Happy Friday, and welcome to Bible Study Snacks! If this is your first time with us, I welcome you! If you're a regular follower of this blog, then it's great to have you back again! Either way, I thank you for joining me as we walk together through the richness of God's spoken word, and wisdom. As always, I hope you had a great week, and that today finds you in good health, and strong in faith!
This week, we continue our study of The First Epistle To The Thessalonians, or 1 Thessalonians. First Thessalonians is regarded as one of Paul's earliest epistles, if not the first. It seems that Paul wrote this letter shortly after arriving in Corinth on his second journey. This would date it somewhere around 52 A.D.
The general theme of 1 Thessalonians is unique in that every chapter ends with a reference to the second coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23). In his writing, Paul places an emphasis on steadfastness and holy living.
The studies presented here are brief, yet packed full of good information for everyone regardless of your level of biblical knowledge. I might also add that these quick studies make perfect small group discussion starters!
As always, I whole-heartedly believe in the importance that any Bible study should begin with prayer. If you have your Bible ready, let us pray together...
"Heavenly father, please guide us as we study your Word today; I pray that our hearts and our minds will be open so that we will not only receive your Gospel, but learn from it as well; you are the Light of the world, Lord, and your Spirit will illuminate our path as we journey through your teachings. In the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen"
If you are taking notes for yourself, or using this for a bible study with others, here are some things to think about for this week's lesson...
This Weeks Objectives: You should be able to...
* understand how the Christian should increase more and more in such matters as obedience, holiness, love, and diligence.
* appreciate the precious hope and comfort we have for those who have died in Christ.
For your convenience, here is a summary of this week's lesson, specifically 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 4...
With this chapter Paul begins a series of apostolic instructions related to the Christian's walk in holiness, especially in view of the coming of Christ. Urging them to abound more and more so that they might please God, he first focuses on their sanctification and the need to abstain from sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8).
He then urges them to increase more and more in brotherly love, even though they had been taught by God to love another and did so toward all the brethren throughout Macedonia (9-10). That they might walk properly toward outsiders, he urges them to lead quiet lives, mind their own business, and to work with their own hands (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
Paul then addresses the matter of those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. He did not want the Thessalonians to sorrow over them as others who have no hope. For just as God raised Jesus from the dead, even so He would bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).
This leads to a description of the Lord's coming, especially as it relates to how those who are alive and remain until His coming will in no way precede those who have died. Indeed, when the Lord comes from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise first, and we who are alive and remain will at that time be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air, to be with Him forever. Christians should therefore comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18).
REVIEW QUESTIONS:
1) What did Paul urge and exhort them in the Lord Jesus to do? (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
2) What is the will of God regarding our sanctification? (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
3) What should each person do regarding "his own vessel"? (1 Thessalonians 4:4-5)
4) Why should we be careful not to defraud our brother in this matter? (1 Thessalonians 4:6-7)
5) If we reject Paul's warning, who is it we are really rejecting? (1 Thessalonians 4:8)
6) Why did Paul not need to write to the Thessalonians about brotherly love? Yet what does he urge them? (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)
7) What three things does Paul encourage them to do in order to walk properly toward outsiders and be lacking in nothing? (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
8) Why did Paul not want them to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
9) Who will God bring with Jesus? (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
10) What is said of those who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord? (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
11) List the order of events that will occur when Jesus comes again (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
12) In view of these coming events, what we should we do? (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
After completing this week's study, I encourage you to go back and read through the material again. Take your time and read each topic and scripture reference as many times as you feel necessary. Keep in mind that by doing this, you just might see something new that you overlooked the first time around!
As we journey through the Bible together, I will continue to pray that God’s message will come through to you loud and crystal clear. Until our next Bible study...
God bless you!
Sheri
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