The Disciple Maker's Dream

January 18, 2026

Chris Freeman

Title: The Disciple Maker’s Dream Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 FCF: We often struggle continuing to grow in the cardinal graces of faith, love, and hope. Prop: Because the church thrives when we continue to grow spiritually, so we must continue to grow in faith, love and hope. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. Put your finger or a book mark there, and flip back a page or two to chapter 1 verse 3. In a moment we’ll read both these passages from the Legacy Standard Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or in whatever version you prefer. Last week we saw Paul express his godly pastoral concern for the Thessalonian believers by relaying to them the circumstances that led to Timothy coming to visit. Paul says that he couldn’t take it any longer and had to hear about their faith and whether or not they were holding up under the affliction that they were appointed by God to endure. This week Paul moves the timeline forward to the very moment that he writes the letter and he expresses his deepest relief at the report from Timothy. Please stand with me to give honor to and focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Gracious Father, You have given Your church as the light of the world. We are here to shine the gospel light to those who persist in unbelief. And one real way we draw men to give you glory and see Your majesty is by our being conformed progressively more and more to the image of Your Son. In this, You give us grace through the indwelling of Your Spirit to advance in the cardinal graces of faith, love, and hope as we are refined in the fire of Your will for our lives. May You use this text to spur Your people to continue to grow in these graces and thus enable the church – our church – to thrive. We ask this in Jesus’ name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “We discern the growth of grace as the growth of plants, which we perceive rather to have grown than to grow.” John Flavel “God would have us not merely take a stand, He would have us walk. Too many have taken a stand and are still standing; for years they have made no progress. “ Vance Havner “Spiritual growth consists most in the growth of the root, which is out of sight.” Matthew Henry “Happy is he who makes daily progress and who considers not what he did yesterday but what advance he can make today.” Jerome “The growth of grace is the best evidence of the truth of it; things that have no life will not grow.” Thomas Watson Let these thoughts find a place to rest in your mind as we proceed to look at the text this morning. I.) Disciple Makers thrive when their disciples stand in the cardinal Christian graces, so we must continue to grow in faith, love and hope. (6-8) a. [Slide 3] 6 - 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 remember us kindly, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, i. Timothy has recently returned to Paul and Silas in Corinth with news from the church in Thessalonica. ii. All the godly and pastoral concern that Paul had for the Thessalonian church is gloriously assuaged by the news Timothy brings. iii. It is so good of news, that Paul uses the same word he uses in other contexts to refer to the gospel. The Good News. iv. What news could rival the gospel? v. The Thessalonian church is… healthy! vi. It seems that all the propaganda that the unbelieving Thessalonians had been trying to sew into the hearts and minds of the church there about Paul and his companions, has come to nothing after all. vii. Of course we knew this already from chapter 1. viii. Still, it is good for us to hear Paul’s relief at the Thessalonians’ steadfastness in their faith in Christ and the promises of God and their love for Him and one another. ix. Furthermore, their love for God and others is evident in that they remember the evangelists, and by extension their message, kindly and even long to see them in the same way that they long to see the Thessalonians. x. This was not always true of the places Paul had been. xi. The Corinthians despised Paul for a time before they repented and made it right. xii. So it would not be unheard of or completely out of the realm of possibility that the Thessalonians could have grown to despise the evangelists. xiii. And I can tell you as a pastor, that there are some who I have taught, preached to, poured my life into, helped, edified, and gave myself for - who now despise me and have cut me and Kadie out of their lives. xiv. I don’t say this to garner pity. I say this as a warning. The life of ministry (which all Christians should be engaged in) is often rewarded with disdain. xv. I can also say that it is MOST encouraging to hear and know that those who you care for are standing strong in faith, love, and hope. xvi. Keen observers will note that although Paul mentions hope in chapter 1 and verse 3 as one of the three cardinal graces of a growing believer, here it seems he has omitted this third cardinal grace. xvii. However, before this point is done, when we read between the lines, we will see the cardinal grace of hope come shining through. xviii. The point is that disciple makers survive by trusting the Lord. But they THRIVE when those they disciple stand fast in faith, love, and hope. b. [Slide 4] 7 - for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; i. Disciple Makers and spiritually mature people also suffer distress and affliction. ii. I know that may seem like obvious information, but I can tell you after spending 16 years in ministry, that sometimes that is forgotten by spiritually immature believers. iii. Spiritually immature believers tend