christ. If they are not following Christ, we need to follow in a different direction.

Our spiritually sound lives are a way to say thank you for their spiritually sound lives. What a powerful connection that we look at as we read through 1 Thessalonians and recognize all of the shepherding aspects and appreciations that the Apostle is laying out for us to just learn from and to absorb. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians 5 now.

We're in chapter 5 finally. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2, 5-6:

[Jonathan] (49:40 - 49:43) "Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night...for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober."

[Rick] (50:06 - 50:34) Our next level of appreciation comes to applying investigating.

We've learned to reciprocate, appreciate, imitate, elevate, subjugate those things that don't belong, and now investigating is a way to show appreciation. Our appreciation for those who shepherd us can be plainly expressed by our making the proving of God's truth through scripture our own. Not just hearing it, but proving it to ourselves.

2 Timothy 2:15-16:

[Jonathan] (50:35 - 50:48) "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness."

[Rick] (50:49 - 51:18) It's interesting that the Apostle Paul is telling Timothy, be diligent to show yourself approved. Timothy followed Paul wherever he went. Timothy got everything on a silver platter.

But Paul said to Timothy, prove it for yourself. Be diligent. This is how we can be so appreciative by doing that investigation to say, we've seen it in you and we've learned it and we are now applying it in ourselves.

Again, "Appreciating What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (51:19 - 51:23) We follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (51:23 - 51:46) It's such an important point.

It bears repeating again and again and again and again and again. Our willingness to prove all things and grow in truth accomplishes the work that our leaders have begun in us. Their job is to begin the work.

Our job is to pick it up and run with it. That's a way that we show appreciation. Let's go to 1 Thessalonians 5:11:

[Jonathan] (51:47 - 51:52) "Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing."

[Rick] (51:53 - 52:15) This is the verse before our theme scripture about appreciating those who lead you. It's interesting, Jonathan, that what the Apostle ends before he asks for that appreciation it says, encourage one another, build up one another just as you are also doing. He's essentially putting the answer right in front of us.

He's telling us how to "Appreciate What Drives Those Called to Guide the True Church:"

[Jonathan] (52:16 - 52:20) Last time, we follow our shepherds only as they follow Christ.

[Rick] (52:21 - 54:08) There is no better appreciation than passing on what we have received to others. Jonathan, as we begin to wrap this up, one of my experiences, and we've talked about this many times, is the privilege of working with the brotherhood through challenges and trials and difficulties. One of the things that often comes up is, thank you, what can I do?

The answer is always the same; do for someone else what you've received, because there's no better way to put things in perspective than to do for others what we've been given. That's what Jesus was all about.

He showed us how to do that. That's what we need to look at. Again, our theme scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:12: "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." Diligently seek to follow their guidance. In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul sums up our appreciation for those who lead as follows-- he said, stand firm in God's strength.

Appreciate them by living according to a spiritually transformed mind. Appreciate by standing our ground against all challenges. Appreciate by building interconnectivity of the body of Christ.

Appreciate by carefully reflecting selfless love towards others, by proving all things and growing in truth. Appreciate by passing on what we've received to others.

This is how we appreciate those who guide us. The Apostle Paul showed us the path. We just need to follow it.

Think about it! Folks, we love hearing from our listeners. We welcome your feedback and questions on this episode and other episodes at ChristianQuestions.com.

Coming up in our next episode: "How Can We Each Contribute to the Health of Our Church?"

Final Notes: copyright @2025 Christian Questions. In addition to this transcript, we provide comprehensive CQ Rewind Show Notes for every episode. They include every scripture quoted during the podcast, as well as graphics, illustrations and bonus material. Click the "CQ Rewind Show Notes" button near the audio player or sign up to receive these weekly at ChristianQuestions.com. This transcript was created using artificial intelligence. While we believe it to be accurate, we apologize for any errors that may exist.