The meeting discussed the fostering of Cornerstone Baptist Church for a year due to their pastor's military deployment. The focus is on assisting their deacons and coordinating services. The sermon centered on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, emphasizing sanctification through brotherly love. Key points included the importance of divinely taught love, contentment, focusing on one's own business, and productivity. The sermon highlighted the need for personal responsibility to avoid temptation and effectively love others, aiming for a church that is a blessing to its community and an attractive witness to non-believers. ## Take Home Truth "I will pursue increased sanctification by seeking to love rightly, focusing my attention first on my realm of responsibility, so that I can properly give to others." This means prioritizing personal growth, contentment, and responsibility as a way to more effectively love and support others in the church community. ## Outline ### Scriptural Hike Through First Thessalonians - Pastor Todd begins a scriptural hike through First Thessalonians, focusing on chapter four, verses 1-12. - The main theme is sanctification, specifically how we love one another. - Pastor Todd reviews the first eight verses, emphasizing the importance of avoiding sexual impurity. - The final four verses focus on loving each other rightly, aiming at overall sanctification. ### Understanding Sanctification and Brotherly Love - Pastor Todd explains that sanctification involves continued obedience to Christ's commands, especially in critical and sexual areas. - The passage highlights the importance of brotherly love, which is divinely taught. - Pastor Todd discusses the role of the Holy Spirit in teaching and empowering believers to love each other. - The church in Thessalonica was known for their tangible love, extending to other regions through financial support. ### The How and Why of Loving Each Other - Pastor Todd unpacks the final four verses, focusing on the what, how, and why of loving each other. - The what is clear: to love each other, which is divinely taught and currently practiced by the church. - The how involves increasing love, leading a quiet life, minding one's own business, and working with one's own hands. - The why is to have proper behavior in front of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone. ### Practical Application of Loving Each Other - Pastor Todd emphasizes the importance of contentment and focusing on one's own business to avoid temptation. - The phrase "mind your own business" is explained as focusing on one's own affairs and not intruding where it doesn't belong. - Pastor Todd shares practical tips for handling conversations that might lead to intrusive inquiries. - The importance of being industrious and productive to meet needs and support others is highlighted. ### The Role of Leadership and Transparency - Pastor Todd encourages the congregation to be transparent and ask questions of their leadership. - The leadership aims to be accessible and transparent, using tools like fireside chats to communicate with the congregation. - Pastor Todd stresses the importance of privacy over secrecy and encourages the congregation to ask humbly and listen humbly. - The leadership commits to packing their relational baggage well to avoid damaging the church's testimony. ### The Impact of Proper Behavior on the Church's Witness - Pastor Todd explains that proper behavior and independence are crucial for the church's witness. - The church should not be a drain on the world but a blessing, taking care of its own needs and supporting others. - Pastor Todd references Acts 2 to illustrate the importance of mutual support within the church. - The goal is to have a community that is attractive and compelling to outsiders, showing the love of Christ through proper behavior. ### The Importance of Personal Responsibility - Pastor Todd emphasizes that personal responsibility is key to loving others effectively. - Preoccupation with others' affairs can lead to temptation and sin, so focusing on one's own responsibilities is essential. - Pastor Todd uses the example of Jesus, who was content and focused on His mission, to illustrate this point. - The congregation is encouraged to pursue increased sanctification by loving rightly and focusing on their own affairs. ### Closing Prayer and Reflection - Pastor Todd leads the congregation in a prayer, asking questions for self-reflection. - The congregation is encouraged to commit to Christian love, contentment, containment, and cultivation. - Pastor Todd emphasizes the importance of these principles in their daily lives and in their relationships with others. - The service concludes with a call to worship and a closing prayer by another speaker.