The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
The First Epistle To The Thessalonians - Executable Outlines
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INTRODUCTION<br />
An Exhortation <strong>To</strong> Walk In Love<br />
1 <strong>The</strong>ssalonians 4:9-10<br />
1. In his prayer for the <strong>The</strong>ssalonians (1 Th 3:11-13), Paul asked the Lord to...<br />
a. Make them increase and abound in love<br />
b. <strong>To</strong> one another and to all<br />
2. As Paul continues with his “apostolic instructions”, he proceeds to help answer his own prayer by<br />
exhorting the brethren regarding brotherly love...<br />
a. Though not really necessary in their case - 1 Th 4:9-10a<br />
1) For they have been taught by God to love one another<br />
2) And they love the brethren throughout Macedonia<br />
b. Yet he urges them to increase more and more in their love - 1 Th 4:10b<br />
1) Note yet again the emphasis on an ever increasing service - cf. 1 Th 3:12; 4:1<br />
2) So they were to increase in this grace as well<br />
[What is it about “brotherly love” that would prompt Paul to first pray for and then to urge the church at<br />
<strong>The</strong>ssalonica to increase in this virtue? As we consider Paul’s “Exhortation <strong>To</strong> Walk In Love” let’s<br />
first notice...]<br />
I. THE DEFINITION OF BROTHERLY LOVE<br />
A. THE GREEK WORD...<br />
1. <strong>The</strong> Greek word is transliterated “philadelphia”<br />
2. It is a compound involving two words: “phileo” (love) and “adelphos” (brother)<br />
3. It literally means “the love of brothers”<br />
B. AS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT...<br />
1. “philadelphia” describes the love which Christians cherish for each other as brethren<br />
(Thayer)<br />
2. Ro 12:10 reveals that it is through brotherly kindness we can have “kind affection” toward<br />
one another<br />
[Brotherly kindness is what provides a true sense of family in our association as members of the Lord’s<br />
body. Now let’s consider why this virtue is so necessary...<br />
II. THE DEMAND OF BROTHERLY LOVE<br />
Mark A. Copeland<br />
A. IT IS EVIDENCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE...<br />
1. It is one way we know that we have truly passed from death to life - 1 Jn 3:14<br />
2. If we do not have brotherly love, we remain in a state of spiritual death - 1 Jn 3:14-15<br />
Sermons From <strong>First</strong> <strong>The</strong>ssalonians 37
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