Text: 1 Thess. 3:9-13 Title: What Does It Take? Thesis: What does it take to thank God for the people of God with all their challenges, while at the same time loving them? What Does It Take to Thank God? 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, What Does It Take to Supply What is Lacking? 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Faith In Interdependency Over Individualism Faith In Principle Over Pragmatism Faith In Applied Doctrine over Emotionalism Faith In Eternal Judgement Over Present Survival “The transformation [by faith] the church needs is the kind that results from beholding the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18-4:6). This glory of god is a saving and judging glory—an aroma of life to those being saved and death to those perishing (2 Cor. 2:15-16), and this saving and judging glory is at the center of biblical theology.” Hamilton, pg. 39. What Does It Take to Love People? All are created in the image of God, but with their own personality. All are gifted by God for the common good of the body. All are different stages of maturity.