2 Thessalonians 2

What does it say?

What does it mean?

How does this apply to me?

• Paul pleads with the Thessalonians to not be made anxious about Christ’s return(1-2)

-Paul is reassuring and restating what he has already taught and said both in person and in the previous letter

-Paul’s exhortation is a reminder to stay grounded in the truth of God’s Word and not to allow the fears of the culture, their emotions, or difficult circumstances to influence them to not trust God

a.  We must place our confidence and hope the the truth of God’s Word and not allow our fears to keep us from stepping out in faith

• Paul says the apostasy, man of lawlessness, and the son of destruction will come before Christ returns(3-4)

-In addition to the things Paul’s already said to calm the Thessalonians fears he also shares some signs that will warn of the imminent return of Christ.

-The criteria Paul gives fit every generation and emphasize a need to always be ready for the return of Christ

-Anyone that places his priorities before God’s is in rebellion against God

-Everyone that claims glory or worship for himself is guilty of rebelling against God

a.  Be ready for the return of Christ cause he’s coming soon

b.  Watch yourself and keep God as your number one priority

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians not to forget his teaching about end times(5)

-The Thessalonians are allowing fear and doubt to replace the peace and confidence found in God’s Word

a.  We must continually preach the gospel to each other.

• Paul tells the Thessalonians that the man of lawlessness is here but his time hasn’t come (6-7)

-The wrath and judgment of God will be held back and the Spirit of God holds sin in check  to allow people to repent

a.  Take advantage of God’s patience and don’t stop sharing your faith

• Jesus will destroy the lawless one at the appropriate time(8)

-God’s judgment and wrath will come

a.  Don’t be distracted from God’s mission of redemption

• The lawless one will deceive many people about the truth of the gospel and lead many to destruction(8-12)

-The Enemy is at work to lead people to destruction

-The Enemy is working to keep people from hearing the gospel and turning to the truth

a.  Test everything with the truth of God’s Word

b.  Expose the lies that keep people from the truth

• God will allow the wicked to be hardened to the truth(11)

-Those that don’t obey God and indulge in  sin will be callous toward the gospel

a.  Don’t begin toward the path of destruction

b.  When you sin confess and repent immediately, don’t let sin have a foothold in your life

• Those that enjoy wickedness will be judged(12)

-People that don’t trust God’s Word and live in open rebellion to Him will be condemned

a.  Have compassion for the lost.

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians that their salvation is a gift given through the gospel and that their salvation is confirmed by the Spirit’s work of sanctification.  (13-14)

-We are only saved because God chose to extend grace to those that trust Him

-Development in holiness is an assurance of salvation

-People begin trust God after responding to what He reveals about Himself through HIs Word

-We share in Christ’s glory when we follow Him in being sanctified

a.  Start your day with thank you

b.  Tell other people about Jesus!

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to be diligent and on guard to follow the teachings and example of Paul and the apostles(15)

-Live out the gospel and stay centered in the truth of God’s Word

a.  Live a gospel centered life

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God we have a hope in God that rests in the grace given to us through Jesus and he prays that they be strengthened by observing the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.  (16-17)

-Take courage and comfort in the love God has expressed through Jesus

-Allow the gift of God’s grace to season your life

a.  Live as a child of the King

2 Thessalonians 1

What does it say?

What does it mean?

How does this apply to our lives?

• Paul greets the Thessalonians (v1)

-Paul is writing to the Thessalonians on behalf of the mission team that had previously gone to Thessalonica

-Paul is continuing to stay invested in the life and ministry of the church at Thessalonica through prayer and written communication

a. How do you stay invested in the life and ministry of First Southern Baptist Church or missionaries overseas?

b.  What are somethings you can do to improve how you stay in touch with other believers at home and abroad?  What are some tools you can utilize to help you stay informed and connected?

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians and reminds them of the grace and peace that comes from God(v2)

-We must remember that Jesus is Lord and He alone has the power to extend grace to us and give us peace

-We must depend on Jesus for peace

a.  What can you do to remind yourself to depend on Jesus for peace?   

b.  How does depending on Jesus grace give us peace?

• Paul is proud of the Thessalonians perseverance in the faith(v3-4)

-Paul thanks God that the Thessalonians have continued to fight and haven’t fallen

-The faithfulness of a few is an encouragement to many

-The faithfulness and perseverance of the Thessalonians is a testament of God’s redemptive work in the lives of the Thessalonians

a.  How do you use your testimony to encourage fellow believers to persevere in faith?

b.  Is your current testimony something you’d want to share with someone else?  

c.  How is the hero in your testimony? Who is glorified in your testimony?

