Sermons on 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21
The various sermons below converge on the understanding that 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 calls for a careful, communal discernment of prophecy within the church, emphasizing that prophecy is a gift meant for encouragement, edification, and comfort rather than authoritative doctrinal revelation. They consistently stress that prophecy must be tested against Scripture—the ultimate standard—and exercised with humility and accountability in a community of mature believers. Several sermons use vivid analogies, such as sifting for gold or “flushing” out harmful prophecies, to illustrate the discernment process, highlighting the need to reject any prophetic word that produces fear, shame, or confusion. There is also a shared recognition that prophecy is accessible to all believers, not reserved for a spiritual elite or formal office, and that it should never supplant the authority of the written and living Word. The theme of prophecy as relational and communal rather than individualistic recurs, underscoring the protective role of community in safeguarding against error and spiritual harm.
Where the sermons diverge is primarily in their theological framing and emphasis on the nature and authority of prophecy. Some sermons draw a sharp distinction between the foundational, apostolic prophecy that constitutes Scripture and the ongoing, non-canonical prophetic gift, cautioning against elevating individuals to prophetic office or equating contemporary prophecy with biblical revelation. Others focus more on the experiential and mystical aspects of divine communication, portraying prophecy as God’s direct guidance of thoughts, which requires both openness and discernment. A few sermons delve into the practical language and humility required in prophetic speech, warning against authoritative claims like “thus saith the Lord” and advocating for tentative, impression-based expressions. The degree to which prophecy is seen as a continuing, Spirit-inspired gift versus a function that ceased with the apostolic age also varies, with some sermons explicitly challenging cessationist views by affirming the ongoing validity of prophecy while maintaining its subordinate status to Scripture. These differences shape how prophecy is integrated into church life, the role of prophetic individuals, and the boundaries set around prophetic ministry—
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Interpretation:
Embracing Prophecy: Community, Discernment, and Encouragement (Harmony Church) offers a notably practical and community-centered interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. The sermon frames the command not to treat prophecies with contempt but to test them as a call to embed prophecy within the relational and accountable context of the local church. The preacher uses the analogy of "flushing" prophecies that produce fear, shame, or confusion, likening discernment to a process of sifting for "gold"—that is, holding onto what is good and discarding what is harmful or unedifying. The sermon also distinguishes between prophecy as a spiritual gift available to all believers and the office of prophet, emphasizing that all prophecy must be weighed in community and never supersede Scripture. The preacher does not delve into Greek or Hebrew terms but does stress the importance of the "Logos" (written word) and the living Word (Jesus) as the ultimate standard for testing prophecy.
Understanding Prophecy's Role in Today's Church (David Guzik) provides a unique interpretive angle by emphasizing the distinction between the foundational, authoritative prophecy of the apostles (which contributed to Scripture) and the ongoing, non-canonical prophetic gift in the church. Guzik argues that 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 refers to the latter, which must be "carefully judged" and is not on par with Scripture. He uses the analogy of "things get weird" when people are formally recognized as prophets, suggesting that the passage is about the healthy, humble exercise of the prophetic gift rather than the elevation of individuals. He also notes that the New Testament practice of judging prophecy (as in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) was not applied to apostolic teaching, further distinguishing categories of authority.
The Enduring Gift of Prophecy in the Church (David Guzik) essentially repeats the interpretive framework of the previous Guzik sermon, with no significant new analogies or linguistic details, so it is omitted here.
Embracing Divine Dialogue: A Journey of Faith (Dallas Willard Ministries) offers a fresh interpretive insight by connecting 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 to the broader theme of divine-human communication. The sermon references the passage as Paul's response to the prevalence of "holy baloney" (abuses of prophecy) in the early church, suggesting that the apostle's instruction is to neither reject nor naively accept all claims of divine speech, but to "test" and "hold fast" to what is true. The analogy of communication as "guiding someone's thoughts" is used to demystify how God might speak, proposing that God, being infinite, can guide thoughts directly without external means, making the discernment process both necessary and mysterious.
Understanding the Continuation of Spiritual Gifts Today (David Guzik) offers a nuanced interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 by distinguishing between New Testament prophecy and Scripture. Guzik argues that most New Testament prophecy was not considered equal to Scripture, emphasizing that the early church could differentiate between spontaneous prophetic utterances and the authoritative, inspired writings of the apostles. He uses the analogy of “adding pages to the Bible” to refute cessationist fears, explaining that the New Testament church did not see every prophetic word as canonical or universally binding. Instead, such prophecies were to be judged and tested, as Paul instructs in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, which Guzik contrasts with the unquestioned authority of apostolic writings. This distinction is further illustrated by the absence of collected writings from non-apostolic prophets in the New Testament era, showing that the early church did not conflate prophecy with Scripture.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) provides a detailed, practical interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, emphasizing that prophecy is not about predicting the future or delivering new Scripture, but about God spontaneously bringing something to mind for the edification, encouragement, or warning of others. The sermon draws on the Greek understanding of “prophet” as “one who speaks on the basis of some external influence,” and cautions against using the phrase “thus saith the Lord,” advocating instead for humility and the language of “I feel impressed by God.” The preacher uses the analogy of “Hamburger Helper” to describe how human elements can be mixed into prophetic words, necessitating careful testing. The sermon also highlights the importance of boundaries and humility in the exercise of prophecy, warning against self-promotion and emphasizing that prophecy should always be subject to scriptural authority and communal discernment.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Theological Themes:
Embracing Prophecy: Community, Discernment, and Encouragement (Harmony Church) introduces the distinctive theological theme that prophecy is fundamentally relational and communal, not individualistic. The sermon insists that prophecy must be practiced within the "council of mature Christians" and that accountability and community are safeguards against error and spiritual harm. It also presents the idea that prophecy is for "calling out the gold" in others, focusing on encouragement, comfort, and edification, and that any word producing fear or shame is to be rejected as not from God.
