The cost of faithful obedience does not negate the worthiness and value of Scripture’s commands. The difficulty or unpleasantness of a task does not mean that the task is unnecessary or a worthless pursuit.

Church discipline is hard, relationally taxing, and requires significant attention and energy from the church. This level of investment and cost was causing the Thessalonian church to grow weary, and some were surely tempted to give up or give in. In our day, many church members are weary from the excessive commitments they have made outside of the church. This leads them to be unprepared and with little tolerance or energy for the mental attention, emotional fortitude, and spiritual determination required for church discipline. Additionally, our culture places great importance on preserving the individual’s self-esteem, emotional stability, and autonomy. Any attempt to express judgment towards an individual is countercultural and generally rejected. The church is not immune to these cultural forces and is often tempted to compromise biblical fidelity for the sake of cultural acceptance.

In this passage, Paul pleads with the church to faithfully endure in church discipline, regardless of how difficult the task may be.

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Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 7/6/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at www.BenSmithSr.org.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith expositionally preaches from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, addressing the critical issues of the sin of idleness and the often-abandoned practice of church discipline. He emphasizes that sin is a serious threat to individual Christians and the church, rightly understood as rebellion against God's lordship. The sermon highlights that faithful labor is submission to God, contrasting it with sinful idleness. The sermon also outlines three basic principles of church discipline: it is an action of the church, a direct confrontation of sin, and is fundamentally gospel-driven. Listeners will understand why the church must obey Christ's commands, even when they are countercultural, to affirm the gospel, combat sin, and rescue wayward members.

Episode Notes:

In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith expositionally preaches from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, addressing the critical issues of the sin of idleness and the often-abandoned practice of church discipline. He emphasizes that sin is a serious threat to individual Christians and the church, rightly understood as rebellion against God's lordship. The sermon highlights that faithful labor is submission to God, contrasting it with sinful idleness. The sermon also outlines three basic principles of church discipline: it is an action of the church, a direct confrontation of sin, and is fundamentally gospel-driven. Listeners will understand why the church must obey Christ's commands, even when they are countercultural, to affirm the gospel, combat sin, and rescue wayward members.

Key Highlights

· The Church's Abandonment of Discipline: Pastor Ben explains how historically, church discipline was a regular part of church life, but in recent years, it has been largely abandoned, indicating a lack of seriousness about the danger sin poses to individuals and the body of Christ. This abandonment is often rooted in a desire to "be nice" or concerns about inflated membership numbers, rather than faithful biblical witness.

· Idleness as Rebellion, Not Rest: The passage in 2 Thessalonians addresses the sin of "idleness," which is defined as a moral disorder and rebellion, not simply rest. Paul, as an example, worked night and day to avoid being a burden, emphasizing that faithful labor is submission to God. Idleness can lead to other sins, such as being a "busybody" who disrupts the church.

· Gospel-Driven Church Discipline: Church discipline is presented as an action commanded by Christ, to be carried out by the church on its members, specifically those living in unrepentant sin. Following the principles of Matthew 18, it involves direct confrontation of sin, potentially leading to the disfellowshipping of unrepentant members. Ultimately, church discipline is driven by love and the gospel, aiming to bear a true witness, rescue wayward members, and affirm that unrepentant rebellion is not acceptable to God.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 7/6/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

The advancement of the gospel and the endurance of the church are testimonies to the faithfulness and power of God, not the tenacity or ingenuity of man.

What has enabled the church to endure in a hostile world? What empowers Christians to share the gospel when faced with such difficulties and costs? How can you remain faithful and encouraged in a world that is indefatigably working against God?

2 Thessalonians teaches that the only way to faithfully endure in a hostile world is to put your trust in the power, promises, and goodness of God.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 6/22/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.