“We ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, since your faith is flourishing and the love each one of you has for one another is increasing.” (v. 3)

I had a pastor who, for a season, led the church through a special emphasis.

Here was the headline: “Celebrate What’s Right.” I think it was a response to that (very churchy) tendency to complain. Whether folks were lamenting declines in attendance or giving, or if they were criticizing leaders, or if they were gossiping, this pastor hit PAUSE and redirected.

The church needed to learn to celebrate what was right!

Paul (inspired) gave us a good framework for that. When he wrote to his friends in Thessalonica, he told them why he was grateful for them, what he was celebrating about them: their faith was flourishing, they were increasing in love for one another, and they were persevering in their purpose, even when times were tough.

Flourishing faith. Increasing love. Perseverance.

If you want to be a church worth celebrating—if you want to be part of what makes the church that—then learn to celebrate these things. Do the devotional, relational, missional work. And don’t fall into the complaining trap!

Let’s live right, together, and let’s celebrate what’s right as we do it.

— Tyler