July 28, 2024 – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

Lesson Date: July 28, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28

AIM: To lead students to discover guidelines for godly living in the midst of a lost world, and to examine themselves for shortcomings and commit to follow these guidelines in the future.

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Guideline” on the board.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Guideline” written on the board.  Ask: “How would you define the word guideline?  In other words, what is a guideline?” (an instruction, policy, or procedure; a principle to guide our actions and behavior).

Ask: “What are some general guidelines parents teach their children?” (obey their parents, wash their hands before meals, say “sir” and “ma’am” to adults, say “please” and “thank you,” brush your teeth before going to bed, etc.).  Ask: “Why do parents teach their children guidelines such as these?” (so they will grow up to be well-mannered, successful adults in the world).

Ask: “Have you ever done any activity that could potentially be dangerous, such as river rafting, hiking, scuba diving, sky diving, horseback riding, or viewing wild animals at a national park?” (some of your students have probably done these things).  Ask: “Before doing such activities, were you given instructions and guidelines to follow?” (yes).  Ask: “Why were you required to follow the guidelines?” (to keep you safe).

Tell the students that being a Christian in our modern, lost world can be dangerous.  Explain that just as we must follow the guidelines when doing potentially dangerous activities, we must follow God’s guidelines for living as Christians in the dangerous environment of our lost world.

