Conclusion to 1 Thessalonians:

• Compliments – I Thessalonians 1:3, 8

• End of the world – I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; 2:19

• Example/imitate/model – I Thessalonians 1:7; 2:9

• Non-Christians – I Thessalonians 1:7-10; 4:13, 5; 5:6

• Word/instruction/gospel – I Thessalonians 1:6, 8; 2:13

• Prayer – I Thessalonians 1:2; 5:17

• Persecution – I Thessalonians 1:6; 2:14-16; 3:3-4

II Thessalonians

• Introduction

  • Some think II Thessalonians was written before I Thessalonians. It ultimately doesn’t matter much either way.

  • Many of the same themes from I Thessalonians are repeated in II Thessalonians. The coming Judgment is again a theme in II Thessalonians, as is the need to work hard.

• II Thessalonians 1:1-5 – Love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.

  • I Thessalonians 5:14; II Thessalonians 3:11

  • The church in Theesalonica was good but could still be better. Like each of us, it could grow!

II Corinthians 13:5

I Corinthians 11:28 – Examine yourself.

II John 1:8

Acts 20:28

Galatians 6:1-2

A Christian’s life is one of self-examination.

James 1:25

People are inclined to examine themselves by others who are not living right. This is not helpful!

• II Corinthians 10:12

• We should compare ourselves to the standard.

Honest self-examination is difficult.

• We may fear the results of honest self-examination.

• Pride makes it difficult to examine ourselves compared to the right standard.

  • II Corinthians 12:7-10

Usually, departure from the faith is gradual.

• Apostasy can creep up on us slowly.

• Revelation 3:17

• Though it is gradual, there are signs along the way:

  • Lack of spiritual appetite.

    • I Peter 2:2; I Corinthians 3:2

    • Has my spiritual appetite increased since I became a Christian, or have I grown lax?

    • We can’t just “hold our own.” Matthew 25:15-30

    • Luther Blackmon: “Being a Christian is like riding a bicycle. You either keep moving forward or you fall on your face.”

    • Psalms 1:1-2

  • Aversion to strong gospel preaching

    • II Timothy 2:14-15

A Christian’s life is a series of changes.

• We never get to the point that we can stop progressing spiritually.

• We must examine ourselves by truth.

Are we walking in truth?

Nahum 1:1-3:19

Introduction

• Nahum means “consolation.”

  • The only consolation we read about in the book is that Assyria would no longer bother Judah.

• Doom was at hand for Assyria. Ninevah had repented 150 years earlier after Jonah’s prophecy, but not was in terrible condition.

• The book was written between 663 and 612 B.C., between the fall of Egypt and the fall of Assyria.

• Nahum was contemporary with Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Habakkuk.

Nahum 1

• Nahum 1:3-5 – God is over all things.

• God’s judgments are always right and there will be no one who can stand against them.

Nahum 2

• Facing God in judgment, Ninevah is doomed.

• Nahum 2:4, 6-9 – The severity of the battle.

• Nahum 2:11-13 – Ninevah’s great lions (rulers) would now meet their doom.

Nahum 3

• Woe to the bloody city! Ninevah had shed much blood.

• Nahum 3:4 – This is probably referring to spiritual adultery – idolatry.

• Nahum 3:5 – Ninevah’s nakedness would be exposed.

• Nahum 3:7 – Ninevah’s destruction would be seen by all.

• Nahum 3:8 – Ninevah’s destruction compared to that of Thebes (No-amon).

• Nahum 3:18 – The leaders of Ninevah would slumber in dust.

• Nahum 3:19 – Ninveah’s destruction would be complete and all would rejoice over their destruction.

Lessons for us:

• The Lord is slow to anger and good to those who repent before Him.

Next up: Habakkuk

Matthew 10:13-14

Make no mistake – Jesus is the Judge!

• John 5:17-30 – Jesus and the Father are united in all things.

• Acts 10:42; 17:30-31 – The story of Jesus di not end with the resurrection.

• II Corinthians 5:10

Judgement Day is coming.

• Mark 9:31-32

• Matthew 16:27 – Jesus will come and repay every man according to his deeds.

• I Corinthians 11:26

• Matthew 25:31-46 – Sheep separated from goats, the righteous from the unrighteous.

• Matthew 13:30, 40-43

• Matthew 13:47-50

• Judgment will happen, whether we understand it or not!

We will see Jesus in His majesty!

• Matthew 25:31-34

• Philippians 2:9-11

• Jesus will no longer be scorned. Every tongue will confess Him on that day!

It will be horrible for most people.

• Matthew 7:!3-14

• John 3:16-18

• II Thessalonians 1:7-10 – Jesus will come in retribution!

• Mark 8:38

• II Corinthians 5:10

Accepting the gospel will pay off eternally!

• II Timothy 4:1-2, 8 – Learn the Word and obey it!

• Philippians 3:20

• Romans 2:16

• John 12:48 – Jesus’ words will judge us!

I Thessalonians 5:1-28

I Thessalonians 5:1-11 – The day of the Lord

• I Thessalonians 5:1 - Example of paralipsis.

• I Thessalonians 5:2 – The day of the Lord will be unexpected.

• I Thessalonians 5:3 – Sudden destruction will come like labor pains upon a woman.

• I Thessalonians 5:6, 7, 10 – Different uses of the word “sleep.”

  • I Thessalonians 5:6 – Sleep = spiritual diligence

  • I Thessalonians 5:7 – Sleep = physical sleep

  • I Thessalonians 5:10 – Sleep = physical death

  • Compare II Corinthians 5:21, where sin is used two different ways.

• This should encourage us. We do not fear death – we are looking forward to better things!

I Thessalonians 5:12-13 – Appreciate those who diligently labor among you.

• Elders are the ones that have “charge over” a church. Compare I Timothy 3:5; I Peter 5:1-2; Hebrews 13:17

• Acts 14:1, 6, 21, 23 – Elders were appointed relatively quickly here.

• Brethren are to appreciate their elders.

I Thessalonians 5:14 – We urge you, brethren

• “admonish the unruly”

• “encourage the fainthearted”

• “help the week”

• “be patient with everyone”

I Thessalonians 5:15-28 – Various instructions

• I Thessalonians 5:19-22 – “Don’t quench the Spirit.” Compare I John 4:1. There were false prophets in the world. It’s possible people were getting frustrated and refusing to listen to anyone, whether they were true prophets or not. Acts 7:51-52

• I Thessalonians 5:26 – The “holy kiss.” Kissing as a greeting was a common custom of the day. Romans 16:16. Paul was regulating a custom that was already in use, encouraging them to keep it holy.