Quotes About Community

We cared so deeply that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our own lives as well. That is how beloved you have become to us.

For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—

For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Judea that are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the very things they suffered from the Jews,

After all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it is not you yourselves in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

You are indeed our glory and our joy.

So when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left on our own in Athens.

We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

so that none of you would be shaken by these trials. For you know that we are destined for this.

Indeed, when we were with you, we kept warning you that we would suffer persecution; and as you know, it has come to pass.

For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter had somehow tempted you and caused our labor to be in vain.

But just now, Timothy has returned from his visit with the good news about your faith, your love, and the fond memories you have preserved, longing to see us just as we long to see you.

For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and persecution, we have been reassured about you, because of your faith.

For now we can go on living, as long as you are standing firm in the Lord.

How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking from your faith.

And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,

Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.

And you are indeed showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more

and to aspire to live quietly, to attend to your own matters, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you.

Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Now about the times and seasons, brothers, we do not need to write to you.

Therefore encourage and build one another up, just as you are already doing.

But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.