Outline
“Getting Down to Business” (1st Thess. 4:1-12)

Intro/Set-Up: Review from 1st Thess. 3

I. The Transition (vv. 1-2)
- “With all that being said…”
- A foundation for exhortation
- Living to Please God

II. Urged to Holy Living (vv. 3-8)
- “For this is the will of God for you…”
- John 17
- Sanctification
- Authority

III. A Set Apart Life (vv. 9-12)
- Encouragement after the Admonition
- How to love; How to live
- Not stagnant; but progressing

IV. Conclusion
-Set apart for a purpose

Quotes:

“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care” –Theodore Roosevelt

“We are accepted in the Beloved, and we will never be more saved than at the moment we put our trust in Christ. We are never accepted because of who we are, but because of what Christ has done. This positional sanctification is perfection in Christ.” –Dr. J Vernon McGee

“the Bible also refers to sanctification as a practical experience of our separation unto God. “Progressive” or “experiential” sanctification, as it is sometimes called, is the effect of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life. It is the same as growing in the Lord (2 Peter 3:18) or spiritual maturity.” (GotQuestions.org)

The ancient writer Demosthenes expressed the generally amoral view of sex in the ancient Roman Empire: “We keep prostitutes for pleasure; we keep mistresses for the day to day needs of the body; we keep wives for the faithful guardianship of our homes.”

“God wants us set apart from a godless culture and its sexual immorality. If our sexual behavior is no different than the Gentiles who do not know God, then we are not sanctified — set apart — in the way God wants us to be.” –David Guzik

“We live differently than the world when we possess our body in sanctification and in honor. Immorality is the opposite of honor because it degrades and debases the self. Those who do not restrain their sexual desires act more like animals than humans, following every impulse without restraint.” –David Guzik

“The transition from holiness to love is not a difficult one. Paul made this transition in his prayer recorded in 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13. Just as God’s love is a holy love, so our love for God and for one another ought to motivate us to holy living. The more we live like God, the more we will love one another. If a Christian really loves his brother, he will not sin against him (1 Thess. 4:6)... “How does God cause our love to “increase more and more”? By putting us into circumstances that force us to practice Christian love. Love is the “circulatory system” of the body of Christ, but if our spiritual muscles are not exercised, the circulation is impaired. The difficulties that we believers have with one another are opportunities for us to grow in our love. This explains why Christians who have had the most problems with each other often end up loving one another deeply, much to the amazement of the world.” –Warren Wiersbe

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (1 Thess. 4:11 niv) seems like a paradox; if you are ambitious, your life will probably not be quiet. But the emphasis is on quietness of mind and heart, the inner peace that enables a man to be sufficient through faith in Christ. Paul did not want the saints running around creating problems as they earned their daily bread… Believers who are about the Father’s business (Luke 2:49) do not have the time—or desire—to meddle in the affairs of others.” –Warren Wiersbe

“As we review this section, we see how practical the Christian walk really is. The obedient Christian will have a holy life by abstaining from sexual sin; a harmonious life by loving the brethren; and an honest life by working with his hands and not meddling in the affairs of others. When unsaved people see Christ magnified in this kind of a life, they will either oppose it with envy or desire to have it for themselves. Either way, God is glorified.” –Warren Wiersbe

1 Thessalonians Resources:

1 Thessalonians Summary (GotQuestions.org):
https://www.gotquestions.org/Book-of-1-Thessalonians.htmll

1 Thessalonians Visual Overview (From the Bible Project):
https://youtu.be/No7Nq6IX23c

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (visual map):
https://viz.bible/journeys/

Paul’s Second Missionary Journey Summary Report
https://www.gotquestions.org/Paul-second-missionary-journey.html

Recommended Reading:

Prophecy Pro’s books:

The Prophecy Pros' Illustrated Guide to Tough Questions About the End Times: https://a.co/d/89Y5yeQ

The Non-Prophet's Guide to the End Times: Bible Prophecy for Everyone: https://a.co/d/4mFAfBD

Additional Resources:

"What is the Peace of God, and how can I experience it?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/peace-of-God.html

"What does it mean to be saved by grace?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/saved-by-grace.html

"What is the Definition of Grace?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/definition-of-grace.html

"What is the seal of the Holy Spirit?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Holy-Spirit-seal.html

"What is the importance of Christian Fellowship?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-fellowship.html

"Heavenly Crowns"
https://www.gotquestions.org/heavenly-crowns.html

"What is sanctification? What is the definition of Christian sanctification?"
https://www.gotquestions.org/sanctification.html