Fellowship Bible Church
“WOMEN IN THE WORD”
1 THESSALONIANS:
"Occupying until Christ Comes"
LIFE IN THE CHURCH
1 Thessalonians 5:12-15
March 27, 2012
INTRO
1 Thess 5:12-15 (NKJV) 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over
you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace
among yourselves. 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold
the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good
both for yourselves and for all.
HOW TO FELLOWSHIP with and RELATE to LEADERS
1 Thess 5 (NKJV) 12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in
the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake.
1 Cor 12:7,11 (NLT)
Eph 4:11-13 (NLT)
Eph 2:20 (NLT)
.
Acts 14:23 (NLT)
1 Peter 5:2-4 (NKJV).
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"...recognize those who labor among you"- The NASB says "appreciate."
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" labor " - labor- (kopos); to feel fatigue; by implication to work hard :- (bestow) labour, toil, be wearied.—
Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
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"among you and...over you"Heb 13:17 (NLT)
Heb 13:7 (NLT)
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"to esteem them very highly in love"-
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"13b
...Be at peace among yourselves."
James 4:1-3 (NLT)
HOW TO FELLOWSHIP with and RELATE to OTHER BELIEVERS
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Now we exhort you, brethren,

Brethren-
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warn those who are unruly,
warn- to put in mind, i.e. (by implication) to caution or reprove gently :- admonish, warn.—Strong's Talking Greek &
Hebrew Dictionary
unruly- unarranged, i.e. (by implication) insubordinate (religiously) :- unruly.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew
Dictionary
(Romans 1-8)
2 Thess 3:11-12 (NKJV)11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner,
not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our
Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
Gal 6:1-3 (NLT)
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comfort the fainthearted,
faint-hearted- little-spirited or souled, i.e. faint-hearted :-—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
W.Weirsbe: "These people need to be encouraged, which is the meaning of the word translated “comfort”
in the King James Version. It is also found in 1 Thessalonians 2:11. The Greek word is made up of two
words: para, near; and muthos, speech. Instead of scolding the fainthearted from a distance, we must get
close to them and speak tenderly. We must teach the “little-souled” that the trials of life will help to enlarge
them and make them stronger in the faith."

uphold the weak,
uphold- to hold oneself opposite to, i.e. (by implication) adhere to; by extension to care for :- hold fast,
hold to, support.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
weak- to lack strength, physically, spiritually or morally depending on the context.
Romans 14:1-3 (NLT)
Romans 14:14-23 (NLT)
Romans 15:1-2 (NLT)

be patient with all.
patient- to be long-spirited, i.e. (objective) forbearing or (subjective) patient :- bear (suffer) long, be
longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
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See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

See- to stare at i.e. (by implication) to discern clearly (physical or mental); by extension to attend to; by
Hebrew to experience; passive to appear :- behold, perceive, see, take heed.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew
Dictionary
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See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone -
Prov 24:28-29 (NLT)28 Don’t testify against your neighbors without cause; don’t lie about them. 29 And
don’t say, “Now I can pay them back for what they’ve done to me! I’ll get even with them!”
Romans 12:17-21 (NLT)
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1 Peter 3:8-12 (NLT)
Eph 4:31-32 (NLT)

but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
pursue- to flee; to pursue (literal or figurative); by implication to persecute :- ensue, follow (after), given
to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press forward.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary
APPLICATION:
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These principles also apply to our family life. As a parent training your children to lovingly respond to
their sibling's faults and or weaknesses it is vital to apply these Biblical admonishments if you want to
pursue a peaceful home environment. Training your children to respect authority and to value those who
watch over them is indispensible to their maturity. Paul's parenting style reflected a heart of love and
respect for his fellow believers. He wisely focused on the positive and good before addressing areas of
weakness or sin.
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Do you find it easy or hard to "speak the truth in love" to another believer? Why do you think that
is? Do you understand the importance of each believer taking responsibility for the other?
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Are you easily corrected when you are wrong? Do you take constructive criticism well? Do you resent
the person who has confronted you or do you humbly receive the correction? If you tend to bristle if
anyone tries to approach you about one of your faults please read and meditate on the following verses
about the wisdom of learning to heed the advice and counsel of another. Proverbs 13:1,18; Proverbs
15:5, 31 & 32
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