OUTLINE OF FIRST THESSALONIANS

1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 1Th 3:13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I. Paul's Personal Reflections on the Thessalonians........................... 1:1-3:13

A.  Paul's Commendation for Their Growth...................... 1:1-10

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

B.  Paul's Founding of the Church     2:1-16

1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1Th 2:14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

C.  Timotheus's Strengthening of the Church...................... 2:17-3:13

1.       Satan Hinders Paul    2:17-20

1Th 2:18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

2.       Paul Sends Timotheus    3:1-5

1Th 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

3.       Timotheus's Encouraging Report. . . . 3:6-10

1Th 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:

4.       Paul's Desire to Visit Them.................... 3:11-13

1Th 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

II. Paul's Instructions to the Thessalonians......................... 4:1-5:28

A.  Directions for Growth     4:1-12

1Th 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

B.  Revelation Concerning the Dead in Christ.................... 4:13-18

1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

C.  Description of the Day of the Lord ... 5:1-11

1Th 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

D.  Instruction for Holy Living     5:12-22

1Th 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

1Th 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

E.  Conclusion . .     . . 5:23-28

1Th 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.