1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (focus on vs 1-5)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
Isaiah 2:12
Isaiah 2:19-20
Amos 5:18-20
Daniel 12:1
Matthew 24:21-22
Revelation 6:15-17
1 Thessalonians 5:3
Matthew 24:38-39
1 Thessalonians 5:4-5
Questions for Reflection:
If you knew today that the end was near how would it change you?
(How would that change your approach to people who don’t know Jesus?)
Who among us is guaranteed another day of life?
How do you feel when the subject of the end-times comes up?
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
1 Corinthians 15:50-55
1 Thessalonians 4:18
The return of Christ should give us a sense of urgency.
Question: If Jesus’ return was today, what would he find you doing?
The return of Christ should give us a sense of hope.
Question: Are you drawing encouragement and hope in Jesus’ return?
Question: Do you live with an eager expectation of the coming of Jesus?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
mallon (mal’-lon): more, rather.
Question: How big of a priority is it for you to become more and more like Jesus?
“Paul wants them to put their best face forward, so that when they’re refusing to join in on the idol-worshipping festivities, people won’t think they’re godless misanthropes (people who dislike mankind and avoid society).”
A life that pleases God can only be accomplished when we live by faith.
Hebrews 11:6
Questions:
God has called us to sexual purity, where you are honoring God’s design and plan for sex in your life. In your sex life, are you living by faith?
Jesus call us to love one other as He loved us, and scripture says to think of others more than ourselves. In your church life, are you living by faith?
We are also called to live a quiet life, mind our own affairs and “work with our hands”. We should be respectful, humble, sincere, and non-combative. That includes not being contentious or picking fights with those who don’t share your same beliefs and values. In your work life, are you living by faith?
In each of these areas, what are you are NOT living by faith where you need to get things set right?
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
increase= pleonazó (pleh-on-ad’-zo): to grow numerically, abound in number.
abound= perisseuó (per-is-syoo’-o): to be over and above. To exceed beyond the expected measure. To “super-abound”
13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father
1 Peter 1:15-16 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
God wants us to abound and super-abound in love. Love for Him, for one another, and for all. (Because we can’t be blameless in holiness if we aren’t abounding in love.)
Questions:
Are you abounding and super-abounding in your love for one another?
John 13:14-15
John 15:12-13
Are you abounding and super-abounding in your love for all?
Matthew 5:43-45
Are you abounding and super-abounding in your love for God?
Matthew 22:37
God wants us to abound and super-abound in love. Love for Him, for one another, and for all. (Because we can’t be blameless in holiness if we aren’t abounding in love.)
Our FAITH should result in work(s)
Our LOVE should result in labor
Our HOPE should result in perseverance
1 Thessalonians week 2 title
1 Thessalonians 2:1-16
Question: We have been entrusted with the hope of the gospel. Are we handling well what God has entrusted to us?
The hard work of ministry involves:
Painful labor
Personal sacrifice
Possible opposition
Question: Are we willing to engage in the hard work of ministry?
Question: Will we do so when it means great conflict and opposition? Are we doing so when there is very little resistance at all?
Question: Are we people who strive to be commended for our work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope?
