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 Thessalonians 5:18. What is commanded in this passage?
• How consistently should this occur? What exceptions are given?
• Thinking about 1 Thessalonians as a whole, to whom was this letter written? (chapter 1 for context) To whom does this command apply?
• Does this tie directly with the previous two verses? Are they contingent on one another? Why or why not?

Prayerfully Meditate

• How does “in Christ Jesus” affect this passage? Does that make a difference in the application?
• How could obeying this command change your perspective or outlook on life? How could it enhance your faith?
• Is “give thanks” different then “say thanks”? Why or why not?
• Why do you think we are commanded to do this “in everything”? Is this different than “due to everything”, or “with everything”? Why?
• How could Paul give a blanket statement about God’s will when he doesn’t know what individuals are specifically going through?