(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

I. The death of a Christian (4:13-14)

A. The metaphor of sleep (4:13; cf. John 11:11; Acts 7:60)
B. Sorrow is not prohibited, but sorrow without hope (4:13; cf. Acts 8:2; John 11:35; Philippians 2:25-27)
C. Just as Jesus died and was raised, so those who died in Him will be raised (4:14)

II. The Second Advent (4:15-17)

A. In this passage, Paul deals exclusively with the faithful; other Scriptures deals with the disobedient (John 5:28-29; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
B. The living saint will not precede the sleeping saint at His coming (4:15)
C. When the Lord descends, the dead in Christ will rise (4:16)
D. Then those who are still alive, along with those who had died, will meet the Lord in the air (4:17)
E. “Thus we shall always be with the Lord” (4:17; cf. 1 Corinthians 15:24)

III. Comfort one another (4:18)

A. Death is not the end of one’s existence, but a time of rest from our labors (cf. Revelation 14:13)
B. The Lord will not abandon the faithful, whether living or dead – those “asleep in Christ” will not miss out on the Second Advent!
C. We will be reunited with our departed loved ones in Christ – “together with them in the clouds”
D. It is not the where but the with whom that is important – “we shall always be with the Lord”

(1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)

I. Brotherly love and sacrificial love (4:9-10)

A. Philadelphia – familial love between brothers (Romans 12:10)
B. Agapeo – sacrificial love (John 3:16)
C. “Increase more and more” – never stop loving each other, and never stop abounding in love! (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:1)

II. The Christian’s ambition (4:11-12)

A. Lead a quiet life
1. Spread the news of Jesus (Mark 1:28; 16:15)
2. Do not seek glory for self (James 4:10; Matthew 6:1-7, 16-18)

B. Mind your own business (1 Timothy 5:13; 1 Peter 4:15; Philippians 4:8)
C. Work with your own hands (1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10)

(1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)

I. Abound more and more (4:1-2)

A. How you ought to walk (Romans 6:4; 8:1; Galatians 5:16, 25; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 4:1)
B. How you ought to please God (Romans 8:8; Hebrews 11:6)
C. Remember the commandments given through Jesus

II. Your sanctification (4:3-7)

A. Abstain from sexual immorality (Galatians 5:19; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 5:3)
B. Possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor (Galatians 5:23; 2 Peter 1:6)
C. Do not defraud your brother in this matter (Matthew 18:6-7)

III. Who are you rejecting? (4:8)

A. When you reject sound teaching, you don’t reject man but God (Luke 10:16)
B. Apostles and others inspired during the miraculous age were speaking God’s Word, not their own opinions (2 Timothy 4:2)