Understanding Prophecy's Role in Today's Church (David Guzik) brings a nuanced theological theme by distinguishing between the authority of apostolic prophecy (which is foundational and unrepeatable) and the ongoing, fallible prophetic gift in the church. Guzik's approach is to affirm the validity of prophecy today while warning against the dangers of formal titles and unchecked authority, arguing that the New Testament model is one of humble, accountable, and non-canonical prophetic ministry.
Embracing Divine Dialogue: A Journey of Faith (Dallas Willard Ministries) adds a unique theological facet by framing prophecy and divine communication as a form of "guided thought," where God can directly influence the mind without external means. This theme emphasizes the accessibility of God's voice to all believers, the necessity of discernment, and the avoidance of both credulity and cynicism regarding claims of divine speech.
Understanding the Continuation of Spiritual Gifts Today (David Guzik) introduces the distinct theological theme that New Testament prophecy, while genuine and Spirit-inspired, was categorically different from the authoritative, foundational revelation given through the apostles and prophets (Ephesians 2:20). Guzik’s argument that the early church could distinguish between canonical Scripture and non-canonical prophecy challenges the cessationist claim that ongoing prophecy undermines the sufficiency of Scripture. He further develops the theme that the gift of perfectly receiving divine communication (as in the writing of Scripture) is no longer given, and that humility is required in the exercise of any prophetic gift today, since human imperfection can affect reception and interpretation.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) presents the unique theological theme that prophecy is not reserved for a spiritual elite but is available to all believers who earnestly desire it, as Paul encourages. The sermon also develops the idea that prophecy is primarily for edification, comfort, and exhortation, rather than for authoritative doctrinal revelation. It adds the fresh angle that prophecy must be exercised within boundaries of humility, accountability, and communal discernment, and that the more God uses someone in prophetic ministry, the more humility is required. The preacher also warns against the dangers of equating prophecy with Scripture, referencing historical abuses such as the shepherding movement, and stresses that prophecy should supplement, not supplant, the authority of the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Embracing Prophecy: Community, Discernment, and Encouragement (Harmony Church) provides historical context by contrasting Old Testament prophecy—where prophets were specially anointed and set apart—with New Testament prophecy, which is available to all believers through the Holy Spirit. The sermon explains that, under the new covenant, prophecy is democratized and intended for the encouragement and edification of the whole church, not just for a select few.
Understanding Prophecy's Role in Today's Church (David Guzik) offers historical insight by referencing Ephesians 2:20 and the foundational role of apostles and prophets in the first-century church. Guzik explains that the authoritative, foundational prophecy that contributed to the canon of Scripture is no longer given, and that the ongoing prophetic gift in the church is of a different, non-canonical nature. He also notes that the practice of judging prophecy (as in 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21) was a distinctive feature of the early church's approach to spiritual gifts, setting it apart from the reception of apostolic teaching.
Understanding the Continuation of Spiritual Gifts Today (David Guzik) provides historical context by explaining that in the New Testament era, the church was able to distinguish between apostolic writings (which were recognized as Scripture) and spontaneous prophetic utterances (which were not). Guzik points out that there was no effort to collect or canonize the prophecies of figures like Philip’s daughters or Agabus, indicating a clear cultural and ecclesial understanding of the difference between Scripture and prophecy. He also references the foundational role of apostles and prophets in Ephesians 2:20, noting that this foundational office was unique to the early church and is not ongoing.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) offers contextual insight into the Greek term for “prophet,” noting its broad usage in the New Testament period as “one who speaks on the basis of some external influence.” The sermon also references the historical development of the canon and the cessation of the office of apostle, explaining that the New Testament church did not treat all prophetic utterances as Scripture and that the canon was considered closed with the completion of the apostolic writings. The preacher further discusses the historical abuses of prophecy, such as the shepherding movement, to illustrate the need for boundaries and accountability.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Cross-References in the Bible:
Embracing Prophecy: Community, Discernment, and Encouragement (Harmony Church) references several passages to support its interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21: John 10 ("my sheep hear my voice"), 1 Corinthians 14 (prophecy for edification, encouragement, and comfort), Ephesians 4 (fivefold ministry), 2 Peter (prophecy in the church), and 1 Corinthians 12 (spiritual gifts and discernment). These passages are used to establish the ongoing validity of prophecy, the need for discernment, and the communal context for spiritual gifts.
