Praying in Love (Thessalonians 3:10-13)

Sermon Outline

1Thessalonians 2;17-3;13 Praying in love for others (Read whole passage, focus on 3:11-13)

1. Who is Paul praying for?
   1. Converts that he had personally evangelized.
   2. Considers them his children (1Th 2:17)
   3. Considers them brothers (1Th 1:4, 2:1, 9, 14, 3:7, 4:1, 10, 13, 5:1, 4, 12, 14, 25-27)
2. How can we pray for others?
   1. Out of Heart grounded in Love
      1. Like a Nursing Mother (1Th 2:7-8)
      2. Like a Father (1Th 2:11-12)
   2. Out of Deep Concern (1Th 3:1, 5)
3. What is Paul asking for?
   1. A Contrast of Paul’s prayer to our prayers (Acts 28:8, 2Cor 12:7ff, Phil 2:25-27)
   2. Reason for Paul’s prayer requests (1Th 3:13)
      1. Reinforcement
      2. Whole Person Transformation
   3. Tearing down spiritual roadblocks (1Th 2:17-18)
   4. Increase in Love for one another and for all (1Th 3:12, Phil 1:9, 1 Tim 6:18, 1Jn 4:8, Jn 13:34-35, Mt 5:43-48)
   5. What are practical ways to love others? (Lk 22:27)
4. What does this mean for us? (2Th 1:3)
   1. God answers prayers like this
   2. You and I have a part to play in the growth of others.