• Paul encourages the Thessalonians to continue the fight of faith(5-6)

-God will deliver justice to the persecuted

-Those who are persecuted for the sake of Christ will be made righteous

a.  How does knowing that God delivers justice to the persecuted help you deal with the injustice you might experience as a believer?

b.  Do you suffer as a Christian? What has following Jesus cost you?

c.  How does the testimony of persecuted Christians in other regions of the World help us keep perspective and the right attitude about injustice we encounter?

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians of their future hope(5-10)

-Persevere through suffering because Christ will give you justice

-The children of God will find rest in Christ

-The enemies of God will be judged by the Lord

-The enemies of God will be forever separated from God

-When Christ returns He will be glorified and His people will rejoice

a.  How does someone rest in the hope he  has in Jesus?

b.  According to this passage what are somethings we can look forward to?

c.  How do these “hopes” help us persevere?

• Paul tells the Thessalonians what he’s praying for them(11)

-Paul reminds the Thessalonians that the power of God is essential for spiritual life

-We can’t live worthy of God’s call without the supernatural empowerment of the Holy Spirit working in our lives

a.  What lifestyle habits will help us depend on the Holy Spirit to live worthy of the call?

• Paul points out what will happen when the Thessalonians persevere in faith(12)

-God will supply the needs of His people so that His people glorify Him

-It is only by the grace of Jesus that we can take part in being one with the Father and Son.  

a.  In what ways can you grow more confident in your relationship with God? How do you trust Jesus more?

1 Thessalonians 5

What does it say?

What does it mean?

How does this apply to us?

I.  Get ready Jesus is coming

a.  Don’t be anxious or worried about Christ’s return

• Paul is addressing the concerns the Thessalonians have about the second coming of Christ(v1-8)

-Paul continues to address the fears the Thessalonians have about the 2nd coming of Christ that he began addressing in chapter 4

• Paul reminds the the Thessalonians that Christ will come unexpectedly(v2-3)

-No one will know when Christ will come

-Jesus will come when we least expect it

b.  Be faithful in the work Christ has called you

• Paul tells the Thessalonians they shouldn’t be surprised by Christ’s coming (v4-5)

-We shouldn’t be surprised that Jesus will come back when we least expect it because we’ve already been told He’s coming back when we least expect it.

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to be prepared for Christ’s return(v6-8)

-We must always live in a state of readiness for Christ's imminent return

-Guard your relationship with Jesus

-Keep hard at work for the Lord and don’t give up

II.  Keep Encouraging each other to persevere

a.  Always remember how Christ demonstrated His love for you

• Paul encourages the Thessalonians to remember Christ died so that we would be spared from God’s wrath and be with Jesus forever(9-10)

-Everyone who places their faith in Christ will spend eternity with Him

-Paul is reassuring that even the people who have died before have been saved by faith and will join Jesus when He returns

b.  Remember how God’s demonstrated His faithfulness

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to keep reminding each other to hold to the hope they have in Jesus(v11)

-Keep sharing your testimony of God’s grace and faithfulness working in your life

III.  Do these things till Christ returns

a.  Love and respect God by loving others

• Paul reminds the church to love and encourage their leaders(v12-13)

-Respect the authority of the leaders of your church, respect for them shows reverence for the Lord

-Honor the servant leaders of your church and encourage them to not give up

-Be an asset to the servant leaders of your church

• Paul reminds the church to bear with each other in love(v14-15)

-Encourage everyone in the church to continue growing in love and service towards each other

-Everyone has issues that need to be worked on

-Have patience and grace for each other just as Christ had grace for you

-Look out for each other’s needs(physical and spiritual)

b.  A commitment to Christ is a commitment to a changed paradigm

• Paul teaches the Thessalonians what to do to grow in their relationship with Christ(16-22)

-Cultivate a joyful attitude by making a habit of thanking God specifically for what He’s given you

-Thanking the Lord helps us recognize our need for God’s provision and helps us trust Him more

-Don’t resist the change God wants to work in your life, be humble and listen to what He says

-Allow the teaching of God’s Word to convict you, but guard against false teachers/teaching(1Thess 4:3)

IV.  Sanctification is God’s Work

a.  God is the only one that can make us holy

• Paul prays that the Thessalonians will be transformed and guarded by the power of God(23-24)

-The power to live a transformed life rests in God

-The task of sanctification is God’s responsibility

-God will sanctify and transform His children

V.  Love the Church

a.  Show your love for each other by praying and serving each other

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to pray for the mission team that visited them

-Pray for the people that have invested in you

-Pray for the ministry of faithful servant leaders

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to treat each other with sacrificial love and to share what He has taught them with others(v26-28)

-Serve each other by sharing what God has taught you

1 Thessalonians 4

What does it say?

