It’s been a few weeks since I was last able to update, but Pastor Alan continued his teachings on the book of 1 Thessalonians by taking us through the last few verses of chapter 2 and then through chapter 3 and an overview of chapter 4. To listen to these messages, simply click play on the audio player for the message you’d like to hear. Alan’s outlines are included, as well as links to Bible Gateway if you’d like to read the Scriptures mentioned in the outline. I hope to get caught up soon, but in the meantime, I pray you enjoy!
Helpers or Hinderers?
- Marks of Helpers:
- Have a sense of family closeness and don’t want to be dividers. 2:17
- Are seen by others as a joy, hope, reward, and glory. 2:19-20
- Will sacrifice even if it means their own loneliness. 3:1
- Will serve in the spreading of the gospel. 3:2a
- Will strengthen and encourage others in the faith. 3:2b
- Are a calming/settling force in the inevitable stormy trials of life. 3:3-4
- Will help people when they are tempted to give up on their faith. 3:5
- Marks of Hinderers. 2:18
- Don’t want the gospel of grace spread.
- They are locked into narrow, dogmatic stances.
- They are used by Satan as tools of hinderance to grace.
- Paul certainly acknowledges the reality of Satan!
- Conclusion: The hymn, “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy,” really speaks to whether we will be helpers and hinderers. One line of the hymn says, “But we make this love too narrow by false limits of our own, and we magnify His strictness with a zeal He will not own.”
Qualities to Strive For
- Introduction: Paul continues his encouragement to the church at Thessalonica. He speaks now of the encouraging report from Timothy. He speaks of qualities of the believers there in Thessalonica that are encouraging and then he talks about what he is praying for them. We can strive for the same qualities the people had, and we can pray for each other for the same things Paul prayed for the believers in Thessalonica.
- Strive for these Qualities:
- To be a source of good news. The good news Paul received from Timothy was about the people’s faith and love. vs 6a
- To be a source of good remembrance. Part of being a good remembrance is the feeling of being wanted. vs 6b
- To be a source of comfort when others are hurting, by a living Faith. vs 7
- To be a source of life to others by standing firm in our own faith. vs 8
- To be a source of thanksgiving and joy. vs 9
- To be a source of supplying what is lacking among one another as believers. vs 10
- Pray for these things:
- Conclusion: Paul has talked about what he has been to the church in Thessalonica and what they have meant to him. It’s a beautiful picture of what to strive for among one another.
Other Matters That Matter
- Paul’s instruction on sexual matters, work, and a proper view of death. 1st Thessalonians 4:1-18
- Paul instructs us to live to please God. vs 1-2
- To please God is to live an ongoing and growing, life of faith. Hebrews 11:6
- To please God is to be subject to the authority of Christ.
- Paul instructs us to live our lives set apart to God & from pagan practices. vs 3-8
- The practices to be set apart from are these:
- sexual immorality
- impurity
- rejection of God as the Holy Spirit.
- The practices to be set apart from are these:
- Paul again instructs us to live a life of growing love towards other believers. vs 9-10
- Paul instructs us to live a life of contentment: minding our own business, productivity, and non-dependency. vs. 11-12
- Paul instructs us to live in hope even in the face of death. This hope is a sure hope based on the resurrection and return of Christ. vs. 13-18
- Paul instructs us to live to please God. vs 1-2
- Conclusion: Paul has given us practical and ethical instruction on sexual purity, being productive, and how to face death.
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