1TIM 4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1TIM 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Doctrines are the teachings of the Bible.  A Bible doctrine is simply a truth taught by the Bible.  Anyone who says that doctrine is not important is really saying that what the Bible teaches is not important.  Do not listen to people who say that doctrine is not important.  God's Word says otherwise.  It says that we are to give attendance to doctrine. 

We are to take heed unto doctrine.  To take heed is more than just hearing it.  To take heed means to act appropriately upon it. 

We are to continue in Bible teachings.  It is not enough to hear Bible doctrine and then heed it just for a little while.  No we are to continue doing what the Bible teaches.

The Word of God says that doctrine is important.  And giving attendance to, taking heed of, and continuing in doctrine has a benefit.  We will save them that hear us.  Why?  Because they will see that we are for real.  They will see a changed life.  They will see a new creature in Christ. 

Witnessing for Christ needs to be backed up by a life that gives attendance to, heeds, and continues in Bible teaching (doctrine).

1TIM 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

1TIM 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1TIM 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

This is not a popular subject in the day in which we live, but God does have standards for pastors. 

A pastor is to be blameless.  That covers a lot right there.  This does not mean that he has to be perfect.  If that was the case, then no one would qualify.  It means that he lives in such a way that no one can blame him for wrong doing.

A pastor is to be the husband of one wife.  That means that a pastor has to be a man.  A woman cannot be the husband of one wife.   

A pastor is to be vigilant.  To be vigilant is to be watchful, circumspect, attentive to discover and avoid danger. 

A pastor is to be sober and of good behavior.  He is to be given to hospitality. 

A pastor is to be a good teacher.  He is to teach the Word of God.  All of it.  Both the parts people like and the parts that they don't like. 

A pastor is not to drink booze.

A pastor is not to be a fighter or a brawler.

A pastor is not to be in it for the money.  He is not to be greedy. 

A pastor is not to be covetous of what others have.  This would include being covetous of another pastor's ministry. 

God takes the office of a pastor very serious, and He holds them to a higher standard.

1TIM 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Notice it says all men.  Not just for your brothers and sisters in Christ. 

1TIM 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

We are to be praying for the leaders of our country.  All of them.  Yes even if you do not like them.  Even if you voted for the other guy.  God does not put any exclusions in this command.  God's Word  says that we are to pray for all that are in authority.  This means we are to pray for more than just the president.  It would also mean the congress, our governors, the state legislature, mayors, and yes even judges. 

We are to pray for them so that we may have a quiet and peaceable life.

1TIM 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

1TIM 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Some people have a hard time believing that God can save them because they are too wicked.  They are aware of their sin and think that they have done something or many things that are too awful to be saved. 

The truth is that God came to save sinners.  He came to save even the most vile of sinners.  God saved Paul who was chief of sinners. 

1TIM 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

Paul blasphemed God.  Paul persecuted Christians and injured them, and yet Paul found mercy.

1TIM 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Not only did this chief of sinners get saved, but God put him into the ministry.  God completely changed his life.  Paul became a new creature in Christ and was greatly used of God. 

If you have never accepted Christ as your savior because you think you are too wicked, you need to understand that no one is too wicked to be saved. 

How to be saved.

2THESS 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

The Word of God does teach to separate from brethren that will not obey the word of God.  We are to have no company with them.  This is so that he will be ashamed of the way that he is acting.  The goal here is not to hurt this individual.  The goal is so that he will repent and start obeying the Word of God.  The goal is to restore him. 

2THESS 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

You are not to think of him as an enemy, he is still your brother in Christ.  You are to continue to love him.  That means that you want what is best for them.  And it is always better to obey the Word of God.  Disobedience to God is sin.  Sin always has consequences.  You love them and do not want to see them suffer from the consequences of sin.

So you are to have no company with him and admonish him so that he can be restored, but you need to do it with the right heart.  A heart that truly wants what is best for them.

2THESS 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2THESS 2:4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

To understand this properly you must understand that Christ actually comes back twice.  The first time is in the clouds.  He does not actually set foot on the ground at the rapture.  We go and meet Him in the air.  These verses are talking about when He comes back to rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords at the end of the tribulation.

Before Christ comes back the second time (not at the rapture) that man of sin will be revealed.  The son of perdition will be known.  The antichrist will exalt himself above all.  He will exalt himself above God.  He will actually sit in the temple of God in Jerusalem and tell people that he is God.  He will require that people worship him. 

This will happen during the tribulation period.  I for one am glad that I will not be here during that time.

