In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith expositionally preaches from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, addressing the critical issues of the sin of idleness and the often-abandoned practice of church discipline. He emphasizes that sin is a serious threat to individual Christians and the church, rightly understood as rebellion against God's lordship. The sermon highlights that faithful labor is submission to God, contrasting it with sinful idleness. The sermon also outlines three basic principles of church discipline: it is an action of the church, a direct confrontation of sin, and is fundamentally gospel-driven. Listeners will understand why the church must obey Christ's commands, even when they are countercultural, to affirm the gospel, combat sin, and rescue wayward members.

Episode Notes:

In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith expositionally preaches from 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, addressing the critical issues of the sin of idleness and the often-abandoned practice of church discipline. He emphasizes that sin is a serious threat to individual Christians and the church, rightly understood as rebellion against God's lordship. The sermon highlights that faithful labor is submission to God, contrasting it with sinful idleness. The sermon also outlines three basic principles of church discipline: it is an action of the church, a direct confrontation of sin, and is fundamentally gospel-driven. Listeners will understand why the church must obey Christ's commands, even when they are countercultural, to affirm the gospel, combat sin, and rescue wayward members.

Key Highlights

· The Church's Abandonment of Discipline: Pastor Ben explains how historically, church discipline was a regular part of church life, but in recent years, it has been largely abandoned, indicating a lack of seriousness about the danger sin poses to individuals and the body of Christ. This abandonment is often rooted in a desire to "be nice" or concerns about inflated membership numbers, rather than faithful biblical witness.

· Idleness as Rebellion, Not Rest: The passage in 2 Thessalonians addresses the sin of "idleness," which is defined as a moral disorder and rebellion, not simply rest. Paul, as an example, worked night and day to avoid being a burden, emphasizing that faithful labor is submission to God. Idleness can lead to other sins, such as being a "busybody" who disrupts the church.

· Gospel-Driven Church Discipline: Church discipline is presented as an action commanded by Christ, to be carried out by the church on its members, specifically those living in unrepentant sin. Following the principles of Matthew 18, it involves direct confrontation of sin, potentially leading to the disfellowshipping of unrepentant members. Ultimately, church discipline is driven by love and the gospel, aiming to bear a true witness, rescue wayward members, and affirm that unrepentant rebellion is not acceptable to God.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 7/6/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

The advancement of the gospel and the endurance of the church are testimonies to the faithfulness and power of God, not the tenacity or ingenuity of man.

What has enabled the church to endure in a hostile world? What empowers Christians to share the gospel when faced with such difficulties and costs? How can you remain faithful and encouraged in a world that is indefatigably working against God?

2 Thessalonians teaches that the only way to faithfully endure in a hostile world is to put your trust in the power, promises, and goodness of God.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 6/22/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

From the archives. Originally preached in September 2020.

What is your true treasure? Is it God's truth and God's glory or worldly pleasures and comforts? James 5:1-6 gives the church three warnings related to wealth.

Almost every believer will struggle with doubt at some point in their life. Very often, Satan uses moments of spiritual failure or weakness to sow the seeds of doubt. Because of the pressures of persecution and the confusion of false teaching, the Thessalonian Christians were struggling with doubt. They wondered and worried if they were truly saved. They wondered and worried if they were worthy of God’s grace. They wondered and worried that if they experienced a moment of failure or weak faith, could this have forfeited the promises of the gospel?

Having corrected the lies of the false prophets and teachers, Paul now turns his attention to assuring these saints of their salvation and encouraging them to stand firm in their faith. To stand firm in the faith is to remain steadfast and faithful to God and obedient to His word. To do this, Paul does not begin with a list of demands for the church to meet but rather with an affirmation of the true gospel that enables the saints to stand firm in their faith.

Confident hope in the assurance of salvation empowers believers to stand firm in their faith and hold fast to the testimony of the gospel. Failure to stand firm is sometimes the result of being lured away by worldly novelties and distractions. Other times, the pressures, difficulties, and hardships of this world press down so hard that it seems impossible to endure in your strength.

In response to the deceptions of false prophets and the hardships of persecution that the Thessalonian Christians were enduring, Paul encouraged the church in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 to stand firm in the faith in three ways.

Stand firm in the faith by affirming the true gospel. (13-14)

Stand firm in the faith through faithful confidence. (15)

Stand firm in the faith by enjoying the comfort of peace. (16-17)

Find Out More:

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 6/8/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at www.BenSmithSr.org.

