Introduction:     The preaching of the soon coming of Jesus had caused confusion among some of the believers in Thessalonica. Some were quitting their jobs. Others were panicking. With so much idle time on their hands, some began to meddle and gossip. There is a danger of getting out of balance. The Bible teaches us that we should not be paralyzed by panic, frozen by fear, or sidetracked by speculation. This passage teaches us how to live under the shadow of the coming of the Lord and gives us some good advice.

I.           MAJOR ON RELATIONSHIPS (VV.9-10)
We’ll leave all our stuff behind one day.

            A.        The Mark Of Brotherly Love (9a)
“love” = fil-ad-el-fee'-ah; from Greek 5361 (philadelphos); fraternal affection: - brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren. The mark of being in the family of God!

            B.         The Meaning Of Brotherly Love (9b) (“taught of God”)
In His Word. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit teaches the meaning of love.

            C.        The Manifestation Of Brotherly Love (10a)
Love is something you do! It’s everywhere not contained to one place.

            D.        The Maturing Of Brotherly Love (10b)
Increasing more and more.

II.         MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS (V.11)
Evidently there were three kinds of people in that church

            A.        There Were Fanatics (11a)
“Study” = to seek after with great earnestness (we get ambition from this word)
“Quiet” = calm and restful. Calm down. Jesus is coming, but that doesn’t mean you have to run around as though the sky is falling (going overboard)! The rapture brings hope not hopelessness! This is something you have to learn to do. I don’t care how nerves you are, you can study to be quiet! How? By grounding what you believe not in what people are saying, but by the Word of God!

            B.         There Were Busybodies (11b)
Reasons:

1.  Too much time on their hands.

2.  It is habitual.

3.  Fail to look at their own faults through the eyes of Christ.

            C.        There Were Loafers (11c)
Lazy people become busybodies because they are not doing anything for God.

III.       MODEL A LIFE OF INTEGRITY (V.12)

            A.        Walk Properly (honestly)

            B.         Walk Proportionally
With my hands and His help I’ll lack nothing! God will not do for us what He expects us to do for ourselves!

Conclusion:       We are still engaged in the spiritual battles of this world. I know the forces of evil are raging, but the war is over! Victory has been won! Jesus Christ is coming. The devil is defeated, we win, so lets just go around and act like it!