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?