Gospel Fellowship Helps Us Keep Going — 1 Thessalonians 5:14–15
Sep 2, 2026 6
Who is helping you keep going as a Christian—and whom are you helping?
1 Thessalonians 5:14–15
[14] And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. [15] See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (ESV)
The gospel fellowship we share together enables us to keep going as followers of Jesus.
Yesterday, we saw that pastors are a gift from God to encourage us in the gospel. But it is not just the pastor’s role to care for God’s people. We all have the opportunity to spur each other on in love.
In these verses, Paul gives the whole church several ways to do this.
We admonish the idle.
We encourage the fainthearted.
We help the weak.
And we are patient with them all.
[Watch this week’s video devotion with Dave Miers]
Different people need different kinds of care. Some need to be warned. Others need encouragement. Some need us to come alongside them and help them keep going.
This is one reason gospel fellowship matters. We need fellow believers who know us, and whom we can know, love, serve, and encourage.
That’s why Paul urges them to have this posture toward one another.
In verse 15, Paul also tells us not to repay evil for evil. Even when others treat us badly, we seek to do good to them. We seek the good not only of those within the church, but of everyone.
The Good News Is…
We treat each other this way because, in the gospel, Jesus has treated us this way. Jesus came near, served us, and gave up his life to rescue us as his people. He has been patient with us, helped us in our weakness, and given us certain hope in him. At the cross, we see that Jesus doesn’t repay evil with evil; by giving up his life for us when we were far from him, he has shown incredible love!
Because Jesus first loved and served us, we can keep loving and serving one another. Gospel fellowship helps us keep looking to Jesus and encourages us to keep going as Christians.
Reflection
Who in your church community could you encourage, help, or patiently serve this week?
Rev. Dave Miers
President, Good News Unlimited