Collective Care. 1 Thessalonians 5:14. Dear People of God, Having dispensed with the responsibility of Christians to their leaders, Paul now turns his attention to the responsibility of Christians to each other. There is great diversity in the Christian community and no one size fits all, so we need to be sensitive to the unique situations that…
Honour Leaders. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13. Dear Family, As he draws to a conclusion of his letter, Paul issues some practical instructions. First is to honour their leaders. Respect (v. 12). The call to esteem the leaders comes with a brief summary of what the leaders do in the Christian community. Serve. The word used is labour,…
Purpose. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11. Dear People Belonging to God, We have been identified as children of the day and not the night. Now Paul goes a step further and that there is a purpose to our lives. We have something to live and die for. Destiny (v. 9). God’s intention is that we will “obtain salvation through our…
Sobriety. 1 Thessalonians 5:7-8. Dear Royal Priesthood, As we continue to consider the implications of the coming day of the Lord, we are called to sobriety in our approach to life. Careless (v. 7). Those who are of the night will sleep and get drunk at night. The problem with such behavior is that it…
Preparedness. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6. Dear Family, Having warned of the imminent coming of the day of the Lord and the surprise it will be for the world, Paul now turns to the believers and their state of preparedness. The Darkness we Abandoned (v. 4). The reason the world will be caught unawares is that it is…
Sudden Appearing.1 Thessalonians 5:1-3. Dear Saints of the Most High, Paul is not finished talking about the coming of the Lord. From comfort and encouragement, he now turns to an equally important theme: preparedness. Exception (v. 1). Paul says that the Thessalonians do not need to have anything written to them about “the times and…
A Dramatic Appearing. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18. Dear Bride of Christ, Paul’s exposition of the coming appearing of the Lord follows a sequence of events that culminate in the conclusion, “Therefore encourage one another with these words” (v. 18). Paul is following up on the issue of grief and wants the hope he teaches about to be…
Hope for those who Die. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. Dear Pilgrims and Sojourners, Paul now turns to one of the major areas of concern for the Thessalonians – the fate of the believers who die before Christ returns. This seems to have caused the Thessalonians much sorrow and grief, supposing that those who died had missed out…
Good Example. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. Dear Elect of God, Living for God also has a lot to do with setting the right example for outsiders – those who do not know Jesus as savior. The Thessalonians were encouraged to pay attention to this matter. Hands Off (v. 11a). The admonition here is that the Thessalonians will avoid any…
Brotherly Love.1 Thessalonians 4:9-10. Dear Children of God, We saw in the previous passage the need to be sexually pure. Now Paul turns to the matter of love for one another. No Need (v. 9). Paul declares that there is no need for anyone to teach the Thessalonians about love for one another. This is…