Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Urban & Inner City Mission and LCMS Church Planting, and co-host of the Mission Field: USA podcast, joins host Rev. Brady Finnern to study 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28.
Find LCMS Urban & Inner City Mission at lcms.org/urban. Learn more about LCMS Church Planting at lcms.org/churchplanting, and find the Mission Field: USA podcast at kfuo.org/missionfieldusa.
Paul lovingly provides final instructions to the saints. Whether it is respect to those who labor in the Word, encouragement for the fainthearted, help for the weak, rejoicing always, or testing everything by the Word, Paul desires that everyone may know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray the same for our church family, neighbors, and family members, as we know that this grace is sufficient and he desires all to be saved. “Lord God, shower Your grace upon us, our friends, family, and churches. As You have made us holy by the blood of Christ, give us the gift of joy, thanksgiving, service, faithfulness to Your Word, and being kept blameless until You return. Lord have mercy. In Christ, Amen”
Thy Strong Word reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations.
Thy Strong Word is hosted by Rev. Brady Finnern, pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Sartell, MN, and graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Final Instructions and Benediction
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,[a] encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Footnotes
- 1 Thessalonians 5:14 Or disorderly, or undisciplined
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. esv.org
