1 Thessalonians 2:7-12

v7-8: Like a nursing mother, pastors and elders should care for those they lead with gentleness, and with affectionate concern for "their spiritual and eternal welfare and salvation," and be willing to do all they can to to this end.

v9-10: What are some of the characteristics of those who are ministers of the gospel?  They "work hard for the salvation of souls" by faithful preaching and teaching the gospel, and their behaviour is "holy toward God, just toward all people, and blameless," so that it does not cause "scandal or offence."

v11: Church leaders have the responsibility of not only informing believers in the church about their duty, but also of "stirring them to actually do it, with proper motives and arguments" for why they should.  Like spiritual fathers, they are to give encouragement and support when "difficulties and discouragements" are encountered.

v12: "The Gospel calls us into the kingdom and state of grace here and to the kingdom and state of glory in the future, to heaven and happiness as our goal and to holiness as the way to that goal."  Therefore it is our duty to "live lives worthy of God."