Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

Helpful thoughts:

• The Christians at Thessalonica had become preoccupied with the timing of the return of Jesus Christ.  So much so that it had negatively affected their lives, relationships, and perhaps even their testimony (1 Thess. 1:10, 2 Thess. 2:1-2, 3:10-12).
• In order to set them back on the right track, Paul encouraged them to:
  • Love one another
  • Live quietly
  • Mind their own business (If we are staying busy with our own to-do lists, it’s pretty hard to be an expert in everyone else’s business)
  • Work (“Working with your hands” refers to menial tasks.  Christians waiting for King Jesus to return were not suddenly too good for their jobs) 
• Being ready for Jesus’ return looks like humility and servitude, not like arrogance and entitlement.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the Gospel message received naturally result in a desire for Christians to love?  Why do we love people? (1 John 4:19)
2. What kind of witness and evangelism comes from the believer who is living peaceably/quietly as opposed to the way we might present the Gospel in a confrontational/loud manner?
3. Why would the presentation of the Gospel from the humble hard-working Christian be so much more powerful, accurately portraying the Savior? (Matthew 11:29)

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Guess what God’s will is for your life… Your sanctification!  God has called Christians to holiness.
• People who do not know God are expected to live one way.  People who do know God are expected to increasingly live another way.
  • Romans 6:15-18
• Being rudely and/or hypocritically judgmental is not good.  However, feeling like you have been “judged” by another person is not a right excuse to continue in your sin against God.

Questions to consider:

1. When we are asking to know God’s will, what kinds of things are we usually asking about?  How would aligning our will with God’s will make so many of those decisions easier?
2. Is it possible to sin without first disregarding God’s will?  What are some different reasons or ways we might disregard God (e.g. ignorance, carelessness, rebellion, etc.)?  How great is His mercy and grace to us through Christ?!
3. How would a higher reverence for God and a greater appreciation for the gift of our salvation help us to grow in holiness?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul was greatly encouraged in the midst of his suffering by the faithfulness of these Christians.
• These men who were leaders and disciplers yearned to build into the Thessalonian Christians all the more, and prayed that God would allow them to see the church there again.
• Genuine love for others results in growth and sanctification.

Questions to consider:

1. What are some ways the faithfulness of other Christians has encouraged you?  How might others take encouragement from your faithfulness?
2. How did Paul (Along with Timothy and Silas) show an example of love to the Thessalonian believers?  How were they leading not just by word but also by deed?
3. Why does it make sense that loving people changes how we live and act?  How would seeing people as souls that you can benefit cause you to treat them differently?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5

Helpful thoughts:

• Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
• Paul’s crowing achievement in life was not writing books of the Bible, it wasn’t being “famous” among the churches, it was the growth of the people to whom he ministered.
• Paul’s concern was that news of his (and other believers’) persecution would be used by our enemy to discourage the church.  So, he sent Timothy to disciple and encourage them through the trial.

Questions to consider:

1. How could a life of relative ease and lack of persecution tempt us to let our guard down and not pursue our relationship with Christ with the fervency He is due?  How might our “quality of life” be an effective tool for our enemy, preventing us from serving the Lord and spreading the Gospel?
2. Is it possible to have ministry without being in contact with people?  How does this need for relationship help us to think about our hospitality and our time together?
3. Was Paul seeking to prevent persecution or discouragement that resulted from persecution?  Why is that such an important distinction?  Why isn’t persecution “losing”?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-16

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul, Silas and Timothy sacrificially loved the church as a mother, and encouraged their growth as a father.
• The words of men manipulate people into external actions.  The Word of God changes people from the inside out.
• Paul knew the change in these new believers in Thessalonica was real when they withstood persecution.

Questions to consider:

1. If Christ paid the penalty of our sin in full (1 John 2:2), and if Christ’s righteousness has been put to our account (Romans 4), why should we “walk in a manner worthy of God”? (For some help: Romans 12:1-8, 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, Philippians 1:3-11)
2. Why was Paul’s ministry so effective?  Why was his speaking so dynamic? (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
3. What will come of those who reject God and persecute Christians?  Is the martyrdom of a Christian the end of the story?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Helpful thoughts:

• There is a bit of a theme developing: Steadfastness of hope, joy in the midst of affliction, boldness in the midst of conflict.
• Paul, Silas and Timothy’s boldness was exercised in preaching the Gospel. It was not exercised in coercing, flattering, or pursuing personal gain.
  • Success was not achieved through tactics and rhetoric.  This would have made Paul the hero.
  • Success was achieved by the work of the Holy Spirit through the humble and bold preaching of the Gospel.  God is the hero!
• Life coaches want you to like and share them on social media.  Mothers care for their precious children even when everyone else is sleeping, with no expectation of fanfare or medals, because of love.

Questions to consider:

1. How does a healthy church grow?
2. Where do pastors/elders have to guard their hearts in this day and age of social media, podcasts, publishing contracts, etc.?  Utilizing these mediums isn’t wrong, but what desires of the heart could make them become destructive?
3. Where do Christians need to guard their hearts in this day and age of social media, podcasts, publishing contracts, etc.?  Why do you need the local church? Your pastor(s)?  Your deacon(s)? Your fellowship?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

Helpful thoughts:

• This passage is not holding up Paul, Silas, Timothy or any of the Thessalonian Christians as amazing people.  Paul is emphasizing the power and conviction that the Holy Spirit exercised.
  • In their sin and weakness, they were chosen by God.
  • In their affliction, God’s power and grace was put on display for all to see.
    • 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• When these Thessalonians were saved, their lives changed.  They repented.
  • They no longer served false idols.  The served the true God.
  • They no longer trusted in other things to protect them or bail them out (HOPE).  They were waiting for Jesus.

Questions to consider:

1. What is your testimony?  When did the Lord save you?  What would you be like without God’s grace in your life?
2. Why is humility so fitting for every Christian?  Why does humility better communicate the truth of the Gospel and the power of God to others?  How does being proud of how “good” we are destroy our Gospel witness?
3. How did Paul potentially refocus the expectation of the Lord’s deliverance for these believers?  From what kinds of things do we sometimes want to the Lord to deliver us?  What has Jesus delivered us from?  How is that deliverance even better?

Today’s passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

Helpful thoughts:

• You can read about the birth of the church in Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-9.
• The word for “church” in verse 2 means, “called out ones”.  Paul was writing this letter to those who had been called out by God from among the people of Thessalonica.
• Jesus is the Christ, our perfect substitute and savior.  And, Jesus is the Lord, our sovereign master.
• Paul, Silas and Timothy prayed with thanksgiving for the church regularly, “without ceasing”. This prayer consisted of three things.
  • The works that resulted from the church’s faith.
  • The way the church labored sacrificially for one another.
  • The way the church maintained hope by placing it correctly in Jesus Christ.

Question to consider:

1. How important are the titles of Jesus given their meaning?  He is the Lord, and our Christ!
2. In what ways can you see growth in your life in the three areas mentioned in Paul’s prayers (Verse 3)?
3. In what ways could you pray in thanksgiving to God for your church’s growth in these three areas?