to focus on themselves. This isn’t surprising. One of the reasons they are immature is because they are consumed with themselves. So, you can hardly fault them for it. They need to grow out of it. iv. But because they are so consumed with themselves, they often wonder why disciple makers are tired, forget to call or text them, or don’t spend more time with them. v. Disciple Makers have their own distresses and afflictions that they are enduring. Just because they are spiritually mature does not mean they have grown beyond these things. It simply means that more often than not, they are able to navigate these things with the help of the Lord and His grace alone. vi. But Paul reveals where disciple makers find great relief and encouragement amid distress and affliction. vii. It is when those they are pouring their lives into… stand strong in their faith, love, and hope. viii. When they can leave them in difficult situations and they hold fast and endure and even serve others. ix. In this, there is a reciprocity of encouragement. Just as Paul sent Timothy to establish and encourage them… hearing news that they are established and strong in these cardinal graces is… an encouragement to the evangelists. x. Once again, we see that the church… needs each other. No matter how spiritually mature we are – there is a mutual dependance on each other that cannot be ignored or scorned without great catastrophe. xi. Paul and his companions have heard back from Timothy that these Thessalonians are enduring in faith, love and hope, even though they have been absent from them for months. xii. And Paul confesses that it is a great comfort and blessing, while they themselves endure their own distress and affliction in Corinth. xiii. Indeed, the evangelists are so comforted that Paul says… c. [Slide 5] 8 - for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. i. The word “really” has been added by the LSB here. ii. I’m not sure I agree with the insertion. iii. It seems like it muddies the waters of what exactly is happening here. iv. Paul expresses that he and his companions now live because the Thessalonian church has stood firm in the Lord. v. Obviously, Paul doesn’t speak of spiritual life… in the sense that the Thessalonians’ steadfastness is what regenerated their hearts. Nor is he speaking to physical life as though they were dead and have been resurrected because they are standing firm in their faith. vi. Paul is obviously using hyperbole. vii. The uncertainty of knowing that they left the Thessalonians at a critical time and facing certain affliction, may have felt like death. When you are on your deathbed, everything in life stops. Nothing really matters. Similarly, to the evangelists, until they heard how the Thessalonians were doing – all stopped. viii. But now that they know that their faith is solid and that their love is still burning and that their hope is steadfast… they have been given new life. Like a breath of fresh air. ix. Here we see the third cardinal grace make its entry. In chapter 1:3, the steadfastness in the Lord was inspired by or rooted in… hope. And so the grace triad is complete. x. Again – disciple makers THRIVE when those in their charge stand strong in faith, love, and hope. d. [Slide 6] Summary of the Point: Paul’s point here, after expressing his godly pastoral concern in the previous thought, is to bring the letter up to the present time and inform the Thessalonians that he and his companions are greatly encouraged and comforted by the fact that they have stood fast in the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love, and hope. In spite of facing their own distresses and afflictions, the news that Timothy brought to them reignited their zeal and passion for the Lord. Indeed, this is true of all disciple makers. When those they disciple hold fast in the cardinal Christian graces, in spite of facing opposition, disciple makers thrive. Since disciple makers thrive in this way, those being discipled should continue to grow in faith, love, and hope. Transition: [Slide 7(blank)] But disciple makers do not merely thrive when their disciples don’t go backward in their spiritual maturity. In fact, they truly thrive when those they disciple spiritually progress. Let’s look at verse 9. II.) Disciple Makers thrive when spiritual progress continues, so we must continue to grow in faith, love, and hope. (9-10) a. [Slide 8] 9 - For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God because of you, i. Just like last week, Paul concludes his thought here with an introspecting question directed at the Thessalonians. ii. Unlike last week, which posed several questions, this is only 1 question with many parts. iii. He begins by asking what thanks they can return or render to God iv. Paul isn’t asking what kind of thanks they can offer. He is asking, what amount of thanks could they offer to God that would be enough for the joy that has come to them because of the Thessalonians’ spiritual success. v. Their joy is so great before God that they are not able to thank Him enough for the continued spiritual strength of these believers. vi. Notice that Paul – AGAIN – praises GOD for the spiritual success of the Thessalonians. vii. This is essentially what Augustine said when he prayed, “give what You command and then command what You will.” viii. Nothing we have of spiritual value and worth is engineered or sprung up from us naturally. All that is good and godly in us is raised up and given by God Himself. This is why Paul thanks God for the Thessalonians’ spiritual success. Not them. ix. Notice, that Paul begins this question with For, this indicates that all that he has said so far, probably as far back