Most Christians seem to have parts of the Bible that they love coming back to again and again. I feel a little nervous about naming one of the passages I return to, given that God is the author of every word of Scripture. Is picking favourite parts of the Bible like picking a favourite child? Or is it okay to feel a special connection with some parts of Scripture?

I certainly hope it’s okay—and, in fact, I’m sure it is. One of the beautiful things about the way God has chosen to reveal himself is that his word to us is not monochrome. Because it’s also written by human authors, whose voices and situations jump off the page to us, there are peaks and valleys, light and shade, warmth and warning. There are poetic flourishes, harsh truths, engrossing stories, human drama, shocking histories, minute details, sweeping visions—it’s all there. In God’s kindness, he’s given us a story where different parts can appeal to different people, depending perhaps on our age and stage of life, our personality, or our experiences. What a gift!

And one of the places I return to again and again are the Thessalonian letters. Maybe it’s because they’re short, and I’m a simple man. But I like to think it’s something else: the two Thessalonian letters, taken together, are among the warmest and most encouraging parts of Scripture.

It’s clear from the beginning that Paul and his colleagues, Silvanus and Timothy, have a deep love for the Thessalonians, and it’s mutual! When Paul was separated from the church he’d started in Thessalonica, he was in anguish as he wondered what had become of them and their faith (1 Thess 2:7–3:5). But once Timothy had visited the church and delivered his report of their growing faith and love, Paul was overjoyed. In fact, he was so happy that he wrote these beautiful words: “Now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord” (1 Thess 3:8, NIV).

Now we really live … I think about those words a lot—mostly as a challenging contrast to the ways I’m tempted to finish the sentence. “Now I really live … since I have planned a holiday, gotten the recognition I crave, achieved personal security…” But Paul’s heart for the Thessalonians lifts my eyes to something far more important. His deepest longing was for the people of God to stand firm in their faith—and because that’s what they were doing, his letters to them overflow with thankfulness to God, with encouragement, and with warmth. The message of Thessalonians is, at its heart, a call to keep walking in love and obedience. For example:

We instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. (1 Thess 4:1)

I find there’s an important lesson here for the shape of gospel ministry. It’s easy to drift into the thought that ministry is about correcting error—refuting false teaching, catching the people who are falling, calling sinners to repentance. And of course, yes, those are all part of the task. It’s not enough to be known for what we’re for; we must also stand against error, and we must call on one another to turn away from sin and turn back to the Lord.

But gospel ministry is not just about being the critic and the enforcer. It’s also about being the encourager. It’s about looking around your church, seeing who’s doing well, and coming alongside them to say, “Keep going!” It’s about being a supporter of the good. It’s about celebrating what God is doing in the lives of people around you, and maybe even in your own life. It’s about really living when we see God’s people standing firm amid the trials of life.

It’s worth asking: Is “do this more and more” a major part of your ministry vocabulary? Are you an encourager of the good? Or have you drifted into only ever challenging what’s wrong, never celebrating what’s right?

Of course, these musings only scratch the surface of the message of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. The two letters have together just eight (relatively short) chapters, but they’re filled with wonderful truths that paint a beautiful picture of the Christian life. And at their core is a timeless message of encouragement. It’s well worth our time and effort to study these letters. After all, which of us couldn’t do with a little more encouragement to “live lives worthy of God” (1 Thess 2:12)?