1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 1. Why are we so curious about the second coming? The pessimistic view is that we want to be in charge of our lives for as long as possible. We want to rely on God’s grace to forgive us even when we repent at the last moment. In general, if we knew…
Category: 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians 4
1 Thesssalonians 4:1-2 1. What did Paul teach the Thessalonians when he was with them? Paul taught them the gospel and then the new identify that they were given in Christ. The result of their new identity should be changed behavior. So, Paul instructed them in what that new behavior should look like based on…
1 Thessalonians 3
1 Thessalonians 3:1-4 1. What is Paul concerned about? Paul seems to be concerned that the persecution the Thessalonians are experiencing would cause some of them to leave their faith behind. He is concerned that persecution might make them anxious. When life does not go the way we expect it to go it is easy…
1 Thessalonians 2
1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 1. Why is Paul defending himself? Paul cannot be present with the Thessalonians. He has some very important things to say to the church and knows that there are other teachers who are opposing him. He must remind the Thessalonians of his character and authority so that they will listen to his…
1 Thessalonians 1
1 Thessalonians is thought to be one of Paul’s first letters, if not the first. The date of the letter is sometime around 52 A.D. and it was probably written from either Corinth or Athens. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 1. What are the three motivating forces in the life of a church and in the life…
Love and Perseverance – 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. (2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV) I often think of Christians being defined by their trust and obedience, but Paul pairs two distinctive characteristics together in his letter to the Thessalonians. It isn’t that Paul isn’t concerned about trust or obedience. He seems to assume…
Simple Instructions – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28
Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV) It is like Paul is running out of scroll material or time. This section is filled with some of the simplest and clearest instructions that Paul provides anywhere. There are…
Wear a Helmet – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we…
Hope for the Living and the Dead – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds…
The Pursuit of a Quiet Life – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12
Recently in my “What’s Missing” post I talked about how we measure church success. Check out this post below for some additional thoughts on this. Here We Go Again: Willow Creek and Pastoral Accountability I wonder how Paul would write this portion of his letter to the Thessalonians today. Most of us, even those of…
