Steady
Notes from Scott Sutton's sermon on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
Sermon text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
1.) Unsteady Christians need to be reminded who they belong to and what they have by faith.
"We are all still here."
"You have a good heavenly Father."
"You have the Lord Jesus Christ."
"You have God's grace and the peace that goes with it."
What is making you feel unsteady today?
V2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers...
2.) Unsteady Christians need to be encouraged and prayed for.
You're unlikely to encourage someone that you are not thankful for.
Who are you mentioning to God? What names are filling your prayers and making it to the ears of our good heavenly Father?
As we read this, we can't help but ask God for help with our impatience and frustration. Otherwise steady Christians all too easily become unsteady, impatient , and frustrated when others aren't acting right.
Challenge: Spend some time this week praying for the most frustrating Christian person in your life!
It is as though Paul says what the unsteady ones need to hear without talking about what is making them unsteady. Instead, he talks about what made them steady...
V3 "remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
3.) Steadiness is found by taking Jesus at His Word.
Faith produces Work
Love produces Labor
Hope produces Steadfastness
Paul cares about the health of the church. But Paul loved the church more than he loved the health of the church.
Discipleship Questions:
Sermon text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
1.) Unsteady Christians need to be reminded who they belong to and what they have by faith.
"We are all still here."
"You have a good heavenly Father."
"You have the Lord Jesus Christ."
"You have God's grace and the peace that goes with it."
What is making you feel unsteady today?
V2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers...
2.) Unsteady Christians need to be encouraged and prayed for.
You're unlikely to encourage someone that you are not thankful for.
Who are you mentioning to God? What names are filling your prayers and making it to the ears of our good heavenly Father?
As we read this, we can't help but ask God for help with our impatience and frustration. Otherwise steady Christians all too easily become unsteady, impatient , and frustrated when others aren't acting right.
Challenge: Spend some time this week praying for the most frustrating Christian person in your life!
It is as though Paul says what the unsteady ones need to hear without talking about what is making them unsteady. Instead, he talks about what made them steady...
V3 "remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
3.) Steadiness is found by taking Jesus at His Word.
Faith produces Work
Love produces Labor
Hope produces Steadfastness
Paul cares about the health of the church. But Paul loved the church more than he loved the health of the church.
Discipleship Questions:
- Are you in a season of steady or unsteady? What is making you unsteady?
- Why is it important to make sure that unsteady Christians are encouraged and prayed for?
- Why are you unlikely to encourage someone that you are not thankful for?
- Challenge one another to pray for the most frustrating Christian person in your life! (Probably best to leave out names if sharing with others)
- Is there any part of your life where you are not taking Jesus at His Word?
- Discuss how you have observed faith producing work and love producing labor...
- Why is it important to love the church more than you love the health of the church?
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