Understanding Prophecy's Role in Today's Church (David Guzik) groups multiple cross-references to clarify the nature of prophecy: Ephesians 2:20 (apostolic foundation), 1 Corinthians 14:5, 14:29-33 (prophecy in Corinth and the need for judgment), Romans 12:6 (prophecy in Rome), Acts 21:9-10 (Philip's daughters and Agabus), and 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (testing prophecy). Guzik uses these references to argue that New Testament prophecy was widespread, non-canonical, and always subject to discernment, unlike apostolic teaching.
Understanding the Continuation of Spiritual Gifts Today (David Guzik) references several passages to support his interpretation of 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. He cites 1 Corinthians 14:5, 29-31 to show that prophecy was exercised and judged within the congregation, not just by apostles. He also references Acts 21:9-10 (Philip’s daughters and Agabus) as examples of non-canonical prophecy, and Ephesians 2:20 to distinguish the foundational role of apostles and prophets. These references are used to demonstrate that the New Testament church practiced discernment regarding prophecy and did not equate all prophetic utterances with Scripture.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) draws on multiple biblical cross-references to expand on 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. The sermon references 1 Corinthians 12-14 to explain the diversity of spiritual gifts, including prophecy, and the need for order and discernment in their exercise. It also alludes to Old Testament practices of testing prophets (e.g., Deuteronomy 18) and the consequences of false prophecy. The preacher mentions the Pauline epistles as the completed canon and uses examples from the Gospels and Acts (e.g., dreams and visions given to Joseph and the wise men, Daniel’s dreams) to illustrate the variety of ways God communicates, while always subjecting such experiences to scriptural authority.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Christian References outside the Bible:
Embracing Prophecy: Community, Discernment, and Encouragement (Harmony Church) explicitly references Roma Waterman, a contemporary prophetic voice in Melbourne, as inspiration for the practical "prophecy guide" and the list of common questions about the prophetic. Waterman's approach is cited as a model for training and equipping believers in prophecy, emphasizing practical discernment and community accountability.
Embracing Divine Dialogue: A Journey of Faith (Dallas Willard Ministries) references C.S. Lewis, noting his idea that God "runs experiments" with each person to see how much of Himself can be carried in a given moment. This is used to illustrate the diversity and intimacy of divine communication, reinforcing the sermon's theme that God guides thoughts uniquely for each individual.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) explicitly references Wayne Grudem, quoting his definition of New Testament prophecy as “telling someone something that God has spontaneously put on your mind,” and noting Grudem’s distinction between prophecy, preaching, and predicting the future. The sermon also references D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, highlighting his openness to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and his critique of “dead churches” that are not open to the miraculous. The preacher mentions the Whitecliffe Handbook on Preaching and Chip Ingram’s definition of the prophetic gift as the divine enabling to proclaim God’s truth with power and clarity. Additionally, the sermon references the historical “shepherding movement” as a cautionary example of prophetic abuse, and recounts Billy Graham’s commitment to the authority of Scripture in contrast to Charles Templeton’s rejection of the Bible.
1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Embracing Divine Dialogue: A Journey of Faith (Dallas Willard Ministries) uses the story of Frank Laubach, a literacy pioneer, as a detailed secular illustration. Laubach's practice of "talking and listening to God" on Signal Hill, and his subsequent development of the "Each One Teach One" literacy method, is presented as an example of how divine communication can lead to practical, world-changing action. The story of the Moro chief offering to kill someone as a love language, and the playful "game with minutes" (tracking awareness of God's presence), further illustrate the integration of spiritual discernment and everyday life, making the discernment of God's voice both accessible and transformative.
Understanding the Prophetic: Purpose, Humility, and Discernment (SermonIndex.net) uses several detailed secular illustrations to illuminate 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21. The preacher recounts a story from David Ravenhill (son of Leonard Ravenhill) about a prophetic word given to a missionary girl, which, though initially odd (“God hates mommies and daddies”), was later revealed to be deeply relevant to her experience of abuse, demonstrating the need for discernment and testing of prophetic words. The sermon also references a country song (“Oceanfront Property in Arizona” by George Strait) as a humorous aside to illustrate humility and self-awareness in ministry. Additionally, the preacher shares a personal story about a dream involving a black jaguar, which he later connected to a challenging encounter with a Jehovah’s Witness, using this as an example of how God can prepare and warn through dreams, but always subject to discernment and scriptural testing. The sermon further references the historical example of Billy Graham’s decision to stand on the authority of Scripture, contrasting it with Charles Templeton’s drift into liberalism and eventual atheism, to underscore the importance of grounding all prophetic experience in the Bible.