1. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians

2. Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,’ he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. Acts 17:2-4©NIV

3.  1:10 – ‘to wait for his Son from heaven…Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath’  2:19 – ‘we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes’  3:13 – ‘when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones’  4:13-18 – ‘the Lord himself will come down from heaven…’  5:1-11 ‘the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night’ … v23 ‘the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ’ Jesus the Coming Messiah

4. THESSALONIANS 5:12-28 Christian Community ‘Live in peace with each other’ v13

5. ‘ 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over 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, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 ©NIV

6. ‘ 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over 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, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.’ 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 ©NIV

7. Christ in the Community 1.Structure in the Community vv 12-15 2.Support in the Community vv 16-18 3.Spirit in the Community vv 19-22 4.Sanctity in the Community vv 23-24 5.Supplication in the Community vv 25-28

8. Structure in the Community ‘Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over 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.’

9. who work hard who are over you in the Lord who admonish you

10. warn those who are idle encourage the timid help the weak be patient with everyone try to be kind to each other

11. Support in the Community Be joyful……. Pray…...…… Give thanks.. ……….always …..continually in all circumstances

12. Spirit in the Community ‘ 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good; 22 reject every kind of evil.’

13. Spirit in the Community ‘ 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good; 22 reject every kind of evil.’

14. Sanctity in the Community ‘May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.’

15. Supplication in the Community ‘Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.’

16. Martin Luther’s Maxim ‘I live as though Jesus Christ died yesterday, arose today and is coming again tomorrow’

17. Summary We are in community together Our pastors and leaders watch over us We support one another – always We live in the power of the Spirit & His Word His Spirit keeps our spirit protected We pray for and sustain one another It’s all by grace – free and undeserved!