Outline
 
1. Greeting (1:1)
2. Personal thoughts (1-3)
    
    1. Paul is thankful for them (1:2-4)
        
        1. Thankful to God in prayer (1:2)
        2. Because of their work, labor and steadfastness (1:3)
    2. Paul knows their salvation because of how the gospel came to them (1:4-5a)
        
        1. In word
        2. In power
        3. In the Holy Spirit
        4. With full conviction
    3. They know Paul's salvation because of his proven character among them (1:5b)
    4. They became imitators (1:6-10)
        
        1. Of Paul (and his companions) and the Lord (1:6a)
        2. By receiving the word with much tribulation and joy (1:6b)
        3. To all believers in Macedonia and Achaia (1:7)
        4. With the result that they became examples themselves (1:8-10)
            
            1. The word sounded forth all around (1:8)
            2. Their faith was clearly proclaimed (1:9-10)
                
                1. How they received them originally
                2. How they turned to God from idols
                3. How they served the living God
                4. How they are waiting for the Son
    5. Paul and his companions' conduct when they came (2:1-12)
        
        1. …needs more study/detail here…
    6. Paul's joy in how they received the Word of God (2:13-20)
        
        1. …needs more study/detail here…
    7. Encouragement of Timothy's visit (3:1-13)
        
        1. …needs more study/detail here…
3. Practical direction (4-5)
    
    1. Excel still more (4:1-12)
        
        1. Excel more in what you already know (4:1-2)
        2. Abstain from sexual immorality (4:3-8)
        3. Love the brethren (4:9-12)
            
            1. The need regarding love was to excel more.
                
                1. They had no need to be written to.
                    
                    1. They are taught by God to love.
                    2. They were already practicing love to all around them.
                2. They could only be urged to excel still more.
            2. The means to excel was to adjust their ambition.
                
                1. Part one of this ambition is to lead a quiet life.
                2. Part two of this ambition is to mind their own business.
                3. Part three of this ambition is to work with their hands.
            3. The outcome would be to the benefit of others.
                
                1. Outsiders would see their property behavior.
                2. No one would need to aid them.
    2. Day of the Lord (4:13-5:11)
        
        1. We will all join Him together (4:13-18)
        2. Be ready for it! (5:1-11)
    3. Final commands (5:12-22)
        
        1. Appreciate diligent workers (5:12-13)
        2. Admonish the unruly (5:14a)
        3. Encourage the fainthearted (5:14b)
        4. Help the weak (5:14c)
        5. Be patient with everyone (5:14d)
        6. Repay no one evil for evil (5:15a)
        7. Seek after good for all (5:15b)
        8. Rejoice always (5:16)
        9. Pray without ceasing (5:17)
        10. Give thanks in everything (5:18)
        11. Do not quench the Spirit (5:19)
        12. Do not despise prophetic utterances (5:20)
        13. Examine everything carefully (5:21a)
        14. Hold fast to good (5:21b)
        15. Abstain from every form of evil (5:22)
4. Farewell (5:23-28)