as chapter 2, is in consideration. x. Because of everything that has been reported, and the comfort it brought, and how they feel alive now in hearing it… Paul wonders what amount of thanks would be enough to thank the Lord for the joy they have because of the spiritual strength of the Thessalonian church. xi. But his question is not complete just yet. xii. He will go on to describe the rest of the content of their prayers to God. xiii. Not merely expressing thanks and rejoicing…. b. [Slide 9] 10 - as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? i. Their prayers also have requests. ii. Not just thanksgiving and joy at what has been up until the present, but also earnest and spiritual desires for the future. iii. A disciple maker’s job is truly never done. iv. Until we all reach the finish line and meet the Lord together, the responsibility of a disciple maker continues. v. And because it does – Paul concludes his question. vi. He has asked what level of thanks to God in prayer could ever be enough to match the joy they have because of the Thessalonians, as they are CONSTANTLY (night and day) continuously praying most earnestly to see them again face to face in order that they may fully equip them to handle everything they may face against their faith both in doctrine and practice. vii. Paul’s question is – not a question at all. It is a statement. viii. They know that their job is not done. They know that they have more to teach the Thessalonians. They know that they must get back to them to help them… ix. But they are overjoyed that the Thessalonians are holding fast to their faith and strong in the Lord in spite of the evangelists not being with them. x. This means that the disciple makers can start right where they left off and keep moving them forward. xi. This is how disciple makers thrive. xii. And of course the first step in moving the Thessalonian church forward, is this letter. xiii. Paul isn’t going to wrap up the letter here. Instead, there are two more chapters to go where Paul will attempt to complete some of what is lacking in their faith. xiv. And of course, after that he writes another letter, which we’ll get to should the Lord allow. In that letter he seeks to complete a little more of what is lacking in their faith. xv. But more on that in due time. c. [Slide 10] Summary of the Point: Paul can’t help but look to the future. Indeed, he began doing this with the previous two paragraphs expressing his desire to once again see them. As a disciple maker it is not enough to merely hear that the cardinal graces of his disciples are holding fast. For Paul yearns for the fellowship and the advancement of the spiritual maturity of his disciples as well. This is what really causes a disciple maker to thrive. When they see spiritual growth progressing. Since this is true, we must feed into this thriving and this reciprocal relationship, and continue to grow in the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love, and hope. Conclusion: So CBC, what have we learned today that corrects and instructs our faith and shapes and guides our practice? Broad concepts of Faith and Practice: [Slide 11] The danger of saying something like “Disciple Makers thrive” in the application of a sermon, is that it can communicate that the text and the sermon is only speaking to a certain group of people. But the scriptures cannot be painted too tightly into the corner of any particular people group. Since the Word of God is living and active, it ALWAYS requires God’s people to take heed to what is preached and think or live differently. Just because Paul puts forward the fact that spiritually leaders such as himself thrive when those they lead hold fast and progress in spiritual maturity, does not mean that this text only applies to spiritual leaders. That is one of the main reasons I did not say Spiritual leaders but did say disciple makers. Because according to the teachings of the New Testament, who in the church are to be disciple makers? Everyone. And who in the church remains a disciple until they enter Christ’s presence? Everyone. And so we see significant overlap of anything in the scriptures related to disciple makers and those being discipled. Because that is really the sum total of everyone who is truly a believer. And so, whatever is true of Paul and his companions is true of us. And so, if it is true that disciple makers thrive when those they disciple stand firm and progress in the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love, and hope – then we must encourage these in those we disciple and grow in these as a disciple of someone else. But let me get a bit more detailed in the application this morning. 1.) [Slide 12] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that disciple makers thrive when those they disciple stand firm and grow in the cardinal Chrsitian graces of faith, love, and hope. a. When we couple the godly pastoral concern of Paul from last week’s message with the comfort that comes from Timothy’s report, we get this lesson clearly presented. b. Paul and his companions, while they lived in uncertainty and fear that the Thessalonians’ faith had failed, now they are alive because of the news that their faith, love, and hope stood firm. c. Bearing out my heart a bit in this message, I will confess that when those I have discipled, mentored, and poured into, experience genuine growth in grace and come to breakthroughs where they understand and obey the Lord more, love the Lord and others more, or trust the Lord’s promises and anticipate His coming more… there is no greater feeling, no greater shot to my personal faith, love, and hope, than to hear of the progress of a