Introduction: The human condition and Christmas (Matthew 1)
2: 1 – 12 A ruler from Bethlehem to shepherd God’s people
2: 13 – 23 A new Exodus from slavery by the true Son
13 – 15 Out of Egypt I called my son (Hosea 11: 1)
16 – 18 Rachel weeping for her children (Jeremiah 31: 15)
19 – 23 He shall be called a Nazarene (eg, Isaiah 9: 1 – 7; 49: 1 – 13)
“Those magi were wise and one thing is true…
if you want to be wise you will seek him too.”
– from “The Magi” by Colin Buchanan
Introduction: Why Paul wrote to the Thessalonians
3:1-5 The privilege of mutual prayer
3:6-12 Commands concerning idle busybodies
3:13-15 Commands for those doing well
3:16-18 Closing prayer
Conclusion
2:13-14 the Gospel traditions:
– loved by the Lord
– from the beginning, God chose you to be saved
– through the sanctifying work of the Spirit
– belief in the truth
– He called you
– to share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ
– the Trinity and salvation
Introduction: “Known unknowns”
1-3a Don’t be alarmed, don’t be deceived
b-7 Be aware 1: God;s timing
8 Be reassured: the fate of the lawless one
9-12 Be aware 2: the threat of the lawless one and unknown knowns
Conclusion: Be secure: love and believe the truth
Introduction – How do we feel about injustice? Ps 37:28
Paul’s Reconnection, & Gratitude to God for them vs 1 – 4
God’s righteous Judgment in dealing with two groups Group 1 – The Thessalonians in their sufferings v 5
1Thess 2:14; 3:3; Phil1: 27- 30, 1Peter 1: 7, Matt 5:10-12
Group 2 – The persecutors & those who reject & disobey the gospel vs 6 – 10
James 5, 2 Peter 3
When will justice come on them? Rev 6: 9 – 11
Paul’s Big Picture Prayer Vs 11 – 12
Concluding Exhortation Colossians 3:1 – 4
Bible readings Psalm 85; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Introduction
1 Thessalonians and the Church
5:12-22 Relating in God’s church
12-13 relating to leaders
14-15 relating to each other
16-18 relating to circumstances 19-22 relating to the work of God’s Spirit
23-28 the final goal of peace with God
1 – 3 The day of the Lord is coming,
4 – 5 Children of the day
6 – 7 Alert and sober-minded
8 – 10 Destined for salvation
11 Encouragement (see also 4:18)
1 Thess and Gospel priorities
4:13-18 Don’t be uniformed about the dead
4:13-14 hope in grieve because of resurrection
4:15-17 the day of final resurrection
4:18 what to do about the resurrection
Introduction- ‘Noblesse oblige’ and ‘Bringing the game into disrepute’
4:1-2. Introduction to ethical instructions
4:3-8. God’s will: sexual purity & holiness
4:9-12. God’s will in love, work and witness
Conclusion- the ethics of Christian nobility