Practicing Christian Leadership, Mentor's Guide, MG11

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P R A C T I C I N G C H R I S T I A N L E A D E R S H I P

It seems odd that the man Paul should compare himself to a “nursing mother” in v. 7. (Consider also 1 Cor. 4.14–15 where he states that as a spiritual parent he had “begotten” the Corinthian saints through the Gospel.) In 2.9–13, Paul uses the image of a father, but the main thought here is that of loving care. New Christians need love, food, and tender care, just as a mother would give to her own children. Newborn babes need the milk of the Word (1 Pet. 2.2) and then must “graduate” to the meat (1 Cor. 3.1–4; Heb. 5.11–14), the bread (Matt. 4.4, and see Exod. 16, the manna), and the honey (Ps. 119.103). How a mother feeds her child is almost as important as what she feeds it. How important it is that we who are older Christians feed the younger believers lovingly and patiently. ~ W. W. Wiersbe. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (1 Thess. 2.1), (electronic ed.). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books 1997 (original print copyright 1992).

3. Paul’s care as a spiritual parent was demonstrated in a mixture of exhortation and encouragement, as well as conduct and lifestyle, 1 Thess. 2.10-12.

4. Paul suffered anguish and concern for new believers as a concerned parent does for their children, Gal. 4.19.

E. Personal representatives

1. Paul sent Timothy and others on particular missions to do various works of good will for the various churches, Phil. 2.19-22.

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2. He often sent representatives from congregations back with word of his own situation, Phil. 2.25-26.

3. Paul used messengers to inform him on the status of different congregations under persecution or enduring tribulation, 1 Thess. 3.6.

4. In order to ground new believers in the faith, Paul would send solid representatives to exhort and encourage growing Christians, 1 Thess. 3.2.

III. Applying the Pauline Model of Spiritual Parenthood in our Leading of Urban Congregations

A. Commit to faithful intercessory prayer for their souls: the importance of supplication