Walking with Others - 1 Thessalonians
First Thoughts
‘I love humanity; it’s people I can’t stand.’ So says Linus in one of Charles M. Schultz’s Peanuts comic strips. Many Christians have their variation of that sentiment which goes along the lines of getting along fine with Jesus but struggling with the church. Wouldn’t we be better off just loving Jesus and not worrying about church? In fact, however, being a Christian is bound up with belonging to the church. The gospel which saves us as believers in Christ is also the gospel which incorporates us into the body of Christ. As individual followers of Jesus, we’re brought into the family of God (five times in this passage Paul calls us ‘brothers and sisters’), with a set of responsibilities in how we relate to each other and what we do when we meet together.
Read – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for 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 and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject 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 and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Focus on the Theme
1. How have you been encouraged and equipped through belonging to the family of God, the church? What Does the Bible Say?
2. The phrase ‘brothers and sisters’ occurs five times in this passage – 5:12, 14, 25, 26 [the NIV translates with ‘God’s people’], 27. How does this ‘family’ metaphor provide a helpful foundation for Paul’s exhortations in this final section of the letter?
3. According to 5:12-15, what are: (a) the responsibilities of leaders to the congregation, (b) the responsibilities of the congregation towards leaders, and (c) the responsibilities of members of the congregation towards each other?
4. How would Paul’s exhortations in 5:16-22 shape the gathered worship in a local church?
5. How does Paul’s prayer in 5:23-24 compare with his prayer in 3:11-13? What main themes of the letter do the prayers bring together?
Going Deeper
6. Read and reflect on Paul’s exhortations in Romans 12:9- 16. How do these shape the ‘outward’ face of the church as we relate to colleagues at work, neighbours, and people who live in our local community?
7. Paul writes that God sanctifies us, keeps us, is faithful and will do it (5:23-24, and see Philippians 1:6). How would you respond to someone who said this looks as if we play no part in our sanctification, that we are passive receivers of God’s work in our lives? Living it Out
8. In what ways could your church show greater support and encouragement for its leaders (5:12-13)?
9. Share some reflections with each other on how prayer might become a stronger feature in the corporate life of your church.
10. Based on what Paul says in this passage, reflect on the strengths of your own local church and the areas where there is room for improvement.
Prayer Time
Spend some time praying through the exhortations in this passage, turning them into requests to God for your own church community. As you come to the end of these studies in 1 Thessalonians, share with each other two things to thank God for, and two things to ask God for. Then pray them out