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Read 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13   Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.     Reflect   When Jesus returns, how do you want Him to find you?     One thing we know for sure, Jesus is going to come back! In

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10   For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?     Reflect   Have you ever tried to express your gratitude to someone but found that saying “thank you” wasn’t nearly enough?     When I am intentional and focus on listing out the things I am thankful for, I am always stru

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:8   For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.     Reflect   Have you ever received news that renewed your soul and made you feel alive again? What were the circumstances?     For most Christian parents, it’s terrible to consider that our children may not be walking with the Lord. Having wayward children grieves the hearts of so many parents. Understandably so!     Paul thought of those he discipled as his spiritual children. So for him, he

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7   But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you—for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.     Reflect   Think about the last time you were bracing yourself for bad news. Did you get the bad news you had worried about or were you relie

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5   For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.     Reflect   How has suffering impacted your faith? Has it made your faith stronger or shakier?     Many people in the United States have been

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we were destined for this. Reflect When you were a new believer, did God send anyone into your life to “establish and exhort” you? Who was that person and what did the

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. Reflect Who or what is your crowning glory and joy? Why? Is there anyone who might consider you their crowning glory and joy? A foundational belief of Christianity is in the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22:12, Jesus promised: “Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. Reflect Have you ever had to abruptly leave behind people that you love? What were the circumstances? Were you ever able to reunite with them? It is difficult to be separated from people who are special

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wr

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God which is at work in you believers. Reflect Who does Paul give credit to for the faith of the Thessalonians? Why do you think he did that? There is a lot of noise out there. It kind of feels like everyone is shouting their opinions all the time. Even when I try to w

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. Reflect Do you have a father figure (maybe your own father or another older gentleman) who urged you to grow in the Christian faith and live a godly life? Who is that person and how did he encourage and challenge you? In previous messages, we’ve already ta

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-10 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. Reflect What do you think motivated Paul, Silas, and Timothy to work so hard among the Thessalonians? Why were they willing to labor without compensation from them? Ministry is har

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.. Reflect Think of a Christian leader who had a strong influence on your faith. Were they more of a “bulldog” personality or gentle leader? You’ve probably heard the cliche: “There’s nothing like a mothe

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. Reflect If you could choose between fame and notoriety now in this world or eternal glory in heaven, what would you choose? Why? When the Gospel is preached in a stadium full of people and hundreds accept Christ as their Savior, who gets the glory? The preacher or God? When a church is filled to the brim week after week with peo

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:4-5 But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Reflect What can we learn from Paul and his coworkers about ethical missions ministries? Have you ever been buttered up by someone? Kids are especially good at this, aren’t they? I can usually tell when my k

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:3-4 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. Reflect How has trying to appease people affected your life? Have you been able to please everyone? Many wise men have said something similar throughout the years—if you try to please everyone, you won’t please anyone. “People

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. Reflect Would you consider yourself a confident person? Why or why not? Where does the confidence that you have come from? Have you ever been badly mistreated? After that experience, how anxious

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. Reflect What did you turn to God from? Who were you serving before you served Him? Before we became believers, we were all serving something or someone. I’d venture to guess that some of

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. Reflect When you receive an amazing gift, do you usually want to share it with others or hoard it for yourself? Sometimes, when we know we have been given a good thing, our impulse is to hoard it or hide it. Maybe it’s because we’re selfish or maybe we are just afraid of running out an

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. Reflect Are you more of a leader or a follower? Why is it important to be both in different seasons of life? Some say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Does that hold true when it comes to spiritual matters? It turns out, the Bible do

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. Reflect Has someone ever told you something that you knew were just empty words? Why didn’t you believe them? Have you ever met someone who is all talk? They make promises but never deliver and their words soun

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:4 See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. Reflect For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you… All thro

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:3 …remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Reflect We know that we can’t earn our salvation (Romans 3:20) and that are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Given that, what is the relationship between true saving faith and works? Imagine that someone close to you repeatedly hurt, offended, and opposed you. Understandably, your relationship with that individ

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Reflect We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers… In 2022, Gallup released a poll about the happiness, satisfaction, and contentment of the average American. The results were