Be Quiet and Get to Work

English Standard Version Chapter 4

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

Introduction

Christianity vs. false religions and man made programs for restraining flesh

Thessalonica was a genuine church, real Christians, an example to other churches

Paul taught them about Jesus return and they were only focused on that

There messed up view of Jesus’ return, sparked Paul’s corrections

Be quiet

Be quiet

Translated from hesuchazo /hay·soo·khad·zo

hold ones peace

heard at weddings

also means to hold your tongue

aspire

work on, study to be

desirable to have a calm and quiet temper, peaceful and quiet behavior

meek and mild

peaceful and quiet behavior

not inclined to arguing and division

were happier, others are happier

its not natural, satan works hard to disquiet us

end goal was that Christians would lead peaceful lives, free of conflict towards others

this is what Paul knew would be a witness to non Christians

Mind your own business

Self explanatory ????

context is not about gossip

context is not that we shouldn't care for others and live alone

The context is to correct the idleness some at the church have shown

the more we worry about others work, the less we focus on our own

We are most productive when we focus on the job at hand

We all have our own particular jobs and callings

Work with your hands

The culture at the time thought men shouldn't stoop to do manual labor

slave work

First generation Christians were working class heroes

When Paul first visited Thessalonica they set an example for the new church

Chapter 2, Paul explains his example

2:8-13

Paul taught that churches should furnish their pastors food and necessities.

He was doing more than what was required of his position

Was providing an example for other pastors

4:12

Behave properly toward others

for Paul Christian integrity was the key to a powerful testimony

made the Gospel credible

Be dependent on no one

doesn't mean you answer to no one

If we put into practice the guidelines from Paul we wont always be dependent on others

there are times when we may need help

These things are the foundation to evangelism, witnessing, persuading others to become Christians

Do these things all while spreading the good news of Salvation through Jesus