The antichrist will require worship, but he will not get away with it for long.

2THESS 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

When Jesus comes back the antichrist will be destroyed with the brightness of His coming. 

2THESS 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;

2THESS 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

The Thessalonians listened to the word of God and their charity toward each other abounded.  This was a great testimony that influenced others.  In verse 4 Paul says that they gloried in the Thessalonians in the churches (plural) of God.  They knew of their patience and faith.

And notice that all of this abounding love, faith, and patience was not done under perfect circumstances.  No quite the opposite.  Verse 4 says, "in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure"

They were abounding in love even under persecution.  They had a great faith and patience even in tribulations. 

God truly does have the grace available for us to live the way He wants us to, even when faced with great persecutions and tribulations.  We only need to lean on Him and ask Him to give us the strength we need.

1THESS 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

1THESS 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

1THESS 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

It is ok to use terms that are not in the Bible to describe Biblical teachings or events.  These verses are such a case.  The word rapture is not to be found in the Bible.  Not even once.  But what we use the word rapture to describe is.  Verses 16 and 17 describe the rapture. 

The Lord Jesus is going to return.  He will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sounding of the trump of God. 

He will not come as a lamb like He did the first time.  He is coming back as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  He is coming back in power.  The dead will rise first, and then those who are saved will be caught up into the air.  We will literally ascend into the clouds.  We will meet Jesus in the clouds and we will then forever be with Him. 

Verse 18 tells us to comfort one another with these words.  We will not have to live in this sin stained world forever.  Jesus is coming back.  This is a great comfort.  But only if you are truly saved. 

You must be born again.  Just like there was a specific time and place where you were physically born, there must be a time and a place where you were spiritually born.  If not, then you are not saved.

You have to actually pray to God with a repentant heart and ask Him to save you. 

ROM 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

ROM 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

ROM 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

ROM 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

ROM 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

If you have never called upon the Lord, will you not do so now?

1THESS 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

This was Paul's desire and prayer for the Thessalonian believers.  This also applies to all believers.

We are to increase in love one toward another.  Our love is to abound toward each other.  To abound is to have or possess in great quantity.  That is a lot of love. 

And this love is not to be limited to our brethren.  The verse says, "and toward all men".  We are also to have a great abounding love for the lost. 

Paul was not asking them to do something that he was not doing.  He says, "even as we do toward you".  Paul had given them a great example by showing this kind of love toward them, and the lost.  Paul gave his life to win the lost. 

Paul not only gave them a great example, but he also tells how to accomplish this.  He tells us in this verse were to get the power to love like this.  He wrote, "and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love."  We need to rely on Him and ask Him to enable us to love the saved and the lost with a great abounding love.

We need to be showing forth the Love of Christ.

1THESS 2:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 

1THESS 2:20 For ye are our glory and joy.

This is often referred to as the Soul Winners Crown.

The verse says what is our crown of rejoicing? And then it answers the question with ye are. Who are the ye? They are the people that they won to the Lord. This is the Soul winners crown. So people who win souls get one and those who do not win souls don’t get one.

This is only one of five crowns of reward that are mentioned in the Bible.  The Bible does indeed teach a reward system in heaven.

How you live your life after salvation is going to made a difference in heaven.  What you do or do not do after salvation will NOT change your destination.  You cannot lose your salvation.  But how you live will determine your rewards. 

1THESS 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

1THESS 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

In the last chapter of Colossians we had Paul asking believers to pray for his ministry.  In this chapter we have Paul praying for believers. 

Paul made mention of them in his prayers and gave God thanks for them.  Fellow believers like these are a gift from God and we are to pray and thank God for them.

We learn in verse 3 what type of believers these were.  Paul says that they had the work of faith.  They had a working faith.  That means that they rolled up their sleeves and did something.  An example would be that if you had faith that God would honor passing out tracks, then you would get tracks out.   If you had faith that God would honor tithing, then you will tithe.  They did not have a dead faith, they had a working faith. 

Next we see that they had a labor of love.  They had the right kind of heart behind their labor. 

They also had patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.  Some people get so rapped up in Jesus coming back that they loose sight of the work that He has left us to do.  As Christians we have the sure 100% positive hope that Jesus is coming back.  He is coming, but don't be impatient about it. 

Hope in Jesus should bring patience in all areas of our work for Him. 

Verse 3 also says, "in the sight of God and our Father"  They realized that everything they did God was watching and they labored accordingly. 

How we all need to constantly keep in mind that God is watching everything we do.  Just think how things would change if Christians  realized this and acted accordingly.