Philippians 2:12-13 (NASB)

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure.

1. Man’s discipline (2:12)
2. God’s power (2:13)

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1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (NSAB)

1 Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Big Idea: Excel more than you think you need to in your spiritual walk and obedience to Jesus’s commands.

1) What (Mandate)

2) Why (Motivation/s)

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1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (NASB)

11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

Four questions to ask yourselves regarding your prayer lives:
1) Do you pray?
2) If and when you do pray, who are you praying to?
3) When you’re praying for others, what makes up most of your prayer requests?
4) To what end do you make those requests?

Three elements if a pastoral prayer which informs how the church ought to pray for each other:
1) Its address (3:11a)
2) Its request (3:11b-12)
3) Its purpose (3:13)

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1) He valued women as persons
2) He showed His view of women by ministering to them
3) He gives women dignity in His ministry:
     a) By teaching theological truth to women
     b) By having women participate in His ministry

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1 Thess. 3:1-10 (NASB)

1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Four Characteristics of the Earnest Pastor/Shepherd
1) Burden for the souls of the people (3:1‑2,5)
2) Readiness to suffer for Gospel ministry (3:3‑4)
3) Comfort from the flock’s spiritual well-being (3:6‑8)
4) Continual care for the flock’s spiritual progress (3:9‑10)

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1 Thess. 2:17-20 (NASB)

17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while – in person, not in spirit – were all the more eager with great desire to see your face. 18 For we wanted to come to you – I, Paul, more than once – and yet Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Big Idea: Gospel ministry involves a heart of affection for people, the reality of Satan’s presence, and the hope of a rewarding reunion upon Christ’s return.

1) Heart of Gospel Ministry: Genuine affection for people (2:17‑18a)
2) Opposition to Gospel ministry: Satan’s hatred of people (2:18b)
3) Joy of Gospel ministry: Jesus’ gathering of His people (2:19‑20)

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1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 (NASB)

13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of mere men, but as what it really is, the word of God, which also is at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all people, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always reach the limit of their sins. But wrath has come upon them fully.

Theme: There is a right way and a wrong way to respond to God’s Word/Gospel, which has supernatural, life-giving power for all who will believe.

1) Right Response to the Word of God (v. 13(a))

2) Power of the Word of God (v. 13b-15a)

3) Wrong Response to the Word of God (v. 15b-16)

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1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NASB)

9 For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, 12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Theme: The privilege of proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples comes with the God-graced responsibility of personal investment and godly conduct.

A “To-Do” List for the Christian Discipler:

1) Persist in sacrificial service (v. 9)

2) Practice exemplary behavior (v. 10)

3) Provide father-like care ((v. 11)

4) Have a clear purpose (v. 12)

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1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NASB)

1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our reception among you was not in vain, 2 but after we had already suffered and been treated abusively in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition. 3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. 5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— 6 nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ. 7 But we proved to be gentle among you. As a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children, 8 in the same way we had a fond affection for you and were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.

Theme: The privilege of proclaiming the Gospel and making disciples comes with the God-pleasing responsibility of personal integrity and godly character.

1) The Christian discipler’s message must be the true Gospel of God (2:1-2, 4, 8)

2) The Christian discipler’s manner must be godly love for others (2:7-8)

3) The Christian discipler’s motivation must be to sincerely please God (2:3-4, 5-6)

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John 11:25-26 (NASB)

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Two assertions from Jesus concerning life after death which give all who trust in Him the hope of soul salvation and physical resurrection forever

1) Jesus’ extraordinary claim (11:25a)
2) Jesus’ precious promise (11:25b-26a)

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