maintain sexual purity 1 thessalonians 4:1-8. discussion guide benjamin nolot
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Maintain Sexual Purity
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Benjamin Nolot
DISCUSSION GUIDE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Rob & Kristen Bell
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
1. What was the moral climate of the culture in Thessalonica when Paul writes to instruct
them about remaining sexually pure?
These new gentile believers came out of a lifestyle of pagan worship that included temple
prostitutes. Immorality was a way of life.
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
2. Paul instructs them about “how they must live” or “walk” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). How is our daily walk the greatest evidence of our holiness?
We are called to be sanctified “set-apart”, to be counter-cultural in many ways. This is a witness
to the lost and back-slidden believer.
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
3. Paul states that the believers were to please God “more and more.” How is the Christian walk a journey?
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4. Paul takes the excuses away in (v. 12). How?
They had been taught and trained.
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5. What do these passages state about the consequences for the failure to follow God’s directions?
a. (Psalm 81:12-13) God gave the Israelites over to their desires
b. (Romans 1:18-19) The wrath of God will be revealed
c. (Eph. 4:17-18) You can become alienated from God.
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
6. Paul points out God’s will for the believers that they become holy or sanctified (v. 3). What is the New Testament definition of sanctification?
a.(1 Cor. 1:2) Past sanctification through God in Christ
b.(1 Cor. 1:30) Present sanctification through holy living
c.(1 Thess. 3:13) Future sanctification in heaven when we will be blameless
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
7. Paul was concerned in this passage with their present condition. How is your present condition? Are you living a sanctified life?
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
8. What constitutes sexual immorality in the Scripture? (v. 3)
Anything outside of God’s plan for sex in marriage between one man and one woman.
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9. In (v. 4) Paul speaks to the sanctity of marriage. How is one to look at marriage?
With holiness and honor.
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
10. How does one guard the holiness and honor of marriage?
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
11. What 3 reasons does Paul state for believers to avoid sexual immorality?
a.(v. 6) The Lord will avenge all sinb.(v. 7)The Lord called us to holiness not
impurityc.(v. 8) The Lord has provided support through
His Word and the Holy Spirit. To reject morality is to reject Him.
DISCUSSION GUIDEDISCUSSION GUIDE
12. Is there anything in your life that needs to be removed because it is damaging your ability to live a holy life?
DISCUSSION GUIDE“We want to be a saint, but we also want to feel every sensation experienced by sinners; we want to be innocent and pure, but we also want to be experienced and taste all of life; we want to serve the poor and have a simple lifestyle, but we also want all the comforts of the rich; we want to have the depth afforded by solitude, but we also do not want to miss anything; we want to pray, but we also want to watch television, read, talk to friends, and go out.
It's a small wonder that life is often a trying enterprise, and that we are often tired and pathologically overextended.”
—Ronald Rolheiser, president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas