Excel Still More I. Introduction A. The New Testament tells us of the need to mature in the faith 1. Hebrews 5:14 2. We need to reach a level where our senses are trained through constant practice to discern good from evil B. What is to happen, however, once one reaches a level of maturity? C. Are we to reach a plateau and taper off? D. By no means! E. 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10 1. NASB: "excel still more" 2. even when we reach a level of maturity, we need to continue to strive to greater heights F. Let us spend some more time analyzing this concept II. 1 Thessalonians: Excelling Still More A. We can learn much regarding this exhortation by looking at the history of the church in Thessalonica B. Acts 17:1-9 1. having left Philippi after being imprisoned, Paul moves on to Thessalonica 2. he spends between 3-5 weeks in town 3. converts some of the Jews, Gentiles, and leading women 4. The Jews make trumped up charges against Paul, and his is compelled to leave the city C. Then what? 1. We see a young church-- a month old! 2. Paul has left 3. Jews are persecuting the Way 4. How does the church hold up? D. 1 Thessalonians 1:5-9, 3:6-10 1. Paul had great concern, yet Timothy was able to report good things 2. The church was strong, having survived the persecution, an example to the churches throughout Greece 3. They grew up in the Lord-- quickly E. The church in Thessalonica can put us to shame 1. They had love for one another as they ought... after a few months 2. They had reached a level of maturity... after a few months 3. They survived persecution...from the outset 4. Paul commends them...after a few months 5. Yet how many of us have been Christians for years, having never seen such persecution? What's our excuse? 6. Regardless, we need to excel still more! F. Notice that Paul did not provide this message to just any church 1. The church in Thessalonica reached a level of maturity quickly in a way not seen in many other congregations 2. Corinth, where Paul went not long after Thessalonica, required many years of evangelism and work by Paul, and still required more letters and preaching because of weakness there 3. Churches can only receive this message if they have reached a level of maturity 4. The same goes for individuals III. He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear A. The directive of 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10 is aimed at Christians with some level of maturity B. It reminds me of Jesus' statement, "he who has ears to hear, let him hear," referred to in Matthew 11:15, 13:9, 13:43, when speaking in parables or about the nature of John the Baptist C. He who has ears, let him hear these words... D. The one young in the faith needs to continue to grow and develop in the faith (cf. Hebrews 5:11-6:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27) E. This message should not be discouraging to such a one-- you need to keep moving, keep going upward, and trust in God that you will develop the strength that is necessary F. The one to whom this message is disturbing-- one who believes that they either have reached a comfortable level or intend to reach a comfortable level and plateau-- need to diligently consider these words (2 Corinthians 13:5) 1. Christianity requires growth, for not growing means atrophy 2. One who would believe such things is not mature nor has maturity in their sights, since the mature one in Christ will recognize that the believer must always grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Peter 3:18) 3. One may retire from the workforce, but one can never retire from Christianity while in the flesh! G. Those who are mature in the faith, comparable in many ways to the Thessalonians, also similar to the audience of 2 Peter 1:12-15, will know to hear these words of the Master and excel still more H. One may ask: how are we to excel still more? IV. Means of Continuing On A. It is good to use what Paul mentions specifically B. How to Walk 1. Mature Christians know the path upon which they are to tread (cf. 2 Peter 1:12-15) 2. Merely knowing it, however, does one little good; he must walk it, and continue to walk it 3. We need to try to walk straighter, stumbling less often-- removing sin from our lives (1 John 1:7-9) C. To Please God 1. If we walk as we ought, we do please God… 2. ...yet we must seek God’s pleasure by also engaging in good works, helping those in need, especially in the household of faith (Galatians 6:10) 3. Consider James 4:17 D. To Love One Another 1. While we can reach a point where it can be said that we demonstrably love our brethren... 2. ...we will not reach a point where we cannot love them more 3. We can actively seek out their needs 4. We can spend more time in assisting them, encouraging them-- and being encouraged ourselves in the process 5. Also notice 1 Thessalonians 4:10: the love of the Thessalonians for their brethren extended beyond their own congregation and for the brethren in Macedonia E. Within these concepts-- walking as we ought, pleasing God, loving one another-- all the specific ways in which we can excel still more can be found F. Let us give diligence to excel still more V. Conclusion A. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians within a year of their conversions and after great persecution... B. ...and there was no need to go over the essentials of the faith, or to command them to do the essential practices of Christianity, for they were already doing so C. Was that enough? Paul urged them on to do still more D. Peter also, writing to an audience familiar with truth, felt the need to continue to exhort E. It should serve to remind us that we must excel still more 1. those young in the faith must work to gain maturity, and then they can excel still more 2. those who have no desire to excel still more ought to think hard about their faith and their relationship with their God 3. and those who are mature in the faith, I exhort you: excel still more! F. Invitation: songbook 1. If you are not a Christian, you need to gain ears to hear this message 2. Christ died for your sins, and without obeying Him you cannot receive that benefit 3. Come to faith in Him today 4. Or perhaps you are a Christian, and desire encouragement-- you feel that you need help to excel still more 5. Whatever your need, come to the front as we stand and sing