1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012

2. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

3. Jon Paulien, Principal Contributor

4. 1 The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 2 Preserving Relationships 3 Thessalonica in Paul’s Day 4 Joyous and Thankful (1 Thess 1:1–10) 5 The Apostolic Example (2:1–12) 6 Friends Forever (2:13–3:13) 7 Living Holy Lives (4:1–12) 8 The Dead in Christ (4:13–18) 9 Final Events (5:1–11) 10 Church Life (5:12–28) 11 Promise to the Persecuted (2 Thess 1:1–12) 12 The Antichrist ( 2:1–12) 13 Keeping the Church Faithful (2:13–3:18) 1 and 2 Thessalonians Contents

5. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Our Goal {5} We’ll get a glimpse into the life of an early Christian church and see some of the struggles and challenges that it faced, including the difficulties that arose from the fact that Christ had not yet returned.

6. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 7, August 18 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 7, August 18 Living Holy Lives

7. Key Text 1 Thessalonians 4:7 NIV “For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.”

8. Living Holy Lives Initial Words {79} The main concern in the verses for this week deals with the need to avoid sexual immorality. All one has to do is look at the suffering that sexual misconduct has caused in so many lives to understand why the Lord would speak so strongly through Paul on this topic.

9. Living Holy Lives Quick Look 1. God’s Will: Holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5) 2. Called to Holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:6-8) 3. Holiness in Action (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)

10. Living Holy Lives 1. God’s Will: Holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5 NKJV “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;…know how to possess his own vessel…not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God…..”

11. 1.God’s Will: Holiness Abounding More and More {80} Two mentions of Jesus (4:1, 15) indicate that Paul was passing on the teaching of Jesus’ own words. Paul was offering more than just good advice. Jesus Himself commanded the behaviors that Paul was encouraging. Paul, as Christ’s servant, was sharing the truths He had learned from Christ.

12. 1.God’s Will: Holiness Sanctification {81} The will of God for each Thessalonian believer is “holiness” or “sanctification.” Each believer is expected to “avoid sexual immorality” and to “control his own body.”

13. 1.God’s Will: Holiness Sanctification {81} Paul concludes with three motivations to holy living: (1) God is an avenger in these matters, (2) He has called us to holiness, and (3) He gives us the Spirit to help us.

14. 1.God’s Will: Holiness Sanctification {81} Holiness is “set apart for sacred use.” Holiness is the condition at the return of Jesus (3:13). But chapter 4 emphasizes process rather than outcome. It is a noun of action: “sanctifying” more than “sanctification.” It is the will of God that we be engaged in this process (4:3).

15. Living Holy Lives 2. Called to Holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 NKJV “For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.”

16. 2. Called to Holiness Not Like the Gentiles {82} Paul’s solution to sexual excess is that every man should “possess his vessel” (4:4). If by “vessel” Paul means “woman” (a common ancient expression for woman), he is saying that every man should seek honorable marriage in order to avoid sexual promiscuity.

17. 2. Called to Holiness Not Like the Gentiles {82} Most modern translations: vessel refers to the man’s own body. “Possess his vessel” should be interpreted as “control his own body” (NIV). Christians are not to behave as the “Gentiles” do. When indulged in outside of the norms established by God, it is inevitably destructive.

18. 2. Called to Holiness According to God’s Design {83} The restrictions are to protect us from the physical and emotional damage that occurs as a result of sexual immorality. Every person is a soul for whom Christ died; they are not to be sexually exploited. To do so is to sin not only against that person but to sin against God, as well.

19. 2. Called to Holiness According to God’s Design {83} When we follow God’s design, sex becomes a beautiful illustration of the self-sacrificing love that God poured out on us in Christ. It is a gift of God and can powerfully reveal the kind of love that God has for humanity and the kind of closeness that He wants with His people.

20. Living Holy Lives 3. Holiness in Action 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 NKJV “Concerning brotherly love…love one another…increase more and more…aspire to to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands…. that you may walk properly to those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”

21. 3. Holiness in Action Mind Your Own Business {84} The Greeks had a number of words for “love.” Eros refers to the sexual side of love. Agape refers to the self-sacrificing side of love. Philos is “brotherly love,” love for blood relations but extended by the church to include love for fellow believers, the Christian family of choice.

22. 3. Holiness in Action Mind Your Own Business {84} For some outsiders, the closest they will ever come to the church is the impression they take away from the behavior of known Christians in their everyday lives. Paul encourage them to live a “quiet life” (4:11) that would involve minding one’s own business and working with one’s hands.

23. Final Words The Acts of the Apostles 518 {85} “Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness.”