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Sermon: Fixing the Gaps in Our Christian Living
Bible Passage: 1 Thessalonians 3:10–4:2
I. Positive things about the church at Thessalonica:
1. They accepted the message of God (2:13)
2. They demonstrated spiritual growth, Christian character, and fruitfulness (1:3) They were noticed by others (1:7-10)
3. They endured persecution for the sake of their faith (2:14)
II. Despite these positive qualities, Timothy reported to Paul about some “gaps” among the Thessalonian Christians (verses 10-13)
1. There were gaps in their faith (verse 10)
a. “gap” —coming behind, insufficiency, poverty, or “lacking” (cf. Matt 19:20, Luke 22:35, 2 Cor 11:9)
b. If unchecked, these “gaps” can outweigh the strengths
2. These gaps may potentially make them “blameworthy”/“guilty” before the Lord at His coming (verse 13)
3. There are at least six gaps mentioned in 1 Thessalonians (3:10-13; 4:3-8; 4:9-12, 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 5:12-22)
III. Let’s look at the first “gap”
1. Lack (deficiency) of love within the faith community (verse 12)
a. The love here is agape love (verse 12)
b. Agape love is not an ecstatic emotion, but it is substantive, demonstrable, etc.,
c. Paul desires that the Thessalonian Christians would “increase” and be “abound” in agape love (cf. 4:9-10)
2. Paul wants to mend (καταρτίζω) the gaps
a. Paul does not want the Thessalonian believers live with this deficiency
b. The purpose of this letter is to fix it
c. How do you fix/mend?
i. By pointing out (by identifying the gap)
ii. Teaching and modeling
3. The purpose of pointing out their gaps and fixing them is to prepare them to stand before Jesus at His coming (verse 13)
a. “blameless before God”
b. “holy” people
4. The believers fix the gaps (responsibility is on the individual believers)
a. By following the teachings (4:1-2)
b. By desiring to please God
Take Away: 
1. Show love in action to at least one person a week within your faith community and/or to others outside of our community
2. Live to please God the Father (the only goal of life)