Bible Study of 1 Thessalonians , week 2

Editor's Notes

• #6: City was founded around 315 BC by King Cassander of Macedon City was named it after his wife Thessalonike, a half-sister of Alexander the Great and princess of Macedon and daughter of Philip II. Name literally translating to “Thessalian Victory” Thessalonica became a free city of the Roman Republic under Mark Antony in 41 BC Important trade-hub located on the Via Egnatia, which facilitated trade between Thessaloniki and great centers of commerce such as Rome and Byzantium Also at the southern end of the main north-south route through the Balkans along the valleys of the Morava and Axios river valleys, thereby linking the Balkans with the rest of Greece Paul - Originally a persecutor of the church, stood by to watch the coats of those who were stoning Stephen (Acts 7:58), was in hearty agreement (Acts 8:1), was converted in Acts 9 on the road to Damascus, immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues (Acts 9:20) Silas – First mentioned in Acts 15:22 as one of the leading men, sent to Antioch with Paul and Barnabus, a prophet, was chosen by Paul to go with him on his second missionary journey, spent time in prison with Paul Timothy – 1st mention in Acts 16:1 as a disciple.  Paul met him on his 1st journey in Lystra, mother a Jew, father a Greek, circumcised to appeal to Jews, joined Paul for 2nd journey, with Paul & Silas when first preached at Thessalonica, with Paul during writing of many epistles, at Corinth, and later pastored Ephesis.
• #18: 1st pass, just read it
• #19: 1st pass, just read it
• #20: Chapter 1 – Pastoral Theme & Ecclesiastical Theme This chapter makes me think about the wonderful church we have right here at HBC! What do you think about HBC? What makes this a good church? What would make it a better church? We have some amazing leaders, starting with our pastor We have some wonderful members. Where else can you go to get the word of God What is the role of church leaders? What characteristics should they demonstrate? What is the role of church members? What characteristics should they demonstrate? Should all members grow into leaders? Role of the Pastors/Leaders : Prayer - puts the pastor in the role of the priest - Verse 2 Proclamation - sharing the gospel message with power - Verse 5 Pattern - right living and setting the example - Verses 5 & 6 Role of the members as highlighted in Verse 3: Work of faith = faith that produces works - Salvation - Verse 4 Labor of love = Service - Verse 6 - 9 Steadfastness of hope = Steadfastness - Verse 6 & 10 God’s Election Salvation from Wrath
• #21: Labor of love = Service - Verse 6 - 9 Steadfastness of hope = Steadfastness - Verse 6 & 10 God’s Election – Verse 4 Salvation from Wrath
• #22: Let’s first focus on the Roles of the Pastors. The first is Prayer. Paul (and Silas and Timothy) was always praying.  Who were they praying for?  Examples: The leaders were praying for the believers in the various churches they had founded 2 Thess 2:13 - giving thanks for them Acts 6:4 - they devoted themselves to prayer Rom 1:9 - praying for the Romans Col 1:3 - praying for the Colossians What did they pray about? They were praying for their spiritual strength and growth To be masters over their fleshly and material desires (the things of the world) That they would realize the fullness of their potential 1 Thes 3:10 - praying that they could see them again and that their faith increase. Spiritual maturity 1 Thes 3:12 - praying that their love for one another may increase 1 Thes 3:13 - praying for their holiness 1 Thes 5:23 - praying for their sanctification and for their consistency in holiness 2 Thes 3:16 - praying for their peace (comfort) When did they pray? verse 3 says constantly 1 Thes 5:17 says to pray without ceasing Their prayers are all summarized in 2 Thes 1:11-12- that Jesus Christ will be glorified by their lives
• #23: Procclamation - Verse 5  we proclaimed the word to you with the power of the Holy Spirit "our gospel" because it was personal to him, not because he created it came in POWER, energized by the Holy Spirit the bible is NOT a dull, boring, book. If we cannot be excited about the Word, we should NOT be preaching it. Resulting in FULL conviction Do you believe the Word? Genesis 1-11? Is the Word understandable?  Of course.  Example of someone saying "how do you know your interpretation is right?  Like someone saying "How can you know what it really means?" The power comes from the Holy Spirit.  without the spirit, it is dead.  Not a false power generated from external efforts like charismatic churches, but a power coming from the Holy Spirit convicting us of the truth of the Word 2015 Inerrancy Conference Affirmation – John MacArthur, Alistair Begg, R.C. Sprole, "we affirm that the only type of preaching which sufficiently conveys the divine revelation and its proper application to life is that which faithfully expounds the whole biblical text as the word of God"  then denial... "we deny that the preacher has any message from God apart from the biblical text."  no visions.  no human opinions.  no loose revelations. Pattern Act 20:17-21  As Paul was preparing to go to Jerusalem where he knew he would be arrested, He reminded the believers how he had lived among them   1 Th 2:10 Paul reminds the Thessalonians about how he lived. Church leaders must live out their faith in such a way that they set the right example for others to follow. But also members must also live in such a way, since we will either glorify God by our actions or bring God dishonor. Which are you brining God?
