1 Thessalonians 5

What does it say?

What does it mean?

How does this apply to us?

I.  Get ready Jesus is coming

a.  Don’t be anxious or worried about Christ’s return

• Paul is addressing the concerns the Thessalonians have about the second coming of Christ(v1-8)

-Paul continues to address the fears the Thessalonians have about the 2nd coming of Christ that he began addressing in chapter 4

• Paul reminds the the Thessalonians that Christ will come unexpectedly(v2-3)

-No one will know when Christ will come

-Jesus will come when we least expect it

b.  Be faithful in the work Christ has called you

• Paul tells the Thessalonians they shouldn’t be surprised by Christ’s coming (v4-5)

-We shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus will come back when we least expect it because we’ve already been told He’s coming back when we least expect it.

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to be prepared for Christ’s return(v6-8)

-We must always live in a state of readiness for Christ's imminent return

-Guard your relationship with Jesus

-Keep hard at work for the Lord and don’t give up

II.  Keep Encouraging each other to persevere

a.  Always remember how Christ demonstrated His love for you

• Paul encourages the Thessalonians to remember Christ died so that we would be spared from God’s wrath and be with Jesus forever(9-10)

-Everyone who places their faith in Christ will spend eternity with Him

-Paul is reassuring that even the people who have died before have been saved by faith and will join Jesus when He returns

b.  Remember how God’s demonstrated His faithfulness

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to keep reminding each other to hold to the hope they have in Jesus(v11)

-Keep sharing your testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness working in your life

III.  Do these things till Christ returns

a.  Love and respect God by loving others

• Paul reminds the church to love and encourage their leaders(v12-13)

-Respect the authority of the leaders of your church, respect for them shows reverence for the Lord

-Honor the servant leaders of your church and encourage them to not give up

-Be an asset to the servant leaders of your church

• Paul reminds the church to bear with each other in love(v14-15)

-Encourage everyone in the church to continue growing in love and service towards each other

-Everyone has issues that need to be worked on

-Have patience and grace for each other just as Christ had grace for you

-Look out for each other’s needs(physical and spiritual)

b.  A commitment to Christ is a commitment to a changed paradigm

• Paul teaches the Thessalonians what to do to grow in their relationship with Christ(16-22)

-Cultivate a joyful attitude by making a habit of thanking God specifically for what He’s given you

-Thanking the Lord helps us recognize our need for God’s provision and helps us trust Him more

-Don’t resist the change God wants to work in your life, be humble and listen to what He says

-Allow the teaching of God’s Word to convict you, but guard against false teachers/teaching(1Thess 4:3)

IV.  Sanctification is God’s Work

a.  God is the only one that can make us holy

• Paul prays that the Thessalonians will be transformed and guarded by the power of God(23-24)

-The power to live a transformed life rests in God

-The task of sanctification is God’s responsibility

-God will sanctify and transform His children

V.  Love the Church

a.  Show your love for each other by praying and serving each other

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to pray for the mission team that visited them

-Pray for the people that have invested in you

-Pray for the ministry of faithful servant leaders

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to treat each other with sacrificial love and to share what He has taught them with others(v26-28)

-Serve each other by sharing what God has taught you