1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Questions

Respect and Hard Work for Leaders
(Subtitle: Be Joyful, Prayerful, and Thankful)
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Key Verse: 12:
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you.

1.Read 1 Thess. 5:12-13. Besides being a spiritual person, what else does Paul consider as another quality of a leader should have? (Ge. 2:15) Why is important for important spiritually for a congregation to recognize or hold their leaders in high regard? What does it mean “over you in the Lord”? (Jn. 10:11) How does this attitude produce peace among the congregation?

2. Read 1 Thess. 5:14-15. According to verse 14, who else besides the pastor or leader in the church should encourage others? Besides just saying kind words, what other duties do Christians have towards their brethren? (warn, encourage, help, be patient) Why should we not hold grudges, but strive to always do good for others?

3. Read 1 Thess. 5:16-18. How can we rejoice always? How can we pray continually? How can we give thanks in all circumstances? How do these personal attributes help a believer to have good relationship with others?

4. Read 1 Thess. 5:19-22. What does it mean to quench the Spirit and how can believers do it? Why did some believers treat prophecy with contempt? (2 Thess. 2:2) How should we test them? (Ac. 17:11) Is rejecting every kind of evil possible for believers? (1 Cor. 10:13)

5. Read 1 Thess. 5:23-24. What is Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians? How can we keep body, soul, and spirit blameless? (Heb. 4:12) Who can help us to live blamelessly in this sinful world? (Ge. 6:9)

6. Read 1 Thess. 5:25-28. How should the Thessalonian show their love for one another? What is a holy kiss? From verse 27, what do we learn about how the promulgation of the gospel was had? What must we always remember? (28) Why is this so important for us?

Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.