Future Glory | Present Trial: 1 Thes. 2:1-2
Future Glory-Present Trial :: Boldness in our God
1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
As I prayed and asked God to guide our Sunday morning content, worship and study throughout 2020, I arrived at our current study of First and Second Thessalonians very late. I like to plan a year out, but the confusions and challenges of the year had stolen any sense of long term planning. Finally, I felt a sense of His direction and peace. This came with an immediate and incredible excitement and anticipation for the study and all that God would reveal. Much of that initial excitement was anchored in just one line of First Thessalonians that I thought perfectly captured the current and near-future task of the Church. We come to that line today.
It is a description, in Paul’s own words, of the founding of the church in Thessalonica, captured by Luke in Acts 17. His carefully chosen wording to the church a few months after his departure sheds illuminating light on Paul’s heart. It will also challenge and inspire our hearts as we face alarmingly similar challenges some twenty centuries later.
“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Paul’s words lean entirely on three of the many promises of Jesus Christ: His enduring presence with us (John 14:18), our enduring trouble in this fallen world (John 16:33) and His ultimate victory, wherein we find our victory. Thus Paul’s work was “not in vain” even though they “suffered” and were “mistreated.” By faith they “had the boldness in our God to speak the gospel of God amid much opposition.” Again, I cannot think of a more fitting and perfectly timed text to study in our day and context.
Group Discussion Questions:
1. At the beginning of your group time, take a few minutes to ask how everyone is doing this week after the aftermath of the freeze and some flooding. Share some prayer requests and pray.
2. Where in your life right now do you most feel the tension of living in a fallen world as a follower of Jesus and citizen of heaven?
3. What current relational challenges are you focused on? Share any details with grace and care.
4. What current cultural challenges do you find most alarming or concerning? Why? How do you cope with this concern?
5. Discuss why Paul and his companions experienced such opposition and persecution almost everywhere they went to share the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ? For a quick review, see almost any episode in Acts 13-28.
6. What is the source of Paul’s boldness in 1 Thessalonians 2:2? How is this source different from a boldness or courage that you manufacture out of your own perceived strength or will?
7. What is the content of Pauls’ boldness in 2:2? What about this content provided for the boldness in which Paul and his friends spoke?
8. How does the context of opposition, suffering and mistreatment impact Paul’s courage and message?
9. How might Paul’s endurance in the midst of opposition affect the church left behind in Thessalonica?
10. Identify some application and practical points as you overlay Paul’s statement in 2:2 with your current place in this time, culture and context. How can you live this statement out?
11. What does a life of biblical and Jesus-centered integrity look like for you right now? Where are the major points of tension?
1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
As I prayed and asked God to guide our Sunday morning content, worship and study throughout 2020, I arrived at our current study of First and Second Thessalonians very late. I like to plan a year out, but the confusions and challenges of the year had stolen any sense of long term planning. Finally, I felt a sense of His direction and peace. This came with an immediate and incredible excitement and anticipation for the study and all that God would reveal. Much of that initial excitement was anchored in just one line of First Thessalonians that I thought perfectly captured the current and near-future task of the Church. We come to that line today.
It is a description, in Paul’s own words, of the founding of the church in Thessalonica, captured by Luke in Acts 17. His carefully chosen wording to the church a few months after his departure sheds illuminating light on Paul’s heart. It will also challenge and inspire our hearts as we face alarmingly similar challenges some twenty centuries later.
“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition.” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
Paul’s words lean entirely on three of the many promises of Jesus Christ: His enduring presence with us (John 14:18), our enduring trouble in this fallen world (John 16:33) and His ultimate victory, wherein we find our victory. Thus Paul’s work was “not in vain” even though they “suffered” and were “mistreated.” By faith they “had the boldness in our God to speak the gospel of God amid much opposition.” Again, I cannot think of a more fitting and perfectly timed text to study in our day and context.
Group Discussion Questions:
1. At the beginning of your group time, take a few minutes to ask how everyone is doing this week after the aftermath of the freeze and some flooding. Share some prayer requests and pray.
2. Where in your life right now do you most feel the tension of living in a fallen world as a follower of Jesus and citizen of heaven?
3. What current relational challenges are you focused on? Share any details with grace and care.
4. What current cultural challenges do you find most alarming or concerning? Why? How do you cope with this concern?
5. Discuss why Paul and his companions experienced such opposition and persecution almost everywhere they went to share the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ? For a quick review, see almost any episode in Acts 13-28.
6. What is the source of Paul’s boldness in 1 Thessalonians 2:2? How is this source different from a boldness or courage that you manufacture out of your own perceived strength or will?
7. What is the content of Pauls’ boldness in 2:2? What about this content provided for the boldness in which Paul and his friends spoke?
8. How does the context of opposition, suffering and mistreatment impact Paul’s courage and message?
9. How might Paul’s endurance in the midst of opposition affect the church left behind in Thessalonica?
10. Identify some application and practical points as you overlay Paul’s statement in 2:2 with your current place in this time, culture and context. How can you live this statement out?
11. What does a life of biblical and Jesus-centered integrity look like for you right now? Where are the major points of tension?
Posted in Sermon Notes