Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.
You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.
Carefully Think
- Read 1 Thess 4:9-12.
- How is this section connected with the chapter as a whole?
- What is the main topic of this section?
- How were the Thessalonians taught by God? What does this mean?
- Why is Paul confident that they don’t need further instruction (v. 10)?
- Where have we seen Paul urge the Thessalonians to excel still more?
- What additional items does Paul urge them to in v. 11?
- Describe/explain further what these items mean in particular.
- What are all of these items concerning?
- When did Paul likely command them to these things before?
- Does Paul address this somewhere else in this letter? Where?
- Who are the outsiders referred to in v. 12?
Prayerfully Meditate
- Why does Paul say they have no need for anyone to write to them about love of the brethren?
- How is urging different than instruction?
- Why does Paul urge them to do these things? (see v. 12)
- Why is Paul concerned with what “outsiders” think of the Thessalonians?
- What does Paul mean to be in need?
- Why would it be bad for any of the Thessalonians to be in need?