disciple. d. In the same vein, and what seems to happen more often, is when I hear of a disciple who has walked away from the faith, has discarded God’s law, has begun to despise the church, or generally has departed from trusting God in anything… it is perhaps the most gut-wrenching news you could hear. e. But you don’t have to be a pastor for this to be true. You don’t even have to be a spiritual leader for this to be true. f. All of God’s church is to make disciples. It was the final marching orders of Christ to His disciples, which consisted of more than merely the 12. It was actually a gathering of about 70 people. g. Therefore, this thriving and this godly concern that Paul speaks of, should be a far more universal experience among believers. h. God has made it so if you are a parent, you have a natural built in discipleship program. For 18 years or more, you get to pray for, teach, admonish, weep for, rejoice with, have godly concern over and thanksgiving to God for the little ones the Lord has given you. i. But even if you are not a parent – or if that time has come to a close for you – you still must make disciples. And if you must make disciples, there is nothing greater than seeing someone you disciple… grow in the graces of faith, love, and hope. 2.) [Slide 13] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that spiritual maturity means having grown beyond the need of the church. a. Paul and his companions were comforted by and even came alive because of the spiritual success of the Thessalonian church. b. This shows, of course, that even though Paul and his companions were disciple makers… they were not above needing encouragement and comfort. c. Even though we have all been called to be disciple makers, this does not mean that we ever really leave the stage of being a disciple. d. Why is that? e. Because no one ever “arrives” in the Christian walk. f. None of us ever achieve the status of discipled (past tense). The race finishes when we are with Christ… and not a moment before. g. Therefore, we all must see ourselves as both disciples and disciple makers at the same time. h. Because of this, we will never outgrow our need for mutual love, discipleship, rebuke, challenge, edification, and encouragement that only the church can provide. 3.) [Slide 14] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must continue to grow in the cardinal Chrsitian graces of faith, love, and hope. a. First of all, and by way of review, we should answer the question, why are they called cardinal Christian graces? i. The terms cardinal and Christian are almost self-explanatory. ii. Christian tells us that these graces are characteristics of all true believers. iii. Cardinal means that they are of highest importance or value. We only assign this title to these graces because they are mentioned often in the scriptures as virtues all Christians must have and grow in. iv. But why do we call them graces? v. Grace, as we know, is God’s empowering to do something that we could not do on our own. vi. The New Testament reveals to us that each of these virtues or characteristics in a Christian’s life are not inherently found within us. Nor are they given generally by God to all people. Instead, God gives and continues to give these graces to genuine Christians so that they may grow in them. vii. Thus, we can refer to them as graces. The grace of faith. The grace of love. The grace of hope. viii. As is always true, just because God gives these things, does not mean we do not have a human responsibility to seek more and grow in them. ix. Perhaps Paul’s prayer illustrates the tension best when we realize that he thanked God, not the Thessalonians, for their steadfastness and growth in these graces. b. Our next question then must be, what exactly are the graces of faith, love, and hope? i. The grace of faith is primarily the ability to understand and believe what God has said. 1. Because understanding and believing what God says logically requires a person to obey what God has said, obedience must also be laced to the grace of faith as well. 2. This is not just a logical conclusion though. We see this throughout the New Testament as faith and obedience are often linked together as two sides of the same coin. 3. Never that obedience leads to or earns salvation… but that salvation by grace through faith leads to obedience. ii. The grace of love is the ability to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, to love all mankind generally as you love yourself and to love other believers as Christ loved you. 1. Again, because loving God and others logically requires a person to obey what God has said concerning His worship, His law, and how we treat others, obedience must also be connected to this grace too. 2. Jesus Himself says that if you love Him you will keep His commands. 3. And loving others is called “the law of Christ” in the scriptures. iii. The grace of hope is the ability to trust God’s promises that have yet to be fulfilled and hope in them despite distress and afflictions that may come. 1. This grace is particularly rooted to the future return of Christ and the consummation of His Kingdom. 2. Although the New testament never overtly connects hope and obedience, there are certainly aspects of obedience that are necessary if one is to truly hope in the future coming of Christ. c. But why must we grow in these graces though? What is our motivation? i. First, and foremost, our motivation is to bring glory to God. 1. All men bring glory to God. Wicked men will bring glory to God when He judges them and justly condemns them to eternal torment in the lake which burns with fire. 2. But God’s people, His elect, His predestined, are also predestined for good works. 