Category Archives: 1 Thessalonians

Christ’s Return (1)

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-17

How do Christians prepare for the coming of the Lord? Paul answers this question in I Thessalonians 5. The principles the apostle gives are not to be taken as exhaustive. Rather, they are reminders of the proper disposition for the Believer as he/she awaits the return of the Savior.

Paul mentions the following for our obedience:

**Be Helpful (12-14)

**Be Respectful (12-13)

**Be Merciful (15)

**Be Joyful (16)

Be Blessed!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

Prepare

1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

How do Christians prepare for the coming of the Lord? Paul gives us five principles to guide us in this matter. Be blessed this week as you await the arrival of the Lord!

**Be Ready

**Be Alert

**Be Self-Controlled

**Be Confident In the Lord

**Be Encouraging To Others

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

Living In Trials

9But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. 13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

How do we cope during tough times? These times come upon us and often overwhelm our sense of peace and contentment. Learning to live in these seasons of life is key for the Christian as we can often be the most vivid example of faith in Christ when we are experiencing the tribulations found under the sun.

Be encouraged today with four helps for the Christian found in 1 Thessalonians 4

**Love God and Love Others (9-10)

**Live In An Orderly Fashion by living Productive Lives (11-12)

**Live in light of Jesus’ Return (13-17)

**Comfort others with the Hope of Christ’s Victorious Return

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

Purity

1Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 9But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; 11and that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.

1Thessalonians 4:1-11

How can we remain pure in a world that is filled with perversity? Paul’s words to the church at Thessalonica are of great value as we pursue holiness in a fallen society. Consider the following commands……

**Hold to the Word of God

**Seek Sexual Purity

**Learn Self-Control

**Learn Thought-Control

**Realize that sexual sin is destructive

Resisting lustful temptations is not easy and simple. Our society is awash in temptations of every sort. Let us hold to God’s Word and pray for Holy Spirit empowerment to flee the sins that surround us. The price of sin is way too high to pay!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

Truths From Scripture

1So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain. But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-10

Let us glean some practical principles from 1 Thessalonians 3. I pray that these precepts will edify and encourage you in your walk with Christ.

**Trials and troubles are inevitable

**The Church should seek to strengthen believers who are suffering

**We ought to pray for fellow believers who are struggling

**We should pray that our love and purity will increase

Blessings upon you all!

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

Treating Others Well (1)

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-13

How should we treat others? Who should we respond to those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul’s letters deal with this subject extensively. Here are three practices from 1 Thessalonians 2 that will help us behave towards others well.

**We should treat others rightly

**We should encourage and strengthen others

**We should help others to know the truth

Tony French

2 Comments

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

The Good News

1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-9

How should we share the good news of salvation. Paul answers this question in 1 Thessalonians chapter 2. As Christians, we should share the gospel……………………..

**With Confidence

**With Strength

**With Purity

**With Sincerity

**With Tenderness

**With Love

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians

What Kind of Church?

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

What are some marks that should be evident in the life of Christ’s church? Let’s examine a few today. And may God bless His church!

**We should be an Energetic Church

**We should be an Elect Church

**We should be an Exemplary Church

**We should be an Evangelistic Church

**We should be an Expectant Church

Tony French

Leave a comment

Filed under 1 Thessalonians