“Always Pursue what is Good” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

Pursue Strive after, follow, chase, run after “to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after” (Thayer), Phil. 3:12, 14 Same word translated “persecute” (press upon), Matthew 5:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9

-For yourself and all others- Pursue Love, 1 Corinthians 14:1 Attributes of contentment, 1 Timothy 6:11 Moral purity, 2 Timothy 2:22 Peace & holiness, Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 3:11 -For yourself and all others- 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

Opposite of Rendering Evil for Evil Laws of forbearance and love, Matthew 5:38-44 Revenge, retaliation, etc., Romans 12:17-19 Unmatched pursuit of good things, 1 Thessalonians 5:15-22

Pursue good things Rejoice Always, 1 Thess. 5:16 Full of cheer, calmly happy; abiding attitude of joy, John 16:22, 33 Our reconciliation (Romans 5:11) In trials (James 1:2) In hope (1 Peter 1:8)

Pursue good things Pray without ceasing, 1 Thess. 5:17 Do not grow weary, Luke 18:1, 8 For others, 1 Thess. 5:25; 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 6:18-19 For ourselves, 2 Corinthians 12:7-8; Philippians 4:4-7

Pursue good things Give thanks in everything, 1 Thess. 5:18 Will of God for you, Psalm 106:1-3; 107:8-9 Every circumstance, in every place, for everything Thankless soul is arrogant, selfish and unsympathetic to plight of others, Luke 18:11

Pursue good things Nothing that Quenches the Spirit, 5:19-20 Do not stifle the Spirit’s work (convicting, John 16:8) by a careless, immoral life, Titus 2:5 Do not despise prophecies: By them we are edified and exhorted in the faith, 1 Corinthians 14:3-4

Pursue good things Test all things, 1 Thess. 5:21-22 Prove, examine, scrutinize, 1 John 4:1 Hold fast what is good, 5:21; Romans 12:9 Abstain from every form of evil, 5:22 Test everything against the truth, 2 Cor. 13:5

Always Pursue What is Good Because God is good, Matthew 19:17 Be complete in goodness, even as God is complete, Matthew 5:48