1 Thessalonians 3 Study Guide & Breakdown
Timothy’s visit in Paul’s Stead- (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5)
3 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.
NOTES
3:1-5: As healthy as the Thessalonian church is, Paul takes nothing for granted: Even well-grounded, deeply committed Christians need constant encouragement, instruction, and prayer…
3:2: MINISTER is from- GREEK “diakonon”, from which we get deacon- FELLOW LABORER is Greek synergon, from which we get synergy: As ministers, we not only represent God, but we also work together with Him and our fellow Christians…
Timothy’s Report, Paul’s Joy – (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
NOTES
3:6: ALWAYS AND REMEMBRANCE probably speak of prayer life…
3:13: PAUL’S GOAL here is for all Christians…
1 Thessalonians 4 Study Guide & Breakdown
Reminders Concerning Holiness – (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12)
4 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort 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; 2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who[a] has also given us His Holy Spirit.
9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
NOTES
4:1-12: HOLINESS INCLUDES sexual purity – (vv. 3-8), mutual love – (vv. 9, 10), and honest labor – (vv. 11, 12): As for knowing God’s will, this passage comes through in brilliant simplicity: God’s will be our SANCTIFICATION – (v. 3), our being set apart to the Lord as His special possession: We are being sanctified as we walk with Him in faith and obedience…
4:11: THE BEDROCK PRACTICALITY OF THE SCRIPTURES: In Paul’s time and ours, we are to live quietly, mind our own businesses, and work hard…
Who Will Participate in Christ’s Return – (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)
13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [b]sleep in Jesus.
15 For 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 [c]asleep. 16 For 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. 17 Then 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. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
NOTES
4:13-18: ONE OF THE CLEAREST NT PASSAGES on the Second Coming of Christ: The first century document, THE DIDACHE, lists three signs that will mark the return of the Lord: (1): “the sign spread out in the heavens”-Christ and His Hosts”; (2): “The sign of the trumpet”; and (3): “The resurrection of the dead” … For the righteous, the return of Christ is a comfort – (v. 18), not a threat…
THE DIDACHE CHAPTER 16:1-8:
CHAPTER 16
16:1 Watch concerning your life; let not your lamps be quenched or your loins be loosed, but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour at which our Lord cometh.
16:2 But be ye gathered frequently, seeking what is suitable for your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall profit you not, unless ye be found perfect in the last time.
16:3 For in the last days false prophets and seducers shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate.
16:4 and because iniquity abounded, they shall hate each other, and persecute each other, and deliver each other up; and then shall the Deceiver of the world appear as the Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, such as have never happened since the beginning of the world.
16:5 Then shall the creation of man come to the fiery trial of proof, and many shall be offended and shall perish; but they who remain in their faith shall be saved by the rock of offence itself.
16:6 And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first the sign of the appearance in heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead
16:7 -- not of all, but as it has been said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him.
16:8 then shall the world behold the Lord coming on the clouds of heaven.
PSALM 45 (46) Study Guide & Breakdown
46 God is our refuge and strength, A[a] very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the [b]midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the [c]tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be [d]moved; God shall help her, just [e]at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
PSALM 45 (46) is about HIDDEN THINGS concerning THE END, who is Christ: These hidden things are “the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ” – (Colossians 2:3), which are now revealed in His Incarnation and made know among the Gentiles – (Colossians 1:26, 27): Here, before His Incarnation, the earth was TROUBLED with fear – (vv. 3, 4, 7), which was the fear of death: But after His Incarnation, the Church no longer fears death – (v. 3), because His works – (v. 9), that is, His death and Resurrection – (EARLY IN THE MORNING, v. 6), opened up THE TORRENTS OF THE RIVER of God’s grace to the Church – (v. 5): Thus, hatred – (WARS) ceased among the Gentiles TO THE END OF THE EARTH, and the Church was established among them: FOR STILLNESS in prayer is replaced the tumult of hostility between them – (vv. 10-12)…
SANCTIFICATION- Literally, “being set apart to God”: The process of growth in Christ whereby the believer is made holy as God is holy, through the HOLY SPIRIT- (Deification, 2 Peter 1; Romans 6:22; and Romans 15:16)
SECOND COMING OF CHRIST- At the end of the ages, Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead: Following the Last Judgement, a new heaven and new earth will take the place of the old earth, which has been scarred by sin: Because Christ is already present through the Church, Christians enter into the Kingdom of God through their participation in the sacramental life of the Church as they await the coming of the Lord- “THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST” – (Titus 2; Matthew 25;31-46; Romans 8:18-21; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17; Revelation 20:11-Revelation 22:5)…
Lamentations of Jeremiah 3:20-24
20 My soul still remembers And [a]sinks within me. 21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”
“THE LORD IS TRULY OUR HOPE, AND HE IS THE ONE WHO CHANGES US MAKING US FULL OF GOODNESS, AND MERCY…LOVE IS THE GREATEST THING HE HAS AKED OF US TO SHOW OTHERS AND EVEN HIM IN PRAYER!!!”
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