1 Thessalonians 5 Lesson

REALIZING OUR FULL POTENTIAL

In 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5, the Apostle Paul focuses on the importance of encouraging others and building others up. 

Both are necessary for Christians to persevere and realize their full potential.

As we mature in our faith, we will come to the realization that life’s struggles are necessary for our Spiritual development.

God uses adversity in three ways:

1. To teach us,
2. To discipline us,
3. To shape us into the Christians that He created us to be. 

WE ARE NOT IN IT ALONE

Throughout our lives, Satan will try to create distractions that cause us to stumble.

The good news is that we are not left to face these challenges on our own. 

God has given us all the help that we need to persevere and stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to salvation (Mathew 7:13-14).

As Children of God and followers of Jesus, we have four incredible gifts to help us navigate life’s challenges: 

1. God,
2. Jesus,
3. The Holy Spirit,
4. And each other.

Today’s lesson focuses on the need for us to encourage one another and bear one another's burdens.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT ENCOURAGING ONE ANOTHER

The Bible is full of verses that highlight the importance of encouraging each other.

For today’s lesson, we have highlighted the following five:

1. “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11,
2. “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25,
3. “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” -Colossians 3:16,
4. “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” -Romans 14:19,
5. “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.” - Ephesians 4:29.

PERSEVERANCE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Perseverance and encouragement go hand in hand.  Throughout life’s struggles, God wants us to do three things:

1. Encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11a),
2. Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2),
3. Build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11b).

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he referred to God as:

• “The God who gives perseverance and encouragement.” - Romans 15:5.

No matter how difficult life may get, with God’s help and the encouragement of our Brothers and Sisters, there is no obstacle that we cannot overcome.

CONCLUSION

None of us can make it on our own.

Fortunately for us, we do not have to.

As disciples of Jesus and Children of God, we have four things to help us navigate life’s challenges:

1. God,
2. Jesus,
3. The Holy Spirit,
4. And each other.

God wants us to help others and to be there for them.

Consider the following words spoken by Jesus:

• “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give you something to drink?  And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?  When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” – Mathew 25:35-40.

Everyone needs encouragement! 

We must not underestimatethe value of a kind word or taking the time to listen to somebody and show them that we care. 

Every day we have opportunities to lift others up and be an encouragement to them.

The question is, will we take advantage of the opportunities that God provides?

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture taken from the Book of Hebrews:

• “Encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” – Hebrews 3:13.