1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as indeed the rest of mankind do, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose from the dead, so also God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 For we say this to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

Words of hope that Christians can take great comfort in regarding our Resurrection and Rapture

1) The Certainty of Resurrection Life (4:13-14)

2) The Order of Events (4:15-17a)

3) The Expectation of Reunion (4:17a)

4) The Eternality of Being with Jesus (4:17b)

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1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (NASB)

9 Now as to the love of the brothers and sisters, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you practice it toward all the brothers and sisters who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, to excel even more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we instructed you, 12 so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.

Christians are commanded to excel in loving each other and to live respectably among non-believers as testimonies for Christ.

1) Abounding love for fellow Christians (4:9-10)

2) Respectable lives among non-Christians (4:11-12)

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1 Timothy 2:5 (NASB)

5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus

John 1:4 (NASB)

4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind.

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1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 (NASB)

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no one violate the rights and take advantage of his brother or sister in the matter, because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you previously and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

Theme: God’s explicit will for us as Christians is to live a sanctified life of sexual purity.

Outline: Three aspects of personal purity that God requires of you and desires for you.

1) Stop any sexually immoral behavior (4:3)

2) Steward your body honorably (4:4-5)

3) Steer clear of cheating others (4:6)

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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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