We all love and crave friendship. Even, if you are a serious introvert, like me, friendship is important. It is fun to talk and laugh with others, to enjoy food together and to have someone with whom you can discuss various parts of life with, like parenting, marriage, singleness, organization, decoration, crafts, or entertainment.

But more than that, we need people in our lives who are willing to minister to us with the Gospel. According to our passage, this ministry in each others lives requires a few things.

Knowledge

When Paul went to Thessalonica, he went there in order to encourage the people with the good news of the Gospel. If, like Paul, we are to minister to each other with the Gospel we need to know what impact it has on our lives.

In short, the Gospel is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Here is what we gain from each one.

• His Life
  During Christ’s life on earth He succeeded in every area where we fail. Every law we have broken, Jesus kept perfectly for us. And so, through His perfect life His righteousness is credited to us when we believe.  
• His Death
  Through the death of Jesus, the penalty of our sins is paid for and forgiven. No longer do we have the weight of judgment on our shoulders. Instead, it was placed on the shoulders of Jesus. His death gives us salvation from the wrath of God and the penalty of our sins.
• His Resurrection
  When Jesus rose from the dead He showed that He had dominion over everything including death itself. In Romans 8:11 we are told that the same power that raised Christ out of the grave is the same power that lives in every believer. Because we have this power we are able to fight sin and live victoriously. We are no longer slaves, but free women who can find victory over sin. We now have the power to change, not because we are strong, but because we have the power of our strong Jesus.

It is important that we really know and understand all that Christ has done for us through His life, death, and resurrection. It will be a huge encouragement in our lives and allow us to be a real encouragement to others.

Boldness

We all need to be encouraged and challenged with the Truth of the Gospel because we are forgetful. We need people who will boldly say to us, “Don’t give up on overcoming your sins because you have everything you need to win.” And sometimes we need others to speak hard truth into our lives and say, “Complaining is unbecoming to a child of God who is going to inherit a kingdom.”

But this boldness must be mixed with humility. Even Paul said, “We speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.”

We need to learn to boldly and humbly encourage those we are close to with the Good News that the Gospel brings us.

Kindness

Anytime we speak into someone’s life it must be done with kindness. Though Paul could be very direct at times, he was also very kind.

But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.  (vs.7)

The Gospel Truths are beautiful words for those who are worn out, fearful, discouraged by their sin. We must proclaim the Gospel to others with beautiful words, never with a holier than thou attitude.

The Gospel is worth proclaiming because God is worth being known. Paul was willing to take this good news to the Thessalonians even though, eventually he would experience hardship and persecution. For Paul, it was worth it.

Is the Gospel so beautiful to you that you are willing to boldly and kindly encourage those around you with it?

Looking to Jesus,

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Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn grew up in Germany and then spent her teenage years in Africa, where her parents were missionaries. She moved to the United States for college and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she met her husband. They have been married for twenty-two years and have four children. Jen lives in the suburbs of Chicago, where her husband is the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship. Jen is passionate about theology and the connection to daily living.