As we approach the end of 1 Thessalonians, Paul offers the church three directives on how to live according to the will of God: rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. But if we want the power to be able to live our lives this way, we need a great perspective of God and his providence. We are excited to be led through this passage by Thomas Barr!
Key Takeaway
God wants you to be joyful, prayerful, and grateful.
- Rejoice. Your joy should stand out. Our joy is to be expressive because it's informed. Joy is the result of the Gospel. Joy is the product of the Good News of grace coming into your life. We can rejoice always because our source is unmatched.
- Pray. Prayer acknowledges our dependence but it also assumes He's present. There isn't a place or a time we can go to where God isn't there. To fail to pray is not to do some religious rule. To fail to pray is a failure to see that God is God. It's to be blind to the reality of God. Prayer does not force God's hand, it acknowledges that God is God. Prayer, in essence, is not an arrangement of words—it's a constant God consciousness.
- Give Thanks. The power of gratitude comes from our source. Thanksgiving will ultimately take us to the throne. It's an active conclusion to God. We can be thankful horizontally, but it ultimately leads us to be thankful vertically. We can't base our thanks on things. His goodness and steadfast love goes back into your past and your future.
Discussion Questions
It was stated that if you have no view of godly grace, then you don't have joy. How do you define possessing a view of godly grace?
Do you have a joy that can exist when things are hard? How can the two coexist?
Does it help you to approach God as a father in prayer?
Everything in the world reminds Paul of prayer. Is that true of you? How often would you say that you're thinking of God?
Thomas Barr says the great characteristic of ungodliness is "un-gratitude." How can we be stingy with our gratitude and tend to lean into a spirit of complaint?
What do you struggle with most: rejoicing, praying, or giving thanks?
What are tangible steps to take toward rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks?
Scripture References
shout to God with cries of joy.
the great King over all the earth.
Psalm 106
1Praise the
Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
2Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the
or fully declare his praise?
3Blessed are those who act justly,
who always do what is right.
4Remember me,
come to my aid when you save them,
5that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may share in the joy of your nation
and join your inheritance in giving praise.
6We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7When our ancestors were in Egypt,
they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
8Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
to make his mighty power known.
9He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
12Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.
13But they soon forgot what he had done
and did not wait for his plan to unfold.
14In the desert they gave in to their craving;
in the wilderness they put God to the test.
15So he gave them what they asked for,
but sent a wasting disease among them.
16In the camp they grew envious of Moses
and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the
17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan;
it buried the company of Abiram.
18Fire blazed among their followers;
a flame consumed the wicked.
19At Horeb they made a calf
and worshiped an idol cast from metal.
20They exchanged their glorious God
for an image of a bull, which eats grass.
21They forgot the God who saved them,
who had done great things in Egypt,
22miracles in the land of Ham
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
23So he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him
to keep his wrath from destroying them.
24Then they despised the pleasant land;
they did not believe his promise.
25They grumbled in their tents
and did not obey the
26So he swore to them with uplifted hand
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
27make their descendants fall among the nations
and scatter them throughout the lands.
28They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor
and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods;
29they aroused the
and a plague broke out among them.
30But Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was checked.
31This was credited to him as righteousness
for endless generations to come.
32By the waters of Meribah they angered the
and trouble came to Moses because of them;
33for they rebelled against the Spirit of God,
and rash words came from Moses’ lips.
34They did not destroy the peoples
as the
35but they mingled with the nations
and adopted their customs.
36They worshiped their idols,
which became a snare to them.
37They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to false gods.
38They shed innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was desecrated by their blood.
39They defiled themselves by what they did;
by their deeds they prostituted themselves.
40Therefore the
and abhorred his inheritance.
41He gave them into the hands of the nations,
and their foes ruled over them.
42Their enemies oppressed them
and subjected them to their power.
43Many times he delivered them,
but they were bent on rebellion
and they wasted away in their sin.
44Yet he took note of their distress
when he heard their cry;
45for their sake he remembered his covenant
and out of his great love he relented.
46He caused all who held them captive
to show them mercy.
47Save us,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.
48Praise be to the
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”
Praise the
Ministering Before the Ark
1They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. 2After David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the
4He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the
7That day David first appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the
8Give praise to the
make known among the nations what he has done.
9Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
10Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the
11Look to the
seek his face always.
12Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13you his servants, the descendants of Israel,
his chosen ones, the children of Jacob.
14He is the
his judgments are in all the earth.
15He remembers his covenant forever,
the promise he made, for a thousand generations,
16the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac.
17He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18“To you I will give the land of Canaan
as the portion you will inherit.”
19When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it,
20they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another.
21He allowed no one to oppress them;
for their sake he rebuked kings:
22“Do not touch my anointed ones;
do my prophets no harm.”
23Sing to the
proclaim his salvation day after day.
24Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25For great is the
he is to be feared above all gods.
26For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the
27Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
28Ascribe to the
ascribe to the
29Ascribe to the
bring an offering and come before him.
Worship the
30Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
31Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “The
32Let the sea resound, and all that is in it;
let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33Let the trees of the forest sing,
let them sing for joy before the
for he comes to judge the earth.
34Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
35Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior;
gather us and deliver us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name,
and glory in your praise.”
36Praise be to the
from everlasting to everlasting.
Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the
37David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the
39David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the
43Then all the people left, each for their own home, and David returned home to bless his family.
Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
Book V
Psalm 107
1Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
2Let the redeemed of the
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6Then they cried out to the
and he delivered them from their distress.
7He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8Let them give thanks to the
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13Then they cried to the
and he saved them from their distress.
14He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15Let them give thanks to the
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
17Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19Then they cried to the
and he saved them from their distress.
20He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21Let them give thanks to the
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24They saw the works of the
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28Then they cried out to the
and he brought them out of their distress.
29He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31Let them give thanks to the
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
33He turned rivers into a desert,
flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34and fruitful land into a salt waste,
because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35He turned the desert into pools of water
and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36there he brought the hungry to live,
and they founded a city where they could settle.
37They sowed fields and planted vineyards
that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and he did not let their herds diminish.
39Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40he who pours contempt on nobles
made them wander in a trackless waste.
41But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and increased their families like flocks.
42The upright see and rejoice,
but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43Let the one who is wise heed these things
and ponder the loving deeds of the
Psalm 118
1Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
2Let Israel say:
“His love endures forever.”
3Let the house of Aaron say:
“His love endures forever.”
4Let those who fear the
“His love endures forever.”
5When hard pressed, I cried to the
he brought me into a spacious place.
6The
What can mere mortals do to me?
7The
I look in triumph on my enemies.
8It is better to take refuge in the
than to trust in humans.
9It is better to take refuge in the
than to trust in princes.
10All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the
11They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the
12They swarmed around me like bees,
but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the
13I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the
14The
he has become my salvation.
15Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The
16The
the
17I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the
18The
but he has not given me over to death.
19Open for me the gates of the righteous;
I will enter and give thanks to the
20This is the gate of the
through which the righteous may enter.
21I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
23the
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24The
let us rejoice today and be glad.
25
26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the
From the house of the
27The
and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
28You are my God, and I will praise you;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29Give thanks to the
his love endures forever.
Psalm 136
1Give thanks to the
His love endures forever.
2Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
4to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
5who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
6who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
7who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
8the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
9the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.
10to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt
His love endures forever.
11and brought Israel out from among them
His love endures forever.
12with a mighty hand and outstretched arm;
His love endures forever.
13to him who divided the Red Sea asunder
His love endures forever.
14and brought Israel through the midst of it,
His love endures forever.
15but swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea;
His love endures forever.
16to him who led his people through the wilderness;
His love endures forever.
17to him who struck down great kings,
His love endures forever.
18and killed mighty kings—
His love endures forever.
19Sihon king of the Amorites
His love endures forever.
20and Og king of Bashan—
His love endures forever.
21and gave their land as an inheritance,
His love endures forever.
22an inheritance to his servant Israel.
His love endures forever.
23He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
24and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
25He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.
26Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.
Promise of Restoration
1While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the
6“ ‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. 8I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. 9Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’
10“This is what the
“Give thanks to the
for the
his love endures forever.”
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the
12“This is what the
14“ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the
15“ ‘In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line;
he will do what is just and right in the land.
16In those days Judah will be saved
and Jerusalem will live in safety.
This is the name by which it will be called:
The
17For this is what the
19The word of the
23The word of the