What does it mean?

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue growing in righteous living(v1)

-Keep growing in holiness, you will never max out on holiness

-Growth in holiness is evidence of God’s redemptive work in your life and an assurance of salvation/relationship

• Paul reinforces the authority of his teaching by reminding the Thessalonians that the content of his teaching and authority come from Jesus(v2)

-Obedience to God’s Word through biblical teaching  and preaching is obedience to Jesus

a.  Learn to discern what is actually from God’s Word and what isn’t, know how to study the bible for yourself

b.  Be capable of feeding yourself

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God’s will for them is to have transformed lives(v3-7)

-abstain from fornication(any sex acts outside of marriage including homosexuality and bestiality)

-abstain from pagan worship practices that involve sexual activity

-God redeemed your body to bring glory to Himself

• Paul tells the Thessalonians that choosing not to change(be sanctified) is a rejection of the Holy Spirit/God(v8)

-A relationship with Jesus changes your life, choosing not to change is choosing not to be with Jesus

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to grow in love for the Church(v9-10)

-Remember the Love Christ has shown for you

-Continue serving one another in love

-Loving others produces righteous character

• Paul exhorts the Thessalonians to continue being faithful with what God’s given them(v12-15)

-Be faithful with what God’s entrusted you

-Remember your time is short and Jesus is coming

-Have a character and lifestyle above reproach

• Paul reassures the Thessalonians that Christ will return and claim His people, the living and the dead(v15-17)

-Jesus is coming back, so don’t lose hope

• Paul commands the Thessalonians to remind each other that Christ will return(v18)

-Encourage each other to persevere in the faith

-Spur each other to love each other by doing good

My Key Points

1 Thessalonians 3

Key point(s) 1.  Spiritual Children are a blessing and responsibility God gives us 2.  We must raise spiritual children to become mature adults 3.  Spiritual Children will only become mature adults when we trust them to the Lord

What does it say?

What does it mean?

• Paul is overwhelmed with concern for the Thessalonians so he sends Timothy to check  up on them(v1-2, 5)

-Paul knows how hard it is to be persecuted because he’s been persecuted

-Paul wants to show the Thessalonians he cares by being with them(ministry of presence)

• Timothy is sent to encourage and equip the Thessalonians so they persevere through persecution(v2-3)

-Paul can’t visit the Thessalonians so he sends someone he trusts to minister to them on his behalf

-Paul trusts Timothy because he’s been faithful in doing ministry with Paul

• Paul reminds the Thessalonians that followers of Jesus are destined for persecution and trial(v3-4)

-Paul prepared the Thessalonians to face persecution and difficulty in following Jesus

-Paul was truthful in presenting the fullness of the gospel and what it means to follow Jesus

• Timothy encourages Paul and alleviates his anxieties by telling Paul how the Thessalonians are persevering in faith and growing in love(v5-7)

-Timothy helps Paul trust God’s faithfulness

-The Church cares for each other/other parts of the Church

• Paul rejoices in the faith of his spiritual children(v8-9)

-Learn to trust God with your “children” by submitting them to God

-Tension in salvation(saved by grace through faith/ evidenced in our works/fruit)

• Paul prays for the needs of his spiritual children(v10)

-Paul models a lifestyle of prayer(attitude of prayer)

-aware of the needs of others and God’s mission

-focused on the power of God and not the desperateness of the circumstance

• Paul surrenders his children to God’s care(v11-12)

-Pray’s w/great hope for the growth of the church and a future visit(optative mood)

• Paul hopes that his children will follow his example(v13)

-Paul’s growth in holiness is the result of his increasing ability to express love for God by serving/loving the Church

-Paul’s growth in holiness also comes from persevering through difficulty/suffering for following Jesus

Reflective Discussion

1.  What does it mean to have spiritual children?  What role does a spiritual parent play in the life of a spiritual child?

2.  Do you have any spiritual children? Is a disciple the same as a spiritual child?

3.  How do you “have” a spiritual child?

4.  What negative parental tendencies keep children from becoming mature adults? What are those negative parental tendencies in spiritual child rearing?

Individual Challenge

Commit to asking God to give you a spiritual child.

Write the names of potential spiritual children.

_________________________     _________________________     _________________________

List specific actions you will take to be intentional about raising your spiritual children

(i.e. pray for them, do a bible study, etc)

What resources would help you become a better Spiritual parent/Discipler?