Pentecost 17                                                                                                                                      October 5, 2025

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12                                                                                                                    Pastor Wolfe

The Pastor’s Prayer for Growth & Glory

Every Christian pastor prays for two things: growth and glory. And depending on your attitude toward Christianity you might be judging pretty hard already. We know there are an endless number of selfish preachers out there whose goal is to have the biggest church with the most people. Men who want their names to be recognized by everyone. Men who seek the cameras and microphones. Men who are willing to do almost anything, say almost anything – for glory on themselves and the ministries they so often name after themselves.

Would it surprise you if I told you that those prayers for growth and glory aren’t always bad? Now, obviously the false preachers who are looking for pride and worldly glory are not just walking away, but running away, from the pastor-shepherd who patterns himself after Christ. But prayers for growth and glory are exactly what God calls pastors to pray for if that growth and glory are in the right places.

Today the Apostle Paul shows us what a proper pastors’ prayer looks like. Growth isn’t about growing in numbers but growing in faith and love. And glory isn’t about our names or our congregations, but about Christ. That’s the kind of growth that a mature Christian seeks. The kind of glory that a Biblically founded church looks for. That’s the growth Paul found as he prayed for the Christians in Thessalonica, and by God’s grace, the kind of growth we’ll pursue and find in our hearts and our church here today too.

Paul talks in this letter about the persecution the Thessalonians were facing. And they had faced it from the start. Paul’s time in their city was short on his 2^nd missionary trip. Acts 17 records that he preached in the synagogue for three weeks and found success among some of the Jews and many of the Greeks. But other Jews became jealous. When they couldn’t find Paul and Silas themselves, they arrested their host Jason and some of the Thessalonian believers. Eventually, Paul and Silas have to leave under cover of darkness, traveling to Berea, then Athens, and finally to Corinth.

The letters we know as 1^st and 2^nd Thessalonians were written from Corinth, not long after Paul had left. Most likely just a matter of weeks or months. Paul writes to them after getting a report on the status of this baby church he had to leave behind. And it was a good report.

The Thessalonians were not only surviving the continuing persecution – they were thriving in it. Enough that Paul says in verse 4, “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” I’ve said it many times in different Bible classes and one on one conversations, but the darkness of persecution only makes the light of the Gospel shine brighter. Our themes the last couple weeks spoke to the sacrifices that Christians are called to make for our faith – sacrifices in what we do with our time and money and life. But we make those knowing that God uses those sacrifices for his purpose. I promise you, when you do the hard thing – the right thing that others don’t do – other people notice. And they wonder just what it is that makes you different. And there’s God’s opening for you to share your faith. And that’s what pastors pray for from their members.

Paul told the Thessalonians that he was thankful, boastful even, for two things he had heard about them. Verse 3, “because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” You see, Christians don’t just stay the same after they come to faith. We grow. We mature. I was blessed to lead chapel for our school students this past week and I used this same text for that message. I gave the kids an example that I think would speak to us too. I started my message with them by having them all stand up. Then, as I showed them a picture of chores up on the screen, I had them sit down when I got to something they weren’t allowed to do. I started with folding socks and sweeping the floors. All the kids stayed standing – even the youngest can do that.

Then I showed a picture of frying veggies on a gas stove. Some kids sat down. Then mowing the lawn. Some more sat. Finally, I asked who was allowed to drive to Walmart to do the shopping. They all sat down. This happens spiritually too. The more we grow in our faith and appreciation for what God has done, the more we understand about just how much we are able to do spiritually too. Perhaps the new believer who just learned about Jesus isn’t ready yet to teach a Sunday School class or lead a small group. Maybe the person who just found the comfort of Christ for themselves doesn’t realize yet that they can take that comfort to others. But give them time, and the Holy Spirit will help them grow.

This is where Christian pastors wear out their knees in prayer. Prayers that Satan would fail in his attempts, not only to keep people from faith, but in his attempts to keep people from growing in faith. Martin Luther talked about the sinful nature as “curving inward” on itself. Thinking selfishly for ourselves. But the more a Christian grows the more that curve is bent outward. Our needs become less and the needs of our neighbors become more. Our thoughts and opinions become less than God’s Word and will. Or, to paraphrase Paul, “the love we all have for one another increases.”

This is the last week of our worship series on wounds that heal. Hard truths we need to hear. And this week God puts before us the need to grow up and grow out in our faith. Any believer can endure on their own – but aren’t we called to help others endure? Any believer can know God’s comfort for themselves – but aren’t we called to share that comfort with others? Any believer can do the work in the church that benefits themselves and makes them happy – but aren’t we called to do the things that benefit others too? Brothers and sisters, hear God’s will today: God has blessed you so that you can bless others. When you see opportunities in church and elsewhere to do what God has planned for you don’t ask “Why?” but rather “Why not?” Follow Isaiah’s example – “Here am I. Send me!”

Paul’s prayer for growth and increased love continues. Before we fall into a work-righteous thought that we must make God happy with our works, listen carefully to what Paul says in verse 11. “We constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling.” God doesn’t say we have to prove ourselves worthy of his calling…He does that for us. By HIS power he brings to fruition, to reality, our desires to do the good things. Our good works are prompted by faith. All we have to do is let growth happen and not hinder God’s action in us.

And the result of all of this growth? Glory. Verse 12. “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul describes two kinds of glory here. First, we find Jesus glorified in us. Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount while telling us to let our lights shine that others “may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” God is glorified in you. You matter! You’re important! More than we make it seem in our churches maybe. More than just filling open spots that we have for you – God means for us to be so much more than the world wants us to be.

“And you in him.” Our life of service to God brings glory to us in Jesus. Sometimes we get a glimpse of that here. The things we do in Jesus make a difference for people. A couple weeks ago I went through a bit of a down time when I realized I’ll never have people fill an arena to remember me when I die. I’ll never write books that will be remembered and cherished by people after I’m gone.

But then a student gave me a card at a catechism class thanking me for teaching her. A grandparent of a student in our school made an offhand comment about what a difference this place makes for his grandson. A family from a former church visited just to see me again. I caught one of my kids on social media, sharing truth and kindness instead of hate. And I gloried in Christ. In all the things he has done. The things done through me, not by me. And if you look at your life, you have those things as well. Or you can. This pastor too prays for your growth, for your life by his calling – for the glory in Christ that you can celebrate.

But this phrase is bigger than that even. The verses that we cut out in the middle of the letter’s opening refer to the main theme of this book – Christ’s future return. In those verses we find that not only does Jesus take away suffering. Not only does he repay trouble to those who trouble us. He comes to be glorified by his holy people. And in the radiance of his glory, we will be glorified too. With new bodies. Perfect souls. Glory everlasting.

So Christians, grow! Grow in the grace and peace of God that Paul gave as his greeting. Grow up and see more clearly the path God has for you. The plans he has for you. The purpose he has for you. Like a little child, grown old enough to do more, you are able to do more too. This pastor prays for your growth. And I pray for your glory too. Glory in Jesus. Glory for Jesus. May we serve him more, and may his name be praised among us here now and forever in heaven. Amen.