Off the Shelf Sunday School--1 Thessalonians

Proper Living (5:12-22)

Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.?

1.????Christians are to maintain peace and order by respecting their leaders. Christians are called to be a community that is characterized by peace, love and unity. The qualifications of leaders are discussed in 1 Timothy 3: 1-13.

A.???Leaders must have a good reputation that comes from living with self-control.

B.???They must be caring and hospitable.

C.???They are responsible for Biblical teaching and discipline.

D.???Their goal is to have a unified community of Christians who love God and each other.

E.????They perform acts of mercy to help the poor and sick.

F.????They are to lead in worship and prayer.?

2.????There are aspects of our human nature that work to break the peace of Christian fellowship: pride, ambition, intolerant, gossip, grudges, envy, jealousy and cliques. How do we combat these tendencies?

3.????Paul says those who are idle must be warned. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. How does work keep us from evil?

4.????Paul teaches that Christians are to be kind to those who are fearful, weak or have problems. This is bearing the burdens of others with love. (Gal 6:2)

5.????Joy is a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Paul instructs Christians to focus on Jesus through continual thoughts and prayers. In this way, the joy of the Lord will always be with us. Christian joy is rooted in the relationship with Jesus and not in circumstances. Being conscious of God and living a life dependent upon his strength and will is the path of holiness. Prayer should be as natural as breathing.

6.????The more we think about God and pray, the more we will see the goodness of God which leads to praise and thanksgiving.

7.????Paul says that the Holy Spirit is like a fire within that can be quenched by sin. Have you felt this burning presence of the Holy Spirit???Have you felt the sense of loss and loneliness that comes from sin quenching the Holy Spirit??????(Lk 24:32; Ps 51:1-12)

8.????Christians must be able to discern good from evil. This begins with knowing what the Bible teaches and being committed to following what it says. Prayer and other Christians also help in doing what is good and avoiding evil. (2 Tim 3:16)