April 3, 2022
Lessons Learned
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Review of Chapters 1-3: Paul’s affirmation and love for the Thessalonians.
Chapter 1: They are chosen by God. V4
They became imitators of the Lord. V6
They were examples to believers everywhere. V7-8
They were waiting for the return of Jesus. V10
Chapter 2: They were very dear to Paul. V8
They accepted the message of Paul as ‘the Word of God’. V13
They became imitators of the Judean church by their suffering from their own countrymen.
Paul had a great desire to see them face-to-face. V17
They were Paul’s glory and joy. V20
Chapter 3: Paul sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them. V2
Reminded them that they would suffer affliction. V4
Paul was comforted by the good report of Timothy concerning their faith and love. V6-7
Paul prayed for them to be grounded in holiness. V13
2. “Sexual immorality is sex that deviates from God’s standard. This would include, premarital sex, incest, homosexuality, adultery, and bestiality.”
Note from Holman NKJV Study Bible.
3. “When you give way to lustful passion, you act like people ‘who do not know God.’ Therefore, knowing God is the path to sexual purity.” John Piper
4. “The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” 1 Corinthians 6:13b
5. “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!” 1 Corinthians 6:15
6. “Flee from sexual immorality.” 1 Corinthians 6:18a
7. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
8. “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:14-16
9. “Life is marked either by growth or decay.” W. E. Vine
10. “Worship God on Sunday, then walk with Him on Monday.” Sper
11. Your Christian walk should demonstrate your relationship with Jesus.
12. Application:
· Believers’ number one goal should be to please God.
· We are to glorify God with our body.
· What would Paul say to FBC about our love for one another?
· We must communicate God’s standard for sexual purity to the next generation.