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

Fear is a powerful emotion. Though some are more prone to it than others, all struggle with it. Fear can paralyze your ability to take action, and fear can cause you to forfeit what is good. However, the most destructive and dangerous reaction to fear is that it can cause you to lose your confident hope in God's promises and surrender your expectant joy in the kingdom of God.

The Thessalonians Christians were fearful that the persecutions they were enduring meant that they had missed the Second Coming of Christ and were thus experiencing the judgment of Christ on the wicked. Paul had written his first letter to the Thessalonians to assure them that Christ would rapture the church before the judgment of the wicked and to encourage them that they had not missed the rapture.

Paul writes this second letter to address this issue again. The church was enduring severe persecution. Additionally, there were false teachers who claimed that Christ had already returned. The pressures of persecution and the confusion caused by false teaching had caused the church to fear again that they had missed the rapture.

Paul writes this letter not to elaborate on all the details of the Second Coming and the particulars of the antichrist but as a pastor to his church, to encourage them to hold tightly to God's word with confident hope.

The main idea of this passage is: Do not be alarmed by false teachings or fearful of powerless threats but trust in the sovereignty, authority, and power of God.

Paul is not writing to rebuke the church or shame them for their fear but rather to warn them of the danger of being deceived and distracted by false teaching.

From both false teaching and biblical ignorance, many today struggle with fear and anxiety that steal their confident hope and joy in the Lord. So, how can you keep from being deceived and distracted by false teachings?

This passage provides three warnings to help you avoid being distracted by false teachings. Do not be alarmed by false teaching, fearful of the power of false prophets, or deceived by Satan.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 6/1/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

Salvation is not transactional but transformative. When God calls you to salvation, it is a calling to believe and be transformed by the power of God to accomplish His will and bring glory to His name.

In the secular world, you become very accustomed to transactional relationships. Unfortunately, not only do many people approach their most intimate relationships with a transactional mindset, but many also attempt to relate to God in a similar manner. However, God does not negotiate or bargain, nor can God be manipulated or deceived. It is impossible to receive God's salvation through any form of human transaction.

When you believe in faith and are saved by God, you are transformed by the power of God for the glory of God. In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Paul prays with confidence in God's will for the Thessalonian church to continue being transformed for His glory.

How does salvation transform your life? These verses illustrate two fundamental ways in which salvation transforms a Christian's life. That is, salvation transforms what you are and what you do.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 5/25/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

Christians endure the present with confident faith in the coming of Jesus, who will rightly judge the world, rescue the saints, and reveal His full glory. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to encourage the saints who were enduring persecution. The encouragement is that Jesus is coming again to rescue the saints and judge the wicked.

Thinking of the vengeance and judgment of God is uncomfortable for many Christians. So, how should you respond to the coming judgment of Christ?

This passage is both an encouragement to Christians and a warning to unbelievers. To believers, it encourages you to have confident faith, and to unbelievers, it serves as a warning of God's coming judgment.

This passage encourages the saints to endure the present with confident faith in who Jesus is and what he will do. To unbelievers, it is an urgent plea to repent.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 5/18/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.

In this sermon, Pastor Ben Smith explores 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, focusing on how the faith and actions of believers serve as a powerful testimony to other Christians. This passage highlights that a Christian's faith and testimony of sanctification testify to God's goodness and work to encourage other believers. While we often think of ministry as what we can do or give, Paul reminds the Thessalonians, and us, that our first ministry and offering to other saints is our own testimony.

Key question: What impact should your testimony have on other Christians?

Your testimony should cause other saints to give thanks to God, and your testimony should encourage other saints.

Key Takeaway:

Your life, your growth in faith, your increasing love for others, and your endurance through hardship are not just for your own benefit; they are a powerful testimony of God's work that is meant to inspire thanksgiving in others and encourage them in their own walk with the Lord.

Find Out More:

For more sermons and content from Pastor Ben Smith, visit BenSmithSr.org. You can also find information about Central Baptist Church at cbcwaycross.org.

Ben Smith is the pastor of Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA.

This sermon was originally preached on 5/11/2025 at Central Baptist Church of Waycross, GA.

Additional podcasts, books, and downloadable PDFs of Pastor Ben’s sermon outlines and manuscripts are available at http://bensmithsr.org

For more information on Central Baptist Church, Waycross, GA, visit www.cbcwaycross.org.