SCRIPTURE
1 Thessalonians 5:1-28
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
Final Instructions and Benediction12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
OBSERVATIONS
The Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
We’re commanded to build each other up.
We’re commanded to rejoice and pray and give thanks in all circumstances.
When we study God’s Word, it should lead us to both rejoicing and repenting.
- What stands out to you from the text?
- What questions or comments do you have about it?
- In what ways did you find yourself encouraged and/or rejoicing when you heard the message?
- In what ways were you challenged to repent or change when you heard the message?
- How did the teacher connect this passage to Christ? What other connections do you see between this message and the redemptive work of Christ?
CONCLUSION
- What is one thing that you want to remember from this sermon?
- Why is that important to you?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
The uniqueness of the Christian community over against all others is stressed by adding to what they are (sons of light and day) a statement that circumscribed everyone else (sons of night and darkness). “Night and darkness” symbolize willful ignorance of God and imply certain judgment apart from repentance and entrance into the realm of light. As the Gospels divide all peoples at the judgment into wheat and tares or sheep and goats, so Paul placed the whole of humanity in two camps. The lines are drawn sharply, and no middle ground is contemplated.109 Christianity is not a religion in which one can dabble. It is not possible to hedge the bet by belonging to both the church and another religious group. One is either of the light or in darkness.5:6 Believers are different from unbelievers in terms of heritage (they are sons of light) and in terms of true insight (they can see because they are in the light). Thus they must also live differently. Verse 6 begins with an emphatic double inferential, ara ouv, “so then,” used elsewhere in Paul’s writings to indicate a transition in his text (cf. Rom 8:12; 2 Thess 2:15). It links the statements of who believers are (vv. 4–5) with exhortations regarding how believers must live (vv. 6–10).Since believers know that the day of the Lord is coming, they should not act like people who are unaware of this fact. Paul included himself in the injunction “let us not sleep” (NASB),110 a present subjunctive (katheudōmen) implying consistency in the Christian’s behavior.
Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, pp. 163–164). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Finally, the church should note and respect leaders for the work they have done. The noun “work” (ergon) in v. 13 derives from a different root from the participle used for labor in v. 12. Paul may have selected ergon as a signal that “their work” in v. 13 encompassed all three functions specifically mentioned with the participles of v. 12. Leaders of congregations could exercise a variety of gifts and respond to a variety of needs. The respect of the church was due not on the basis of a gift possessed but on the basis of a gift exercised properly. The respect of the church was due not on the basis of reputation or position but on the basis of ministry performed. The minister who thinks his position alone should earn him the respect of the church has not read the Scriptures.The actions of the church are modified in two additional ways. They were to esteem the leaders “very highly,” and they were to esteem them “in love.” The respect the church paid those in their midst who worked hard at ministering in the Lord was not to be half-hearted. “Highest” regard renders a compound word signifying the greatest degree possible, literally indicating regard “beyond measure.” Paul used the same word of the great earnestness with which he prayed to see the Thessalonians again (cf. Eph 3:20). The church also was to respect their leaders “in love.” It is one thing to follow someone out of respect or out of tradition. It is another altogether to follow in love. The latter speaks of a binding relationship. The former might be nothing more than a formality easily discarded.
Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, pp. 174–175). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
Once taken out of the realm of private expressions of faith and recognized as community activities, these commands may be seen as expressions of a common faith. Paul was commending joyful worship directed toward the one true God to whom the church owed ceaseless thanks. Grumbling toward leaders (cf. vv. 12–13), impatience with the immature (v. 14), and anger toward those who do wrong (v. 15) must not tarnish the fellowship of the congregation (cf. 1 Cor 11:17–19). The church must not let its problems create an atmosphere of gloom or pessimism. Rather, an optimistic atmosphere of joy, thanks, and praise ought to characterize the assembly when believers gather (cf. 1 Cor 14:15–17; Eph 5:19–20; Col 3:16–17).Continuity is emphasized with each of the imperatives. “Be joyful” (chairete), “pray” (proseuchesthe), and “give thanks” (eucharisteite) are all present tense, implying continuous or recurring activities. “Always,” “continually,” and “in all circumstances” strengthen the message that these actions should consistently characterize the Christian life.
Martin, D. M. (1995). 1, 2 Thessalonians (Vol. 33, p. 181). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
The Day of the Lord in Scripture
Isaiah 13:6
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!
Isaiah 13:9 9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Jeremiah 46:10 10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Ezekiel 13:5 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.
Ezekiel 30:3 3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
Joel 1:15 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
Joel 2:1 The Day of the Lord2 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
Joel 2:11 11 The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
Joel 3:14 14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Amos 5:18 Let Justice Roll Down18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light,
Amos 5:20 20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
Obadiah 15 The Day of the Lord Is Near15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
Zephaniah 1:7 The Day of the Lord Is Near7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
Zephaniah 1:8 8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.
Zephaniah 1:14 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.
Acts 2:20 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
1 Corinthians 5:5 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2 Peter 3:10 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 13:6–2 Pe 3:10). Wheaton, IL:
The Day of the Lord in Scripture
Isaiah 13:6
6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!
Isaiah 13:9 9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Jeremiah 46:10 10 That day is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, to avenge himself on his foes. The sword shall devour and be sated and drink its fill of their blood. For the Lord God of hosts holds a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates.
Ezekiel 13:5 5 You have not gone up into the breaches, or built up a wall for the house of Israel, that it might stand in battle in the day of the Lord.
Ezekiel 30:3 3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near; it will be a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.
Joel 1:15 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.
Joel 2:1 The Day of the Lord2 Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near,
Joel 2:11 11 The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
Joel 3:14 14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
Amos 5:18 Let Justice Roll Down18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light,
Amos 5:20 20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
Obadiah 15 The Day of the Lord Is Near15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.
Zephaniah 1:7 The Day of the Lord Is Near7 Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated his guests.
Zephaniah 1:8 8 And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice— “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire.
Zephaniah 1:14 14 The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there.
Acts 2:20 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
1 Corinthians 5:5 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:2 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
2 Thessalonians 2:2 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
2 Peter 3:10 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 13:6–2 Pe 3:10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.