1 Thessalonians 5:12-24

Matt Sprinkle

Sermon Notes:

• When is Jesus coming back?

• He’s coming back!

• Live as people who are awake

• 1 Thes 5:12-13 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

• Accept them. Appreciate them. Love them. Obey them.

• 1 Thes 4:14-15 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

• If our family matters, then we need to address the family matters

• ataktos - Disorderly or out of rank

• Are you idle? Does this stir anything in you?

• Our encouragement should push people to a stronger faith.

• Patience & Refusing to Retaliate

• “[God] is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.” Joel 2:13

• 1 Thes 5:16-22 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

• How can they rejoice like that?

• THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL

• Gossip. Selfishness. Pride. Slander. Bitterness.

• “What does the bible say?”

• 1 Thes 5:23-24 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

• When the world watches our church what do they see?

LIFE Group Discussion Questions

Starter Question: When you think of a healthy family—real or fictional—what qualities come to mind?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

1. What stood out most to you from Sunday’s message about “family matters” in the church? Why?

2. Of the three groups Paul mentions—idle, fainthearted, weak— which one do you find hardest to deal with, and why?

3. How can we tell the difference between someone who needs encouragement and someone who is being divisive?

4. Which of the three commands — rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks — is most challenging for you right now?

5. What does it look like to “test everything and hold fast to what is good” in a world filled with opinions, influencers, and spiritual noise?

6. How does Christ’s second coming (and the Advent season) shape the way we live as a church family today?