I wrote yesterday that I believe all of us can be “difference-makers” whether we are leaders or not and closed with Paul’s brief description of the believers in Thessalonica:

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1.8 – 10, ESV)

Let’s bullet out what the believers were doing for clarity. This is not a bad set of goals if we are trying to make disciples. What would we like to see them doing?

• Proclaim the word of the Lord
• Turn to God
• Thereby turn away from idols
• Serve the living and true God
• Eagerly expect Jesus’ return

Paul wasn’t content that people simply make a “profession of faith.” He wanted life-change, and this list is a good starting place!

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2.9, ESV)

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. (1 John 5.21, ESV)

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matthew 4.10, ESV)