HOW TO ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-11 CSB
Selected Scriptures
By
Rev. Ronald Bell, Sr.
Sunday, March 19, 2023
RESPONSIVE READING
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 CSB
LEADER: 5 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need
anything to be written to you.
CONGREGATION: 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will
come just like a thief in the night.
LEADER: 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come
upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
CONGREGATION: 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to
surprise you like a thief.
LEADER: 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to
the night or the darkness.
CONGREGATION: 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be
self-controlled.
LEADER: 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at
night.
CONGREGATION: 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put
on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.
LEADER: 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ,
CONGREGATION: 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may
live together with him.
EVERYONE: 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are
already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 CSB: 5 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be
written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come
just like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “Peace and security,” then sudden
destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will
not escape. 4 But you, brothers, and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise
you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not
belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us
stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who
get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be selfcontrolled
and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of
salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may
live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as
you are already doing.
I. You must know who you are. (vv4-5)
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you
like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not
belong to the night or the darkness.
Children of Light –
Matthew 5:14–16 (NASB95) — 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill
cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before
men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in
heaven.
1 John 1:6-7 CSB: 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and
are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have
fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
II. You must stay woke. (vv6-10)
6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get
drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put
on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. 9 For God
did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live
together with him.
Ephesians 6:18 CEB: 16 Above all, carry the shield of faith so that you can extinguish the flaming arrows of
the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s
word. 18 Offer prayers and petitions in the Spirit all the time. Stay alert by hanging in
there and praying for all believers.
Stay Awake (V6) –
Luke 21:34-36 NLT: 34 “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by
the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, 35 like a trap. For that day
will come upon everyone living on the earth.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT: 13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.
1 Peter 5:8 NLT: 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring
lion, looking for someone to devour.
III. You must be persistent. (v11-CSB)
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up as you are already
doing.
Encourage –
Proverbs 16:24 ESV: 24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Acts 4:36 CEB: 36 Joseph, whom the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (that is, “one who encourages”), was
a Levite from Cyprus.
Hebrews 3:13 (NASB95) — 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is
still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Hebrews 10:25 (NASB95) — 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the
habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day
drawing near.
Romans 15:4 NLT: 4 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures
give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.
Buildup –
Romans 15:2 HCSB: 2 Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
Ephesians 4:29 (NASB95) — 29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth,
but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so
that it will give grace to those who hear.
Colossians 2:6-7 HCSB: 6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 7 rooted and built
up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with
gratitude.
.I.F.E. Group Questions
1. How do you react when you hear predictions about the end of the world?
2. What contrast is there between believers and non-believers? (5:4-8)
3. According to 1 Thes. 5:4-8, how does a person who belongs to the light
think and behave?
4. What dangers are associated with living in darkness (1 Thes. 5:5-7)?
5. What instructions does Paul give for living in the light (1 Thes. 5:8)?
6. What roles should faith, hope, and love play in our lives? (5:8)
7. Paul tells us that our defensive weapons against darkness are faith, love
and hope (1 Thes. 5:8). What are some practical ways in which these
virtues can defend you?
8. For what reason can we be assured of our salvation? (5:9-10)
9. What is God’s plan for us (1 Thes. 5:9-11)?
10. How should a believer use this information to help others? (5:11)
11. What do you want to take to heart from 5:1-11?
12. What do you want to do about it?