3. We live our lives to do as God has instructed to bring Him glory and to cause others who observe us to glorify God too. 4. We act as mirrors, reflecting the glory of God to others by living in such a way that is pleasing to Him. ii. Second, we grow in these graces for our own sake. 1. As followers of Christ with the Spirit of God in us, there is never really a time that we are more joyful, content, or at peace, than when we are walking with God and growing in these graces He provides. 2. On the other hand, there is never a more defeated, despairing, unfulfilling, and tumultuous time in a believer’s life than when he stagnates or goes backward. 3. Growing in these graces provides assurance of our salvation to ourselves and others, but lacking in them removes such assurance. iii. Finally, and as we saw in this text, growing in these graces is a great encouragement to those who pray for us and strive to disciple us. 1. Since there is a reciprocal encouragement in the church, when we grow we help others grow. 2. When we trust we help others trust. 3. When we obey we help others obey. 4. When we love we help others love. 5. And when we do all this we give joy and comfort to those who have been pouring into our lives for many years. 6. Knowing this, we should strive to grow in these graces to bless those who have been a blessing to us. d. But how then do we grow in these graces? i. Obviously, God is the source of these graces. And because that is true – it shouldn’t be a shock to us that seeking God in the various forms which He reveals Himself to us in a special way… is the path to our growth in these graces. ii. God’s Word, washing over our minds, enables us to see areas of our life where our faith, our love, or our hope are deficient or sick. iii. Prayer also tunes our hearts to God’s and brings us in humility before His throne, reestablishing our priorities before Him. iv. Fellowship with other believers around the truths of scripture also hones these graces. v. Sitting under sound biblical preaching continues to sharpen and focus these graces in our lives. vi. Attending and participating in the Lord’s Supper and Baptism continue to turn our eyes toward Christ both in His first advent, work, and imminent return. vii. In short, everything the early church devoted themselves to in Acts 2:42 helps each individual believer to grow in these graces. viii. Are you really that surprised? 😊 4.) [Slide 15] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God has given the church to be a mutually supported ecosystem. a. Again, we find comfort in the beauty of the church. b. The church is not a place you go, it is a people who need each other desperately. c. We are the body of Christ. A bit of Christ on earth. d. We thrive when we mutually encourage and experience growth in the cardinal Chrsitian graces. e. And when all are growing in these graces – look out – you have a church that God designed and is literally unstoppable by any force that could be raised against it. f. Of course, where that breaks down is people who live selfishly and wickedly and call themselves Christians but are nothing of the sort. 5.) [Slide 16] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” Only true believers are able and will grow in the cardinal Christian graces of faith, love, and hope. Are you growing? a. From Paul’s perspective they were either holding fast and growing… or their preaching was in vain. b. There is no third category. c. Because there is no third category of “getting saved” and still staying where you are. d. A real Christian is a growing Christian. e. There may be times of stalling or falling… but a true Christian never stops repenting and never stops growing in faith, love, and hope. f. So how about you? g. You claim Christ. Think you are a Christian. But your faith has stalled. Your love has cooled. And your hope has turned to fear and anxiety as your eyes have fallen off the glorious return of Jesus, and on to earthly matters and concerns. h. Perhaps you should ask yourself… am I really a child of God? If I was – where are these graces? i. If these graces do not exist or have never grown in you – then the solution is not to try harder. The solution is to repent and believe on Christ. Only true believers inherit these graces. Only true believers grow in these graces. j. If you have realized that you are not a believer today – but would like to repent of your sin and unbelief and follow Christ, find an Elder today and tell them you want to follow Jesus. We’d be happy to help you. Let me close with a prayer by the Puritan Isaac Ambrose. O Lord, I have no graces by nature. I have no power to cleanse my own heart. I have defaced your image, but I cannot repair it. I can say with the apostle that when I want to do well, evil is present with me, but I find no means to do what I desire. Oh when will I be set free to do the work of God, and run the race of his commands? If only I had [faith, love, and hope!] (edited from original which said hope, joy, and love!) Lord, I have heard of your power. You call things that are not, as if they were. If you desire it, you can work in me these graces, just as you gloriously created them in Adam. Lord, I have also heard of your grace and truth. You are as faithful to keep as you are generous to make these precious promises. Your grace is unsearchable. Your word is purer than silver, seven times refined. Oh make good your promises! Replenish me with your grace! It is in Jesus’ name we pray this – Amen. Benediction: Dear friends, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him is glory both now and forever! Amen Until we meet again, go in peace.