In Imitating One Another

“Get your eyes off of people and onto Jesus.” I’m sure you’ve heard that before. It is the one-line retort to the Christian who is upset because of what someone in the church has done to disappoint or hurt them. The point being that we shouldn’t be looking to people as our example but only to Jesus.

I get it.

But is it true?

Not really.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), and Peter instructed elders to be an example to the believers (1 Peter 5:3). Evidently, in some cases, it is absolutely okay to have your eyes on people. And as we look at 2 Thessalonians 3:6-18 this Sunday, we’ll see that Paul makes that clear when he says to his readers, “You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us.” The message he’s communicating is that we, as believers, are to imitate Christians that are worth imitating and avoid Christians who aren’t. Along the way, we’re also to make sure we’re the kind of Christian others can imitate. All of this is possible because of the abundant grace that God pours out so generously in our lives.

This message concludes our seven-message series in 2 Thessalonians called Divine Grace. All of the messages and related resources are available online.

Sermon Notes

DIVINE GRACE
In Imitating One Another

Pastor Todd Dugard
2 Thessalonians 3:6–18
July 14, 2019

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I am to imitate Christians that are worth imitating… (v. 7-9)

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…and avoid Christians who aren’t (v. 6, 10–11, 14–15)

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…making sure I’m the kind of Christian others can imitate (v. 12–13)

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…as I receive the grace and peace of Christ (v. 16–18)