1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Godly Living as a Christian; Final Greetings of the Letter

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. Complete sanctification is God’s will for the believer.

  2. Complete preservation is God’s will for the believer.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s practice the do’s and don’ts of Scripture.

QUESTIONS

  1. How does Paul begin and end this letter?

  2. Paul commanded that this letter be read publicly in the church of Thessalonica. Would this be a good letter to be read publicly in the church today?

  3. What is the theme of 1 Thessalonians?

  4. Is it wrong to ask for prayer for ourselves?

  5. List the do’s and don’ts in the Christian life found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

  6. What was the custom of greeting the brethren with a holy kiss?

  7. What is meant by “sanctification”?

  8. What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

ANSWERS

  1. With a reference to the grace of God.

  2. Yes. The content was important for the believers in the first century, and it’s just as important for believers today.

  3. The Return of the Lord.

  4. No, it is biblical. At the end of this letter, Paul asked for prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:25). Prayer is important to all of us.

  5. Do: a. rejoice always b. pray without ceasing c. give thanks in everything d. test all things e. hold fast what is good f. abstain from every form of evil Don't: a. quench the Spirit b. despise prophecies

  6. It was usually people of the same sex greeting one another by a kiss on the cheek.

  7. Sanctification means to be set apart for God’s use.

  8. The soul has to do with our emotions, desires and propensities. The spirit includes our God-consciousness and our moral conscience.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss the three terms of sanctification: positional, perfect, and progressive. Remember that God is at work in us, setting us apart from sin and the world. As such, we should sin less. See Philippians 1:6.

  2. Consider 1 Thessalonians 5:23, that our whole person is to be preserved blameless. See 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 Peter 2:11, and Romans 6:19. This preservation is only possible when there is a steady diet of the word of God, prayer, and the power of the Holy Spirit, along with the fellowship and accountability to other believers. How diligently are you pursuing this?

CHALLENGE

  1. Review the do’s and don’ts of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. Are some areas more difficult for you? Work on these areas so that you might live an exemplary Christian life.

KEY VERSES

  • “ Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ” - 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

  • “ Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophecies. ” - 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 “ Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ” - 1 Thessalonians 5:23

  • “ He who calls you if faithful, who also will do it. ” - 1 Thessalonians 5:24



1 Thessalonians, New Testament, TalksDeb Harms1 Thessalonians 5:16-28