1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Practicing Godliness

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Sanctified believers practice sexual purity.

  2. Sanctified believers practice brotherly love.

  3. Sanctified believers practice lifestyle discipline.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Remember, there’s always room for improvement.

QUESTIONS

  1. Define the word “sanctified”.

  2. What does the word “vessel” mean?

  3. Explain the word “defraud” in 1 Thessalonians 4:6.

  4. God has called us to purity in the midst of temptations. How should purity be practiced in the life of a believer?

  5. In God’s court, believers are declared sanctified, but sin is still a problem in everyday life. How do we overcome this?

ANSWERS

  1. It comes from the word “holy”, and it means to be set apart for use by God Himself.

  2. It can mean your body or a man’s wife. The Greek word is used for both elsewhere in the New Testament. See 1 Peter 3:7 and 2 Corinthians 4:7. Either way, this passage teaches sexual purity.

  3. It is not just the final act of adultery, but all the steps leading up to it.

  4. Purity should be practiced in attitude, actions, and thought life.

  5. By looking to God; by practicing sexual purity, brotherly love, and lifestyle discipline.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The early church in Thessalonica was experiencing persecution and testing. Paul exhorted them to practice godliness in the face of these trials. In particular, he wrote to the to practice purity in attitude, actions, and thought life. Are you putting 1 Thessalonians into practice in your life?

  2. Paul commended the Thessalonian believers for practicing brotherly love, and he encouraged them to love even more. Are you practicing brotherly love, and are you ready to practice it even more? It may cost you in time, effort, and finances. Are you willing?

  3. Paul gave guidelines to the Thessalonians believers, and to us, to practice lifestyle discipline. Re-read these guidelines in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12. Are you practicing lifestyle discipline?

CHALLENGE

  1. We are declared positionally sanctified before God, but sin is still a problem in our everyday lives. It is easy to become stagnant in our sanctification. With God's help, it's up to the believer to practice sexual purity, brotherly love, and lifestyle discipline.

KEY VERSES

  • “ Brethren, we urge and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God. ” - 1 Thessalonians 4:1

  • “ This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you should abstain from sexual immorality. Each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor. ” - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4

  • “ No one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such. God called us to holiness. Rejecting this means rejecting God. ” - 1 Thessalonians 4:6-8

  • “ Concerning brotherly love…you are taught by God to love one another, and increase in this yet more. ” - 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

  • “ Aspire to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your own hands, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside. ” - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

1 Thessalonians, New Testament, TalksDeb Harms1 Thessalonians 4:1-12