2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 – “Accountability & Responsibility within the Church”

Jon Beck

My sermon notes for Sunday morning, June 28th. Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  They are provided to help you follow the sermon as we walk through the Word each week.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–18

Closes out the letter to the Church membership/body.  Exhorting them to understand their responsibility and accountability as the body of Christ.  Loving each other and the Lord enough to BE THE CHURCH/PEOPLE HE HAS CALLED US TO BE. WHICH IS MAKING AN ETERNAL IMPACT REGARDLESS OF THE SITUATION THAT WE LIVING IN.

Accountability and Responsibility:

  • As a church member
  • As we serve the Lord within His Church.

ACCOUNTABILITY

(love and care for another)

  • Not allowing people to continue. 
  • Love them enough to intervene

Three things were going on that Paul knew needed to be addressed.

OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE FAITHFULNESS AND WITNESS OF THE CHURCH

Laziness – v. 6 – 11a

keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. – v. 6

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, – v. 11

  • Stay Busy (Keep serving the Lord)
  • His purpose for you life
    • A job.  Fulfill your calling.

Meddling– v. 11b – 12

but busybodies – 11b

do their work quietly – 12

  • A burden to the church and her ministry

4020 periergázomai (from 4012 /perí, “all-around” and 2038 /ergázomai, “to work”) – properly, work all-around, i.e. to meddle, going beyond proper boundaries (where a person doesn’t belong); to fixate on what others are doing, instead of doing what the person himself is supposed to do (used only in 2 Thes 3:11). (Helps Word Studies)

Disobedience – v. 14

  • Does not obey – v. 14
  • Take note and have nothing to do with– v. 14
    • Recognize, Realize and Keep away
      • Our association with others can mean agreement

RESPONSIBILITY

(our motivation and means)

The Word – v. 6, 12

We command you – military authority

  • In the Lord Jesus Christ

Our Example – vv. 7-10

Imitate us – v. 7

Example – v. 9

  • As believers we should set and example for others to follow
  • As the church we should set an example for others to follow
  • Our example is our EXPECTATIONS.  LEAD BY EXAMPLE.

The Church Functioning as the Body – vv 11-15

  • Do not grow weary – v. 13
    • Never finished.  Never over.
  • Invest in others
    • Remember Acts 11.  For a whole year!
  • Do not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother – v. 15
    • Seek Restoration Matthew 18:15-20

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ – vv. 16-18

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. – v. 16

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all – v. 18

  • Peace – Grace – Presence

Scripture References:

2 Thessalonians 3:6–18 – [6] Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. [7] For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, [8] nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. [9] It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. [10] For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. [11] For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. [12] Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

[13] As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. [14] If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. [15] Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

[16] Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

[17] I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write. [18] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. (ESV)

Matthew 18:15–20 – [15] “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. [16] But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. [17] If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. [18] Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. [19] Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. [20] For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” (ESV)

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