That No One Be Moved by These Afflictions
Two Callings for Christians
Aaron Lee | 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 | FCBCW Youth Worship | June 14, 2026
Introduction
How do Christians stay strong? How do we stay unshaken in suffering? How do we persevere in persecution?
I’m glad that it’s the summer season. But seasons bring change. Some of the biggest realities I faced was coming back from summer break and finding out that some of my Christian friends weren’t really Christians anymore. Or they definitely weren’t as strong. One of my biggest fears is that when you go back to school in the fall, you find out that you're not as strong a Christian as you thought you were.
I remember there was a year in school where I realized I was not as strong as a Christian I thought I was. It was around my junior and senior year. But one of the most influential seasons in my Christian life was the summer after senior year. It was a time to get serious about my faith. God grew me that summer. He made me a much stronger Christian. I pray that you would experience a summer like mine, where while I was away from school work, it allowed me to do work on my soul.
Context
In our sermon today, we’re going to see how Paul tells the Thessalonians to be strong. To not be moved by afflictions. When Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, he wanted to encourage them in faith and also express his love for them. They were experiencing persecution. Paul is in Athens, and has sent Timothy to the church in his absence, to encourage them in their persecution.
While we do not experience the persecution that happened in Thessalonica, we all face trials that can shake our faith. God’s Word applies to us today.
1. Strengthen One Another
The first call of the Christian is to strengthen one another:
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. (1 Thessalonians 3:1-3)
Explanation
Christians look out for and build up each other.
Paul is a missionary, and here he’s recounting some of his travels. Paul was with his fellow missionaries Silas and Timothy in Athens. He thought about his church plant in Thessalonica, concerned about how they were doing amid persecution and opposition. There was still work for Paul to do, so he opted to send Timothy to check in and encourage the Thessalonians. Interestingly, Paul was anxious about the spiritual condition of the church. He was aware of their persecution, but was more anxious about them standing in faith – it was a daily pressure for him to see that his sheep were okay (2 Cor 11:28). He makes the sacrifice of being alone, sending a loved one out to face danger. Paul was always “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).
Notice that Paul does not believe that we simply “accept Jesus” and that’s it. Christianity is a constant living under the Lordship of Jesus. It’s to be in a relationship. We should care about our relationship with Christ, but we should also care about each other's walk with him as well.
So Paul sends Timothy, and he commends Timothy for being a brother, and a fellow coworker, someone who has given it all to serve God, just like Paul. Timothy is just as motivated to love like Paul – not for his own gain and goals, but for the purpose to establish and exhort them in their faith. Paul wants his readers to know that he is making a sacrifice in sending Timothy – Paul is being left alone in Athens, and he’s sending his spiritual brother, his spiritual family. It’s an act of sacrificial love.
Application
So, will you strengthen believers with sacrificial love? We can all generally strengthen each other. But the type of strengthening I have in mind here is a missionary type of love, love that is costly, so serving and strengthening is seen not just as simply to do and check off a box but something that you actually want to do and will go out of your way to do it.
Paul wrote on what it means to joyfully make sacrifices because of the Lord and others to the church in Philippi:
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:17-18)
Paul uses the language of being poured out, giving all of himself, emptying himself, and he uses the language of offering. This is the language of worship. Making sacrifices, giving yourselves out of love, should be seen as an act of worship. When you see that you can give of yourself in worship, it will change you. You don’t have to come to church to worship God. You don’t have to have a worship team to lead you. You worship with your life. Like Paul and Timothy, we are colaborers, fellow servants of the Lord.
While the Thessalonians were met with the challenge of if they were willing to die for Christ, our challenge today is more of if we are willing to live for him. Don’t waste your summer, but invest it in God’s people. While most of us are not facing imprisonment or execution for our faith, we do face real trials. One of the most common among students today is loneliness. We are so consumed with ourselves and our phones that we fail to see those who are lonely. I challenge you to think of one Christian friend who is facing some sort of struggle, and see if you can strengthen them this week.
A small word of encouragement can go such a long way in strengthening someone. I know this as a parent as I try to speak words of encouragement to my kids. Telling them I see what they’re doing, they’re doing a good job, telling them that I’m proud of them. As a Christian, I’ve had many spur me on in my teaching and preaching and music ministries by a simple word. You can be that word of encouragement today. Don’t say it over text. Look them in the eyes, say it to their face, let them hear your voice, and let them feel your love.
The summer after senior year, I remember feeling lonely. Many of my friends were going away to college. But God still provided me with friends at home. Wherever you find yourself this summer, let it be a summer that you spend with your Christian friends, and a summer when you seek out each other. It takes sacrifice to let go of your schedules. For those of you who are lonely, keep coming to church. Our God has a heart for the lonely. You make this your lifestyle, to lay down your life for the lonely, and your entire life becomes an act of worship.
Go
Paul and Timothy were missionaries, and Christ’s mission continues today. There are many types of missionaries, but the missionaries I want to talk about today are missionaries that go away from their home for the sake of the church. They will go to encourage other Christians, and some will even go to start churches. If God is stirring in your heart now, I pray that you will answer the call. For sure, if we do not go ourselves, God has called us all to support those who do go for the sake of the gospel.
It’s not a stretch to say that we follow Christ’s example of strengthening believers. His words were words of life. Jesus is our Suffering Servant, and in Isaiah 50:4 he says: “The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary.” During his years in ministry, he was constantly under threat. But he did not waver from doing his work, doing God’s will. He told his disciples: I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
2. Stand firm in affliction
The second call of the Christian is to stand firm in affliction:
4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (1 Thessalonians 3:4-5)
Explanation
Christians should not be surprised to suffer for their faith, but should stand firm, unshakened.
