Read 1 Thessalonians 5:15   See that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.     Reflect   When someone sins against you, what is your first instinct? Do you generally act on that instinct or do something else?     Anyone who has ever been around children has heard this line: “They did it to me first!” A child who gets hit usually hits back. If one toddler takes another toddler’s toy, the other toddler usually fights back. If on

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. Reflect As the family of God, what responsibilities do we have towards each other? Way back in the beginning, we were introduced to the first brothers, Cain and Abel. Tragically, we know how the story ends. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and anger. When the Lord asked Cain where Abel was, Cain infamously responded: “I do not know; am I

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves Reflect Prayerfully consider the duties of the pastors and elders at your church. What challenges do they face and what sacrifices do they make to serve you well? October has been designated “pastor appreciation month” or “clergy appreciation month.” But

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. Reflect Think about a time when another believer encouraged you. What were the circumstances? How did their words impact you? The world is a harsh place. That is a reality that feels more real on certain days than others, but it is a fact. Nations war against nations and have since the beginning of time. The streets of our cities are full of crime. Illnesses and diseases

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Reflect How is the eternal destiny of a believer distinct from that of an unbeliever? In his commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, John MacArthur pointed out that in all of this diverse world, there are only two kinds of people: There are believers and unbelievers; the redeemed a

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for the helmet the hope of salvation. Reflect How should believers be distinct from unbelievers? When you were growing up, did anyone ever tell you that “nothing good ever happens after midnight?” Well, the apostle Paul would probably agree because in today’s verses, h

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Reflect Think about the contrasts presented in these verses between believers and unbelievers (light/dark, day/night, asleep/awake). How else can believers be contrasted with unbelievers? Chances

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Reflect When you think about Judgment Day, what thoughts or images come to mind? What has formed your views on end time events the most? You don’t have to be a Christian to be preoccupied with the idea of the “end of the world.” Just consider how obsessed Hollywood is with the concept

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Reflect What should Christians be doing to make sure that we are ready for the day of the Lord? Why do you always lock the doors to your house before you go to bed? Why do so many people buy expensive camera systems to secure their homes or participate i

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Reflect When you read today’s passage, what thoughts or feeli

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. Reflect Have you ever been afraid that Jesus would return and you would be left behind? What do you think caused that fear? When I was in elementary school, I rode the school bus home. One afternoon, I went to the bathroom after school and got delayed having to wait my turn. When I was fi

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Reflect How do Paul’s words encourage you today? Is Jesus dead or alive? This has been a hotly contested question for about 2,000 years. Some people say that His resurrection was impossible and refuse to believe it by creating counter-theories. One theory claims that His body was stolen. But how could it have been stolen

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. Reflect Think about the last funeral you attended. What was the general feeling in the room? I can’t think of anything worse to experience than the death of a loved one. It is devastating and heartbreaking. Death feels so wrong to us. We can’t seem to reconcile the idea of someone being alive and vibrant one minute, bu

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 …and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsides and be dependent on no one. Reflect How can a quiet life be a witness to unbelievers? We know that Jesus said He was coming back soon (Revelation 22:20). But what in the world are we supposed to be doing while we wait? That is what the church at Thessalonica was struggling with. They were so

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more… Reflect What are some ways brotherly love should be demonstrated in Christian communities? If I asked you to name the “City of Brotherly Love,” you’d likely say, “Philadelphia, Pen

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Reflect According to Paul, what is God’s will for our life and how does He help us accomplish it? One of the greatest tragedies in many of our churches today is the rejection of God’s teaching on sexual matters, even from the pulpit. I have seen Christian leaders who take a stand for a biblical sex

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:6 …that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. Reflect Who is the ultimate judge? Who decides what is right vs. what is wrong? Why? In today’s verse, Paul was continuing a thought, so let’s look back at the previous verses for context. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God… Reflect How do God’s commandments pertaining to sex differ from the world’s sexual ethics? It may be difficult, but try to imagine living in a society even more sexually immoral and perverse than our current one. Like I

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. Reflect How has following God’s instructions blessed your life? Are there any instances in your life that would have turned out better if you had simply obeyed the Lord? I’ve heard many people lament that life doesn't come with an instruction manual. In their view, people are all just doing the best they can, trying to figure out life as they go. But here at Back to the Bible, we know

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1   Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.     Reflect   Will we ever spiritually “arrive”? Will we ever be sanctified “enough” to quit growing this side of heaven?     It’s human nature to settle. We work until we think it’s good enough and then we slow down. We get satisfied with the status quo. For exampl

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13   Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.     Reflect   When Jesus returns, how do you want Him to find you?     One thing we know for sure, Jesus is going to come back! In

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10   For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?     Reflect   Have you ever tried to express your gratitude to someone but found that saying “thank you” wasn’t nearly enough?     When I am intentional and focus on listing out the things I am thankful for, I am always stru

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:8   For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.     Reflect   Have you ever received news that renewed your soul and made you feel alive again? What were the circumstances?     For most Christian parents, it’s terrible to consider that our children may not be walking with the Lord. Having wayward children grieves the hearts of so many parents. Understandably so!     Paul thought of those he discipled as his spiritual children. So for him, he

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7   But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.     Reflect   Think about the last time you were bracing yourself for bad news. Did you get the bad news you had worried about or were you relie

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5   For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.     Reflect   How has suffering impacted your faith? Has it made your faith stronger or shakier?     Many people in the United States have been

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we were destined for this. Reflect When you were a new believer, did God send anyone into your life to “establish and exhort” you? Who was that person and what did the

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. Reflect Who or what is your crowning glory and joy? Why? Is there anyone who might consider you their crowning glory and joy? A foundational belief of Christianity is in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus promised: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. Reflect Have you ever had to abruptly leave behind people that you love? What were the circumstances? Were you ever able to reunite with them? It is difficult to be separated from people who are special

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wr

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers. Reflect Who does Paul give credit to for the faith of the Thessalonians? Why do you think he did that? There is a lot of noise out there. It kind of feels like everyone is shouting their opinions all the time. Even when I try to w