THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

Expressions of Love -- 1 Thess. 4:9-12

Thessalonica

Something You’ll Never Hear:

• “I left the church because they loved me too much.”

I Wanna Know What Love Is…

• 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 – Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more,

No Need To Write About Love…

Taught by God? How? 1 John 4:10-11 --In this

is love, not that we loved God, but that

He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our

sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one

another.

Ephesians 5:2

• “…and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gaveHimself up for us, anoffering and a sacrifice to God as afragrant aroma.”

Practicing Love

John 13:35 – “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What Kind Of Love? PHILADELPHIA Brotherly Love “Now for this very reason

also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence … and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness love (2 Peter 1:5,7).”

Excel Still More!

1 Peter 1:22 – “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart….”

1 John 3:10

“By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother”.

…I want you to show me…

1 Thessalonians 4:10-12 – “…for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.”

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

1 John 4:20 – “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

How Do I Show My Love?

By leading a quiet life Romans 14:13,19 – “Therefore let us not

judge one another anymore, but rather determine this – not to put an obstacleor a stumbling block ina brother’s way….So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”

Galatians 5:15

“But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

But Understand This…

Galatians 6:1 – “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

…by working with my hands

Not idle or a busybody

Not living off the hard work of others.

Proverbs 19:15 – “Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger.”

1 Timothy 5:13

“…At the same time they learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.”

…by behaving properly…

Toward outsiders 1 Peter 4:9 – “Be

hospitable to one another without complaint.”

By providing for my own needs

2 Thessalonians 3:10 – “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.”