Theme: Practical Christian Living
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Objectives:
Know: The Thessalonian Christians were new believers learning how to live for God. Paul gave them some practical advice we also can use to help us live for Christ.
Think: Live with the mindset that God’s Word guides all we do.
Do: Put the practical truths of Scripture into practice each day.
Notes and questions:
B1 How do we continue to live a Christian life?
B2 The work of satan towards the Christian and the deliverance of Jesus for us. I want to include this, because God’s rules are good. Satan wants us to think they are not good and uses many ways to convince us.
C1 Satan
D1 Pretends to love and promise pleasures.
D2 Seduces
D3 Lies (John 8:44)
D4 Murders (John 8:44)
D5 Harassment
D6 Destroys
D7 Brings back bad memories
D8 Pretends to be God (so God will get the blame)
D9 Bullies
D10 Tries to thwart God’s will
D11 Twists the Scriptures (Matthew 4:6 where he does not quote the entire passage. See Psalm 91:11-13).
D12 Gives false promises of power and success
D13 Gives the impression that there is no devil and no hell
D14 Encourages false gospel (A false Jesus and that works are necessary)
D15 Inspires others to hate, persecute, and kill Jews and Christians.
D16 Hinders and oppresses (Zechariah 3:1 and 1 Thessalonians 2:18)
D17 Hinders the Gospel (Matthew 13:19 and 2 Corinthians 4:4)
D18 Does imitation miracles (2 Thessalonians 2:9 and Revelation 16:14)
D19 Comes as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14)
D20 Lusts and inspires lust in others (John 8:44)
D21 Possesses people to do his will (Luke 22:3)
D22 Deceives (Revelation 20:7-8)
D23 Enslaves (1 Timothy 3:7 and 2 Timothy 2:26)
D24 Hates
C2 Jesus
D1 Loves us (John 16:27 and Hebrews 12:6)
D2 Came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8)
D3 And many other things, for example, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; (Luke 4:18, NKJV)
B3 We have in this passage a short list of rules for the Christian
C1 Respect leaders of the church
D1 How do we show respect to the leaders of the church?
D2 Are we to automatically accept what they teach?
C2 Be at peace with each other
D1 What is peace?
D2 How can we be at peace with each and every person?
C3 Warn the unruly (rebellious)
D1 What attitude are we to have when we rebuke?
D2 Is this only for pastors to do?
C4 Comfort the discouraged
D1 Why do people get discouraged?
D2 Name some ways we can help.
C5 Strengthen the weak
D1 Who are the weak?
D2 How do we strengthen them?
C6 Be patient
D1 How can we learn to be patient?
D2 When do we stop being patient?
C7 Do not avenge
D1 Why is it wrong to seek vengeance?
D2 Are we to be total pacifists?
C8 Seek good
D1 What is good?
D2 How do we seek for it?
C9 Always rejoice
D1 Are we to rejoice in tragedy?
D2 Compare 1 Thessalonians 3:2-4 and 2 Corinthians 12:10
C10 Continuously pray
D1 Why do we pray?
D2 Is this only a ritual?
C11 Always give thanks
D1 Does God NEED thanks? Does God need anything?
D2 Do we like being thanked?
C12 Do not quench the Spirit
D1 How does a person quench the Spirit?
D2 When I was a young man in my late teens, my pastor Dr David Otis Fuller was preaching. He told the story of a man who was under conviction for his sin. This man wanted to talk to Dr Fuller, but a Christian standing next to him, prevented him from doing that. Dr Fuller then stated that he conducted the funeral of that Christian that very week. The man who had quenched the Spirit died. Of course, death is not always the penalty but does show the seriousness of quenching the Spirit.
C13 Do not despise prophecies
D1 Prophet
E1 Tells about future. Jesus did (Mark 8:31). Agabus did (Acts 21:10-11). John the Apostle did (Revelation 1:11). Also Acts 3:18 and 1 Peter 1:11
E2 Receives a message from God and carries it to the person(s) that God designated. Among many examples, there are Nathan (2 Samuel 12:1-15), Isaiah (2 Kings 19:6-7), and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:17). There were many others as 2 Chronicles 36:15 and Jeremiah 35:15.
E3 Receives knowledge from God that is unknown by others as Peter (Acts 5:1-6) and Jesus (John 6:70).
E4 Is carried along by the Holy Spirit. This means the Holy Spirit gives them a message which they carry (bring, speak) to people. The Holy Spirit gave a message which they carried to the people. The Greek word is usually translated bring with the idea of carrying and is understood in various ways.
D2 Are there still prophets today?
C14 Test, examine, everything
D1 Are we to judge?
D2 How do we judge?
D3 What is the standard?
E1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Matthew 7:1-2, NKJV)
E2 In a different translation, “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you, for God will judge you in the same way you judge others, and he will apply to you the same rules you apply to others. (Matthew 7:1-2, GNB92)
C15 Hold on to what is good
D1 What is good?
D2 Is all change wrong?
D3 What is this verse speaking of?
C16 Abstain from evil
D1 How do we define evil?
E1 The word evil is not the word for something bad.
E2 It is the word for . Strong’s has this note: (properly) in effect or influence, and thus differing from G2556, which refers rather to essential character, as well as from G4550, which indicates degeneracy from original virtue. G2556 deals with the character of something, thus murder is bad, lying is bad, etc. G4550 deals with a change as fruit becomes rotten. This word (G4190) deals more with the effects of something. Prophecy is something good, but fake/false prophecy is evil in its effects.
D2 Why is evil wrong?
B4 Prayer
C1 For believers: Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, NKJV)
C2 For the Apostle and his team: Brethren, pray for us. (1 Thessalonians 5:25, NKJV)
B5 Last words
C1 Greet all the believers.
C2 Read this letter
C3 May God’s grace be with you
B6 Next week:
C1 Future-Proof Faith
C2 Theme: Enduring in truth
C3 Scriptures: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
