A leader without followers is like a conductor without an orchestra.

Just somebody with a baton waving their hands in front of empty chairs.

The same is true in the local church.

And today, on Insight for Living, Chuck Swindall describes what he

calls the flip side of leadership, referring to the role of followers. In First Thessalonians, Paul made

it clear. When the pastor and parishioners are in sync, tremendous progress is made. So let's pick up

our study now in First Thessalonians chapter 2. Chuck titled

today's message, The Flipside of Leadership.

The Word of God performs its work in you who believe. For example, is another way we could say it.

For example, fellow Christians, you became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.

Now about that. Here he is in Macedonia, which is a continent of a half removed from where he had been in Jerusalem.

And of all things, when the Word of God took root in Thessalonica, you are beginning to look just like the saints who live down there in Judea.

It's remarkable. It's wonderful. It says, I'm not alone.

And that's what happened in Thessalonica. You brethren became imitators and you remind me of

the way they're living down in Judea. There is godliness that emerges.

And by the way, it's incomplete if we don't include some word about suffering.

I'm going to say a lot about that next time, but please note this time, verse 14.

For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea for,

see, there's a further explanation, you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of

your countrymen, even as they did. Are you tracking this? Are you thinking now with me?

We don't come to be entertained. We come to worship and to be instructed.

We need to think together.

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