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Godly Living in an Ungodly World.  Tell them we will discover guidelines for godly living in the midst of a lost and corrupt world.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Tell the class this is our final lesson from the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Encourage Others; we discovered several instructions about encouraging various sorts of people).
   • Ask: “Has the Lord given you an opportunity to encourage anyone this week?”
2. Godly Attitudes.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
   • Tell the class that the first guidelines we will discover relate to our attitudes.
   • Ask: “According to verse 16, what attitude must we develop?” (rejoicing, joy).
   • Ask: “Does that mean we must be happy about everything that happens?” (no).
   • Explain the following:
     • Happiness is dependent upon what happens; in other words, our circumstances.
     • If good things happen, we are happy; but we are not usually happy when bad things happen.
     • Joy, on the other hand, is not dependent on our circumstances.
     • True joy comes from a realization of what God has done for those of us who are saved.
   • Ask: “What does verse 17 tell us to do?” (pray).
   • Tell the students that we pray because we believe God hears us, cares about us, and can help us.
   • Explain that prayer shows we have an attitude of dependence upon God.
   • Ask: “What attitude does verse 18 say we must develop?” (thankfulness).
   • Ask: “Does that verse say we must be thankful for everything that happens to us?” (no, but we must be thankful in all circumstances).
   • Ask: “According to the last half of verse 18, why must we give thanks in everything?” (because that is God’s will for us).
   • Summarize: To live godly lives in the midst of an ungodly world, we must develop the attitudes of joy, dependence upon God, and thankfulness.
3. Godly Warnings.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20.
   • Tell the class the next guidelines are warnings about things we must not do.
   • Ask: “What does verse 19 warn us not to do?” (quench the Holy Spirit).
   • Explain that the word quench means to extinguish or put out a fire.
   • Ask: “Where does the Holy Spirit live?” (within each believer).
   • Ask: “What are some ways we can quench the Holy Spirit who lives within us?” (by ignoring or disobeying His leading, or by indulging in fleshly lusts and sins).
   • Tell the students that just as we can quench a fire by pouring water on it or covering it with dirt, we are warned not to do anything to quench the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
   • Ask: “What does verse 20 warn us not to do?” (despise [neglect or disregard] the preaching and proclamation of God’s Word).
   • Stress the fact that if we neglect church attendance (Heb. 10:25) or ignore the preacher’s teaching and warnings, we are violating this instruction, will quench the Spirit’s work in our lives, and will not be able to live godly in our ungodly world.
   • Summarize: To live godly lives in the midst of an ungodly world, we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit or neglect godly preaching.
4. Godly Behavior.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22.
   • Tell the class the next guidelines we will discover relate to our behavior.
   • Ask: “What does verse 21 tell us to do?” (prove or test all things).
   • Tell the students that the ungodly world in which we live pushes a lot of things at us.
   • Ask: “When we test or examine all those things, what are we to hold onto?” (those things that are good).
   • Stress the fact that we can’t believe or accept all the ideas, attitudes, and behaviors the lost world espouses, but we must be discerning and only accept things that are good and godly.
   • Ask: “What does verse 22 tell us to do?” (abstain and stay away from even the appearance of evil).
   • Tell the class our behavior should be such that we don’t even look like we’re doing evil; this will prevent us from being accused of doing evil.
   • Summarize: To live godly lives in the midst of an ungodly world, we must examine all things, only hold onto what is good, and never even look like we’re doing evil.
5. Godly Trust.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
   • Tell the class the next guidelines we will discover relate to our trust in God.
   • Ask: “What does the opening phrase of verse 23 say God will do for us?” (sanctify us).
   • Explain the following:
     • The word sanctify means to clean, purify, and make holy.
     • From the moment God saves us, He begins the work of sanctifying us.
     • God’s sanctifying work in us will continue as long as we live.
     • We can trust God to sanctify us.
   • Ask: “According to the latter part of verse 23, how did Paul pray God would preserve us?” (blameless).
   • Ask: “How long did he pray God would preserve us blameless?” (until Jesus comes back).
   • Ask: “What does verse 24 say about why we should trust God?” (because he is faithful and will complete His work in us).
   • Tell the students that Philippians 1:6 says it this way: “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
   • Stress the fact that we can trust God’s faithfulness.
   • Summarize: To live godly lives in the midst of an ungodly world, we must trust God to sanctify us and trust His unfailing faithfulness.
6. Godly Relationships.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28.
   • Tell the class the next guidelines we will discover relate to our relationships with others.
   • Ask: “What did Paul ask them in verse 25?” (to pray for him).
   • Tell the students that to live godly lives in a lost world we must pray for other believers.
   • Ask: “What are we told to do in verse 26?” (greet fellow believers with a holy kiss).
   • Explain that in Middle Eastern culture it was (and still is) common for men to greet one another with an embrace and kiss on the cheek.
   • Ask: “Who do we embrace and show affection to?” (people we love).
   • Tell the students that to live godly lives in an ungodly world we must love other believers.
   • Ask: “What did Paul tell the Thessalonian believers to do in verse 27?” (read his letter to all their brothers and sisters in Christ).
   • Tell the students that to live godly lives in an ungodly world we must read the Bible with other believers (that’s one reason we must attend Sunday School).
   • Ask: “What did Paul pray for them in verse 28?” (that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ would be with them).
   • Tell the students that to live godly lives in a lost world we must depend on God’s grace.
   • Summarize: To live godly lives in the midst of an ungodly world, we must pray for, love, and read the Bible with other believers, and always depend on God’s grace.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Direct everyone’s attention once again to the word “Guideline” written on the board.  Tell them today we have discovered some of God’s guidelines for Godly Living in an Ungodly World.

Review the lesson by asking the following questions:

“To live godly lives in an ungodly world, what kind of attitudes do verses 16-18 tell us to develop?”

“To live godly lives in an ungodly world, what do verses 19-20 warn us not to do?”

“To live godly lives in an ungodly world, what guidelines do verses 21-22 give us about our behavior?”

“To live godly lives in an ungodly world, what do verses 23-24 tell us about trusting God?”

“To live godly lives in an ungodly world, what guidelines do verses 25-28 give us about our relationships?”

Ask: “Don’t answer out loud, but how are you doing at following God’s guidelines?”

Ask: “Again, don’t answer out loud, but what areas need improvement?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to confess any shortcomings God has brought to their mind today.  Tell them to make a commitment to God to follow His guidelines in the future.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and 22.  Urge them to follow God’s guidelines this week.  Tell them next week we begin our study of 2 Thessalonians.