1. “Always Pursue what is Good”
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

2. Pursue Strive after, follow, chase, run after
“to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after” (Thayer), Phil. 3:12, 14
Same word translated “persecute” (press upon), Matthew 5:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9

3. -For yourself and all others-
Pursue
Love, 1 Corinthians 14:1
Attributes of contentment, 1 Timothy 6:11
Moral purity, 2 Timothy 2:22
Peace & holiness, Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 3:11
-For yourself and all others-
1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

4. Opposite of Rendering Evil for Evil
Laws of forbearance and love, Matthew 5:38-44
Revenge, retaliation, etc., Romans 12:17-19
Unmatched pursuit of good things, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

6. Pursue good things Rejoice Always, 1 Thess. 5:16
Full of cheer, calmly happy; abiding attitude of joy, John 16:22, 33
Our reconciliation (Romans 5:11)
In trials (James 1:2)
In hope (1 Peter 1:8)

7. Pursue good things Pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17
Do not grow weary, Luke 18:1, 8
For others, 1 Thess. 5:25; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 6:18-19
For ourselves, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8; Philippians 4:4-7

8. Pursue good things Give thanks in everything, 1 Thess. 5:18
Will of God for you, Psalm 106:1-3; 107:8-9
Every circumstance, in every place, for everything
Thankless soul is arrogant, selfish and unsympathetic to plight of others, Luke 18:11

9. Pursue good things Nothing that Quenches the Spirit, 5:19-20
Do not stifle the Spirit’s work (convicting, John 16:8) by a careless, immoral life, Titus 2:5
Do not despise prophecies: By them we are edified and exhorted in the faith, 1 Corinthians 14:3-4

10. Pursue good things Test all things, 1 Thess. 5:21-22
Prove, examine, scrutinize, 1 John 4:1
Hold fast what is good, 5:21; Romans 12:9
Abstain from every form of evil, 5:22
Test everything against the truth, 2 Cor. 13:5

11. Always Pursue What is Good
Because God is good, Matthew 19:17
Be complete in goodness, even as God is complete, Matthew 5:48