• #24: Pattern The pattern of living started with Jesus Paul and the apostles tried to live like Jesus The early church leaders tried to emulate the apostles who were trying to emulate Christ
• #25: Paul remembered, without ceasing, their work of Faith = faith that produces works - evidence of true Salvation - Verse 4 Labor of Love = Service - Verse 6 - 9 Steadfastness of hope = Steadfastness - Verse 6 & 10   Faith - Work of Faith, better stated as "faith producing a work".  this is the proof of genuine salvation - Rom 3:28, Rom 9:31-32, Gal 2:16, 2 Thes 1:11, Jam 2:14-26 What were their works? Verse 6 - they became imitators of their leaders, and did this despite the clear example of tribulation they had to face.  refer back to Acts 17.  Only 2+ weeks with them.  the leaders suffered and yet the Thessalonians still imitated them.  Some likely only became believers in the last day that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were there Verse 7 - they followed the pattern of their leaders and their works set the example for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia Verse 8 - they preached the gospel "for the word of the Lord sounded out from them in every place they went"!!  Maybe they were not travelling missionaries like Paul, but they shared the gospel message and they became reknown for their actions Verse 9 -they turned from their idols, which is a demonstration of faith Love - Labor of Love 1 Cor 13:1-13 - the example of how to live with Love Gal 5:6 - faith must work through love. 1 Cor 13:13 - Faith hope and love are all important, but Love is the most important Hope - Steadfast/patience of/endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ Rom 8:25 we hope for what we do not see, but with perseverance we wait eagerly for it Rom 15:4 - what was written in earlier times (eg. Old Testament) was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope
• #26: The members of the church of Thessalonica became leaders themselves, setting the example for the other churches How many of them became teachers? Verse 6 - they became imitators of their leaders, and did this despite the clear example of tribulation they had to face.  refer back to Acts 17.  Only 2+ weeks with them.  the leaders suffered and yet the Thessalonians still imitated them.  Some likely only became believers in the last day that Paul, Silas, and Timothy were there Verse 7 - they followed the pattern of their leaders and their works set the example for all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia Verse 8 - they preached the gospel "for the word of the Lord sounded out from them in every place they went"!!  Maybe they were not travelling missionaries like Paul, but they shared the gospel message and they became renown for their actions Verse 9 -they turned from their idols, which is a demonstration of faith
• #27: God's chose those who believed - which makes them "beloved by God" God Chose them -  Rom 1:7 - those who are beloved by God are called saints 2 Thes 2:13-15 - beloved by the lord is used in concert with those whom God has chosen 2 Pet 1:10 - this verse speaks to being careful about your actions, so you do not stumble.  in "making certain about His calling" we will scrutinize our behaviors and intentions.  If God has called us, we will recognize God's grace and be all the more careful about our behaviors.  
• #28: What wrath was spoken of? The wrath of the end times? A nearer term wrath that would come on those around them? The wrath of God on them. God is holy, we are sinners who deserve death, yet Christ died to rescue us from the wrath of God. This is the result of Christ’s work of salvation. He called the Thessalonians (who were elect). Out of the grace given them, the worked our their faith in thankfulness through their faith producing works, labor of love, and steadfast hope in Christ of their eternal reward of being in His presence.