Paul’s concern is that the church would persevere. He reminds the church that they were warned beforehand that they were to suffer affliction. This was not unique to the church in Thessalonica as it was happening to churches all across Judea (1 Thessalonians 3:14). And it was not simply being teased or questioned, but it was the killing of Christians.
Notice that Paul says that when they were together, they kept telling them about the suffering that was to come. There’s something to be said here about the nature of what we do when we meet together. Yes, we enjoy our time together. But we know that there is a spiritual war going on. There is a certain serious and sobriety that comes with living in the world. As a church, we must be awake to these spiritual realities. Especially in the preaching and teaching and worship singing — it’s not fun and games.
Interestingly, Paul states his concern not necessarily for their physical lives, but for their faith in the Lord. Because with persecution comes the temptation. Paul does not name the temptation here, just as he does not name the Tempter, Satan, by name – but he’s talking about being tempted to be weakened in spirit, to lose trust in God, to lose hope, and to not hold fast to the faith. While this was the destiny of the Thessalonians, it is also true for Christians today. Persecution is to be expected. Indeed, “all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). If they persecuted Jesus, they will also persecute us (John 15:20).
Application
So, will you prepare to stand firm under pressure?
Paul wrote on what it means to be prepared for persecution to the church in Philippi:
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16)
Holding fast to the word of life means believing and being anchored by the Bible. The Bible is the truth of God’s Word. With the Bible, we combat Satan, who is a tempter, a liar, and a deceiver.
Again, while the Thessalonians were met with the challenge of if they were willing to die for Christ, our challenge today is more of if we are willing to live for him. Don’t waste this summer but invest it in God’s Word. We spend so much time on our phones, watching videos, playing games. We must remember that we are people of the Book. I challenge you this week to begin applying God’s truth to your life. To guard what you say, no cursing or crude jokes, but to speak the truth in love. To be bold and answer when others ask about your faith.
Paul emphasized his care for his people. A small word can go a long way in telling people that you care for them, not just physically, but spiritually. As Asian Americans, we know that when our families give us food – it’s how they show us their love. But it does mean something different if asked how we are doing or be told that we are loved no matter what. In my work as a nurse, I’m very aware that you never know when it will be the last time you get to talk to someone, to tell them you care about them. Don’t let that moment slip away from you this summer. Let your friends know that you care for them spiritually, and encourage them to follow Christ.
The summer after senior year, I remember experiencing exponential spiritual growth. And the reason was because I actually took the time not just to simply read the Bible, but to study the Bible. Wherever you find yourself this summer, let it be a summer that you spend engaged with God’s Word, and a summer when you get spiritual gains. It takes intentionality to build spiritual strength before the pressure comes. For those of you who find it hard to self study, keep coming to church. Our God means for the Bible to be our bread. When you make Scripture the center of your life, you’ll find spiritual strength.
When persecution comes, we must remember that it is the path God has chosen for his people. Rather than discouraging us, it can drive us to God. We go deeper into the Word. We depend on each other. He uses persecution to strengthen our faith, embolden our witness, and teach us to depend on His power rather than our own. As a result, we can stand firm for Christ and press on in His strength.
Give
Churches across the world that are persecuted. There are countries where governments and laws put Christians in harm's way, where their lives are actually endangered. There are places that prevent Christians from obtaining the Bible and Christian books. Those of us whose lives are not at risk, we have an incredible privilege. To pray, absolutely, but also to share, show support, and go if God is calling you. The persecuted church needs strong brothers and sisters in Christ to come alongside them and to encourage them in faith.
It’s not a stretch to say that we follow Christ’s example of standing firm in affliction. He constantly faced harassment and harm. He is our Suffering Servant, and in Isaiah 53:7 it says: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.” In front of Pilate, Christ was being falsely accused: “But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.” (Matthew 27:14)
The Gospel
I’m not as strong as I wish I was. The good news is that our hope is not in our strength but in Christ's. Christ is our supreme example of strengthening others and standing firm in the face of persecution – even at the cross. He tells John to take care of his mother. Speaking of the soldiers, he says “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” He speaks to the thief on the cross and saves him. Even after his death, the soldier says truly this was the son of God. Place your hope in Christ who ran the race and won for us:
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Big Idea
God calls Christians to strengthen one another and stand firm in affliction.
Conclusion
How do Christians stay strong? How do we stay unshaken in suffering? How do we persevere in persecution? We stay strong by helping one another follow Christ and by holding fast to His Word. We invest in God’s people and we invest in God’s Word.
God has destined us for affliction, but he has not destined us to face it alone. He has also called us to strengthen each other and stand firm. He knows our suffering, and it is all evidence that you are truly God’s child, counted worthy of the kingdom of God. (2 Thess 1:5-7).
Like the summer, our suffering is for a season. It’s a light momentary affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17). God will strengthen you and make sure you stand firm in faith.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:10)
When Suffering Comes
To the tune of Amazing Grace:
When suffering comes
Stand firm in faith
We make each other strong
And God’s own hand
Will guide us home
By grace we carry on
References
The ESV Expository Commentary by Crossway
The ESV Study Bible by Crossway
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary on 1 Thessalonians by David W. Chapman
Discussion Questions
What is a specific way you encourage others to pursue Christ and live a Christian life?
What Bible verses help encourage you to endure through trials, suffering, persecution?