2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 (NASB)

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is only fitting, because your faith is increasing abundantly, and the love of each and every one of you toward one another grows ever greater. 4 As a result, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering.

A striving, thriving Church is:

1) Remembering God’s grace and peace (1:1-2)

2) Growing in faith in Christ and love for each other (1:3)

3) Willing to suffer for the Gospel (1:4-5)

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1 Thessalonians 5:25-28 (NASB)

25 Brethren, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Theme: Our pursuit of sanctification should happen in the context of a loving church family, involving certain actions and attitudes.

Outline:
1) Prayer for spiritual leaders and each other (v. 25)
   – Will not shrink back from suffering for the Gospel
   – Will preach God’s Word and Gospel with boldness
   – Will not speak with deception or to deceive
   – Will have integrity before God
   – Will not be greedy for selfish gain or desire glory for ourselves
   – Will labor hard and stay diligent in our work
   – Will pursue personal holiness
2) Warm affection for each other (v. 26)
3) High regard for God’s Word (v. 27)
4) Our Lord’s grace continuing to transform us (v. 28)

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1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NASB)

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Theme: God promises true believers that He will keep and sanctify us completely, all the way to the end until we are with the Lord.

Outline:
1) The Bold and Beautiful Benediction (v. 23)
2) The Faithful Finisher (v. 24)

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1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NASB)

19 Do not quench the Spirit; 20 do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

Outline:
1) Don’t stifle the Holy Spirit’s work and words (vv. 19-20)
    – By not being in the Word
    – By being disobedient to the Word
    – By not dealing with our sins
    – By relying on our routine and ritual rather than the Holy Spirit Himself
    – By despising prophetic utterances
2) Be discerning about what you hear and act on it (vv. 21-22)
    – Compare to other Scriptures
    – Look at the character of the messenger

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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)

16 Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Theme: Three practices which God commands Christians in the Church to continuously carry out together.

Outline:

1) Always Rejoice (v. 5:16)
2) Continually pray (v. 5:17)
3) In Everything give thanks (v. 5:38

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1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 (NASB)

12 But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.

Instructions for how the Church should treat its leaders and each other based on the promises of the Gospel

1) Proper attitude towards leaders (5:12-13a)

2) Proper behavior within the church body (5:13b-15)

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1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 (NASB)

12 But we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who diligently labor among you and are in leadership over you in the Lord, and give you instruction, 13 and that you regard them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people.

Instructions for how the Church should treat its leaders and each other based on the promises of the Gospel

1) Proper attitude towards leaders (5:12-13a)

2) Proper behavior within the church body (5:13b-15)

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Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB)

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

John 14:1-4 (NASB)

1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. 4 And you know the way where I am going.”

Psalm 16:11 (NASB)

11 You will make known to me the way of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Isaiah 25:6-9 (NASB)

6 Now the Lord of armies will prepare a lavish banquet for all peoples on this mountain;
A banquet of aged wine, choice pieces with marrow,
And refined, aged wine.
7 And on this mountain He will destroy the covering which is over all peoples,
The veil which is stretched over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death for all time,
And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces,
And He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth;
For the Lord has spoken.
9 And it will be said on that day,
“Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
Let’s rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”

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2 Peter 3:10-11 (NASB)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be discovered.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

Revelation 21:1-4 (NASB)

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among the people, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

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1 Thessalonians 5:9-11) NASB

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Theme: Remembering the eternal life-saving, life-giving power of the Gospel motivates believers to live worthily for Christ in this fallen world.

Outline:

1) The nature of salvation
2) The mediator of salvation
3) The goal of salvation

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