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Lesson Summary:

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to live spirit filled lives full of love, holiness and hope.

Focus Passage: I Thessalonians 5:12-28

Outline and Lesson Goal

Principles and Applications

I. Love One Another (5:12-15)

Principle: Walking in God’s Ways Requires We Truly Love One Another.
Application: How are you lovingly encouraging your pastor and other church leaders in your congregation and/or ministry? How are you showing true love for other believers?
Scripture Reference

¹² So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NASB 1995)

II. Live by The Spirit (5:16-22)

Principle: Walking in God’s Ways Requires We Walk by the Spirit.
Application: How does your life show that you are living by the power and direction of the Holy Spirit? Is your life marked by joy, prayer, holiness, and thankfulness?
Scripture Reference

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
¹⁷ For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-18, 25 (NASB 1995)

III. Lay Hold of Our Great Hope (5:23-28)

Principle: Walking in God’s Ways Requires We Hold On to Our Living Hope.
Application: How confident are you in God’s ultimate deliverance of you? How is that hope encouraging and comforting you today?
Scripture Reference

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
⁴ to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
⁵ who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I Peter 1:3-5 (NASB 1995)