July 21, 2024 – 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

Lesson Date: July 21, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15

AIM: To lead students to discover and examine God’s instructions about encouraging others, and to make plans to encourage someone this week.

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Encourage” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word written on the board.  Ask: “How would you define the word ‘encourage’?”  Allow time for some responses, and then tell the students that dictionary definitions of encourage include, “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope; to spur on, to give help.”[i]  Directing the students’ attention to the word “Encourage” on the board again, point out the fact that we can easily see in it the word “courage,” so to encourage is to give someone courage.

Ask: “When do people need encouragement?  What are some circumstances in which we or other people need to be inspired with courage or hope?”  Allow time for responses.

Ask: “Don’t answer out loud, but do you know anyone who needs to be encouraged?”

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Encourage Others.  Tell them as we study today’s scripture passage, we will find several instructions about encouraging various sorts of people, so that we can make plans to encourage someone this week.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s (July 14) lesson about?” (Stark Contrasts; we discovered some of the stark contrasts between saved people and lost people).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite that lessons’ memory verse (1 Thess. 5:9).
   • (Since last week was the South Georgia Bible Conference at Morningside, the last lesson we taught was about The Rapture of the Church, and our last memory verses from that lesson were 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.)
2. Encourage Other Believers.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
   • Ask: “What two instructions are found in this verse?” (comfort or encourage yourselves and edify one another).
   • Ask: “What does it mean to comfort or encourage someone?” (to make them feel better about their circumstances and help them find the strength to keep going).
   • Explain the following:
     • The Greek word translated comfort is parakaleo, which is the same word Jesus used to describe the Holy Spirit, whom He called the Comforter (John 14:26).
     • Paul’s whole purpose in writing this letter was to comfort and encourage the new believers in Thessalonica.
     • In chapter 3, verse 2, Paul said he sent Timothy to them to establish and comfort them.
     • He wrote chapter 4, verses 13-18 to comfort the Thessalonians concerning their believing loved ones who had died.
     • In chapter 4, verse 18, he told them to comfort one another.
     • Here again, he tells them to comfort themselves together.
   • Ask: “What do you think is the significance of the word together?” (Christians draw comfort and encouragement by being together; isolation is dangerous, which is one reason we should attend church faithfully).
   • Ask: “What are some ways we can comfort one another?” Allow time for responses.
   • Ask: “We are also told to edify one another; what does the word ‘edify’ mean?” (to build up and make strong).
   • Ask: “What are some ways we can edify one another?” Allow time for responses.
   • Summarize: We are instructed to encourage other believers by comforting them and edifying them.
3. Encourage Church Leaders.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12.
   • Ask: “Does this verse sound like it is just a suggestion?” (no, Paul beseeched, begged, and implored them to follow his instructions).
   • Ask: “What do you think the word ‘know’ means?” (to be aware of, to recognize, to respect, and to honor).
   • Ask: “Who do you think we are to know, recognize, and respect?” (our church leaders).
   • Ask: “What three things does this verse say that our church leaders do?” (they labor among us, they oversee, have charge of, and are responsible for us, and they admonish, warn, and instruct us).
   • Ask everyone to turn to Hebrews 13.
   • Read Hebrews 13:7, 17.
   • Ask: “What do those verses tell us to do?” (remember, follow, and obey our church leaders).
   • Ask everyone to turn back to 1 Thessalonians 5.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:13.
   • Ask: “What do you think the word ‘esteem’ means?” (to hold in high regard and place great value upon, to think highly of).
   • Ask: “How highly must we esteem our church leaders?” (very highly, abundantly).
   • Tell the students that 1 Timothy 5:17 says, “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they that labour in the Word and doctrine.”
   • Tell the class that while pastors and other church leaders are often maligned and treated poorly, the Bible indicates it is almost impossible to think too highly of them.
   • Ask: “What is the final instruction in verse 13?” (maintain peace in the church).
   • Ask: “Why do you think that is so important?” (factions, disunity, and power struggles in the church are the quickest way to dishearten church leaders and dishonor the Lord Jesus).
   • Summarize: We are instructed to encourage church leaders by respecting and honoring them for their labor in the Lord, holding them in high regard, and maintaining peace within the church.
4. Encourage the Weak and Needy.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14.
   • Explain the following:
     • The word exhort in this verse is another form of the Greek word translated comfort in verse 11.
     • In this verse it means to come alongside to help, aid, or encourage.
     • Paul again addressed the Thessalonians as brethren, reminding us that these instructions are directed toward Christians.
   • Ask: “Who are we supposed to warn?” (the unruly; those who are insubordinate and refuse to be ruled).
   • Stress the fact that warning unruly believers is for their own good, to turn them from harming themselves by disobeying God.
   • Ask: “Who are we supposed to comfort?” (the feebleminded; those who are discouraged or fainthearted).
   • Ask: “Who are we supposed to support?” (the weak; those who lack strength).
   • Ask: “Who are we supposed to be patient toward?” (everyone).
   • Stress the fact that patience with one another’s differences prevents strife and contention.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:15.
   • Ask: “What must we not do?” (return evil to those who do evil toward us; get even).
   • Tell the class that echoing Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:39, this verse teaches us not to seek retribution from those who harm us.
   • Ask: “Rather that rendering evil for evil, what must we do?” (good; in other words, rather than getting even we are to return good for the evil done to us).
   • Ask: “Is this command restricted to our brothers and sisters in Christ?” (no, we are to do this “to all men”).
   • Stress the fact that we are to return good for evil to those in the church and those outside.
   • Summarize: We are instructed to encourage the weak and needy by warning, comforting, supporting, and being patient with them, and not seeking retribution when we are wronged.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind everyone that the title of today’s lesson is Encourage Others.  Tell them we have discovered instructions about encouraging other believers, church leaders, and those who are weak and needy.

Ask: “How are we supposed to encourage our fellow believers?” (by comforting them and edifying or building them up).

Ask: “How are we supposed to encourage our church leaders?” (by respecting, following, and honoring them, and by keeping peace in the church).

Ask: “How are we supposed to encourage the weak and needy?” (by comforting, supporting, being patient with them, and not trying to get even).

Ask: “How are you doing?  Are you encouraging others the way the Bible tells us to?”

Ask: “Do you know anyone who needs encouraging?  If so, what are some things you could do to encourage them?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes and to talk privately and honestly to God about their encouragement of others.  Tell them to confess any shortcomings the Lord has brought to mind this morning.  Tell them to commit to God to encourage someone this week.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Tell everyone to take practical steps to encourage someone this week.  Tell them to write a note, give a gift, spend time with a struggler, maintain peace, and refuse to return evil for evil.

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/encourage