Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 | “Live Holy Lives” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, 5:12-22

Introduction:  When a liberal and a conservative agree, it’s time to act.

The problem with preaching through the bible and highlighting morals.

I.        “Live in a way that pleases God”

A.     “You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”

1.      (v2) “For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”

2.      Why I am responsible to the bible’s teaching rather than society’s more fluid standards

a.   Divorce, living together, gay marriage, polygamy, Hittites and           Jebusites [Deuteronomy 7:3]

b.   Romans 2:4,”…not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to   repentance?”

B.     (v3) “God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.”

1.      Sexual sin—prostitution, adultery, not performing the levirate duty, homosexual acts, rape, bestiality, Leviticus 18 items, looking with lust, looking upon your parents’ nakedness.

2.      (v4) “Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor”

C.     (v6) “Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife”

1.      The flimsy justification that consensual sex doesn’t hurt anybody [1 Corinthians 6:18-19]

2.      “…for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.”

3.      (v8) “Anyone who refuses to live by these rules is …rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit…”

II.       (v7) “God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.”

A.     (v9) “We don’t need to write about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has…”

1.      Why highlight certain sins?  Why tolerate others?  How best to speak in love?

2.      (v10) “You already show your love for all the believers…love them even more.”

B.     (v11) “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business, working with your hands.”

1.      (5:14) “Warn those who are lazy.  Encourage those who are timid.”

2.      “Take tender care of those who are weak.  Be patient with everyone.”

3.      (5:15) “See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other.”

C.     (5:16-18) “Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances.”

1.      Rather than alarmist or defeatist we rest in our faith and trust in God’s almighty reach.

2.      “…for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Conclusion:   You can have all the right answers and apply them in all the wrong ways.

Conservatives tend to emphasize the sermon’s first half, liberals the second half.  1 Thessalonians 5:23