Parish Study | 6.23 | 1 Thess 4
Parish Study I Thessalonians 4:1-12
Summary: This section of Paul's letter is an exhortation towards Christian living. Our aim in life is to live in a way that is pleasing to God. And a clear aspect of our living in ways that please the Lord is abstaining from sexual immorality. Paul draws a clear distinction between the way Christians are to live and the way that the ordinary gentiles of Thessalonica are living. The Christian sexual ethic has always been counter cultural. Paul urges this young church to pursue purity and and considers sexual immorality as a way of wronging our brother's in Christ. Ultimately this is all grounded in our ultimate call as Christians to be people marked by love for one another.
Study:
Pray for God to open our hearts to his word.
One person reads 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 out loud
Move through the below questions as a group
1. What is the will of God ? Hint: vs 3.
2. Why is a disregarding of sexual morality a disregarding of God?
3. Why the continued exhortation towards love for one another?
4. How can we aspire to quiet livers? Does Paul do that?
Pray for God to open our hearts to his word.
One person reads 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 out loud
Move through the below questions as a group
1. What is the will of God ? Hint: vs 3.
2. Why is a disregarding of sexual morality a disregarding of God?
3. Why the continued exhortation towards love for one another?
4. How can we aspire to quiet livers? Does Paul do that?
I Thessalonians 4:1-12
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Th 4:1–12.
Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Th 4:1–12.