Exhorting (Part 1)

Aug 21, 2025

A sports dad’s secret to spiritual growth

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As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his own children, exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 (NET)

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Exhorting isn’t used much these days.

It’s a bigger word that means to urge or to spur on.

I think of the parents in the stands of the football game, cheering on their kid as they play hard on the field. Or cheering after a great musical performance. Or any number of other “parents cheering on their kids” activities.

But that’s the longer distance, impersonal encouragement.

Exhorting has a more close-up, personal touch.

It’s the dad who plays a game of catch with his son, giving him pointers along the way. Or teaching his children how to ride a bike or to drive. Lots of little lessons that need to be taught, encouragement for when they fail, and urging them on to their goals.

As a church, we’re pretty good at cheering people on at a distance…

But how good are we at exhorting them up close?

I think that’s what discipleship is all about.

I also think that’s part of what made Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians so powerful. Here we have a minister spending less than a year (maybe as little as three months) in a place before having to move on somewhere else.

And when he left? Paul said they were good to go on their own.

That’s amazing to me.

No matter how many times I read it, I’m constantly astounded that Paul could be that confident in their spiritual walk after so short a time.

He could probably only do that because he had exhorted them so well.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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