4 Walk Properly 1 Thess 4 1 12

What impression? What a “normal/good” Christian life looks like? Paul’s summary (v 11): Live

1. Walk Properly What do people see when they look at me? What impression?

1. Walk Properly … Normal condition – constantly active, busy “make it your ambition

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness Excursus: “abstain from sexual immorality” (v 3) Jewish

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness … Today: Marriage is optional. Children born out

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness … Some facts: Married couples more likely to

3. Sabbath Rest is not valued as it should be Sabbath – 4 th

3. Sabbath … Essence: Rest & Remembrance Pharisees got it wrong – emphasized “no

Living It What is your ambition? Health, appearance, success, status, love …? Seldom: “I

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4. Walk Properly 1 Thess. 4: 1 -12 p. 1093

What impression? What a “normal/good” Christian life looks like? Paul’s summary (v 11): Live quietly Mind your own affairs Work (with your hands) What kind of impression should we create?

1. Walk Properly What do people see when they look at me? What impression? Am I just like everyone else? “Walk properly” – overall quality of our lives Aspire, make it our ambition … (v 11) Quiet life, mind own business, work well

1. Walk Properly … Normal condition – constantly active, busy “make it your ambition to live a quiet life” Does my life, your life have this character?

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness Excursus: “abstain from sexual immorality” (v 3) Jewish commitment to marital faithfulness – - counter-cultural Ancient world – sex was a game, indulgence, … We are returning to this

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness … Today: Marriage is optional. Children born out of wedlock – recent change OECD: 1964 most <10% – 2014 only 5 still <10% Canada: 1964 – 7%, 2014 – 33% (5 x increase)

2. Not Impurity , but Holiness … Some facts: Married couples more likely to stay together Most children out of wedlock: one-parent homes Children do better in homes with their two parents Family breakdown / blended families not great Canada <20% live with both original

3. Sabbath Rest is not valued as it should be Sabbath – 4 th Commandment. (Deut 5: 1215) Made for man (Mark. 2: 27) Built into Creation (Ex. 20: 8– 11) Perpetual covenant (Ex. 31: 13 -17, Ex. 23: 12, Dt. 5: 13 -14) Remember Rest after Creation (Gen. 2: 2 -3, Ex. 20: 8 -11)

3. Sabbath … Essence: Rest & Remembrance Pharisees got it wrong – emphasized “no work” No longer binding (Col 2: 16 -17) Misuse of sabbath – defining righteousness Sabbath is a gift (Mark 2: 27) Sabbath was built into the fabric of creation A full day of no obligatory work

Living It What is your ambition? Health, appearance, success, status, love …? Seldom: “I want to live quietly …” Example related to pastors & planters No-one wants to pastor small churches! Is your ambition the same as God’s?