1 Thessalonians 2

Key Point(s) 1.  Following Jesus will change the way you live and affect every area of your life 2.  Our confidence in God affects our ability to trust Him

*What does it say?

*What does it mean?

• Paul, Silas and Timothy were persecuted in Philippi before coming to Thessalonica(v1)

-Sharing the gospel brings persecution and difficulty

• Paul didn’t let persecution discourage him from continuing in ministry(v2)

-Paul didn’t let the reality of his circumstances dictate his actions

-Paul persevered in ministry and held on to the firm belief in Jesus and the hope Jesus brings

• Paul & Co. share the gospel out of love for the Thessalonians and because of their love for the Lord(v2,8)

-Paul is contrasting the way he does ministry with others that do so w/self serving motives

-Paul has great parental affection and concern for the Thessalonians

-Paul perseveres in his ministry to the Thessalonians because He loves God

• Paul & Co. minister to the Thessalonians with integrity and sacrificial love(v4-6)

-Paul doesn’t make himself a burden to the Thessalonians

-Paul disciples and ministers to others while doing his vocation of leather work

-Paul invites the Thessalonians into his life, they follow and take on his way of life

• There are others who have shared the gospel w/selfish hearts and deceit(v4-6)

-Paul contrasts the way he does ministry with people that use their position for personal profit or advantage

• Paul & Co. don’t use their authority or position for personal profit(v6)

-Paul serves the people he ministers to

-Paul doesn’t demand respect and doesn’t feel entitled

-Paul is relatively humble

• Paul & Co.  earn the trust of the people(v6-7)
• Paul & Co. shared the gospel through their vocation(8-9)
• Paul & Co. served as loving examples to the Thessalonians(10-12)(Phil 2:12-16)

-Paul served as a right model for following Christ by enduring difficulty with grace

• The Thessalonians recognize that Paul’s message to them is from God(13-16)

-The Thessalonians recognize that Paul conducts himself differently than other teachers/preacher/philosophers of his day

-The Thessalonians recognize the power of the Spirit working through Paul and the message he delivers

• Paul continues to preach because He is confident in the power of God’s Word(13)

-Paul perseveres through difficulty preaching the Word because He is confident in the God he serves

• The Thessalonians are identified w/ Jesus and His Church through their suffering(14)

-The Thessalonians begin to place the confidence in God

-The Thessalonians share in the suffering Jesus promised his followers

• There are people who work to stop the advance of the gospel(15-16)

-Not Anti-semitic

-Is a polemic against everyone that opposes the work of God

-An extolment to persevere in the faith despite difficulty

• Paul loves the Thessalonians and is concerned with the well-being of new believers(1, 17-20)

Reflective Questions:

1.  How has following Jesus cost you?  What is the cost of obeying Jesus?  (Luke 9:23-24)

2.  How have you handled disappointment or discouragement in following Jesus in the past? Did the discouraging circumstances of your life lead you to trust Jesus less?

3.  How does your relationship with Jesus affect your relationship with your family? Co-workers? Friends?

4.  How do you express a love for others and a love for the Lord?  Can you do both at the same time?(Mk 12:28-34)

5.  How does your confidence in God affect the way you live?

-Faith is choosing to live as though the bible were true regardless of my circumstances, emotions, or cultural trends

-God has given us the Bible so that we may know who he is and be equipped to do what He says because of who He is

Draw a picture of what it looks like to make God a greater reality than your fears, doubts or pain.