在帖撒罗尼迦后书的最后一章，保罗请信徒为他祷告，他也写下了为信徒的祷告：「愿主引导你们的心去爱上帝，并学基督的忍耐！」（3:5）教会是有「爱」的地方，同时也是有「纪律」的地方。从认识上帝的爱，到学会「爱上帝」，最后愿意为了爱上帝而「忍耐」世上各样的试探、诱惑与逼迫，这就是一个纪律养成的过程。

帖撒罗尼迦教会有一些人，不做工只等着别人救济，耶稣再来的事情更加强了这些人游手好闲的理由。这些人的想法是：「反正耶稣就要再来了，何必做工呢？」保罗严词谴责这样的人说：「若有人不肯做工，就不可以吃饭」，并且要其他的信徒「远离他」。若有人不听劝，要把他「记下」，「不和他交往」。 （3:6-15）

即便如此严厉，出发点仍是爱，目的是要不做工的人「自觉羞愧」而悔改。这样做是为了维系教会的道德生活，并且是为了那些人的好处，以免他们因为不愿自食其力而被轻看。

保罗也提醒教会执行纪律的「态度」，那就是「不要把他当仇人，要劝他如劝弟兄。」保罗要他们记得，接受纪律的仍是他们的弟兄与姊妹，执行纪律的过程必须有爱，是要「劝」不是要「排斥」。

保罗也举自己的例子为榜样，他说：「我们在你们当中从未懒散过，也从未白吃人的饭，倒是辛苦劳碌，昼夜做工，免得使你们中间有人受累。」（3:7-8）

我们要明白，执行纪律的目的不是要突显自己的义，而是为了对方的好处。因此，要有效执行纪律，必须掌握以下四个原则：1.以「爱」为出发点，2.加上让人听得进去的「态度」，3.「说明」劝戒的目的，4.并且「以身作则」。

这样的原则也适用在家庭里面，特别是亲子关系。当然，也适用在你的公司或所有由人组成的团体中。

简体圣经 | https://www.bible.com/bible/140/2TH.3.RCUVSS

繁體聖經 | https://www.bible.com/bible/139/2TH.3.RCUV

In the final chapter of 2 Thessalonians, Paul asks believers to pray for him and he also writes his prayer for them: "May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ." (2 Thessalonians 3:5). The church is a place of "love" but also a place of "discipline." From knowing the love of God to learning to "love God," and ultimately being willing to "persevere" through various trials, temptations, and persecutions for the sake of loving God, this is a process of discipline.

In the Thessalonian church, there were some people who did not work but relied on others for support, and the expectation of Jesus' second coming further strengthened their reasons for idleness. Their thinking was, "Since Jesus is coming again soon, why bother working?" Paul strongly condemns such people, saying, "If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat." He instructs other believers to keep away from them, take special note of anyone who did not obey his instruction and not to associate with them. (3:6-15)

Despite such severity, the motive behind it is still love, with the purpose of causing those who do not work to feel ashamed and repent. This is done to maintain the moral life of the church and for the benefit of those individuals so that they are not looked down upon due to their unwillingness to support themselves.

Paul also reminds the church of the "attitude" to have in implementing discipline, which is to "not regard him as an enemy but warn him as a brother." Paul wants them to remember that those who receive discipline are still their brothers and sisters, and the process of discipline must be carried out with love, seeking to "persuade" rather than to "exclude."

Paul sets himself as an example, saying, "For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labour we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you." (3:7)

We need to understand that the purpose of discipline is not to show our righteousness but for the benefit of the other person. Therefore, in order to effectively implement discipline, we must adhere to the following four principles: 1. Start with "love," 2. Approach with an attitude that allows the other person to listen, 3. Explain the purpose of the admonition, and 4. Lead by example.

These principles also apply within families, especially in parent-child relationships. Of course, they are also applicable in your workplace or any group composed of people.

Reading the Bible | https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2TH.3.ESV