Sermon Tone Analysis

Home group study notes for 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 1

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Background: Paul visited Thessalonica on his second missionary journey and was only there for three weeks before he was forced out of town by people that objected to what he preached ().

Paul faced constant persecution and was pushed from town to town on this journey to the point that he became greatly weakened and discouraged ().

However, when news reaches Paul that the church he founded in Thessalonica is not only surviving but in fact thriving he writes this first letter to them expressing his joy at how well they are doing and also to offer them some advice for issues they face.

Read again, 1 Thessalon

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Question 1:

In verse 3, Paul mentions ‘Faith, Love and Hope’, these three each have an attribute that Paul attaches them.

What are these three attributes?

And why are these qualities important in a believer?

Answer:

Faith = Work, Paul is stating that the faith of the Thessalonian believers is creating in them a desire to work for the kingdom.

See , James explains the importance of works for while we are not saved by works, works are though an outward indication of what is truly in our hearts.

Love = Labour, how is labour different from works?

Labour implies a higher degree of difficulty.

Many people can be involved in a work and yet are not prepared to labour.

It is possible to work and still be in comfort, but when we labour we work very hard even though it may be exhausting, discouraging or even painful.

Also see

Hope = Endurance.

Hope will cause a person to look beyond the immediate situation and gives focus upon something better.

Endurance is important in the life of a believer because though life as a Christian may get difficult, when we have hope in the life which is to come and in the Lord’s return we find a desire and willingness to endure the present.

Also see

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

5 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.

Question 2:

How did the gospel come to the Thessalonian believers and why was this important?

(see verses 4-5)

Answer:

In word, in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

Paul says that they received the word of God but also that the Holy Spirit came to them bringing with it power.

The Holy Spirit brings both a conviction in the heart of a person but then also the power to be transformed.

Paul says that in the case of these Thessalonian believers that they are transformed with full conviction.

They are not half-heated believers and while they still have much to learn and areas in their lives that need adjusting, they are however following Jesus fully convinced of His Godhead and ability to save.

6 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

Question 3:

Question 3:

How is it that the Thessalonian believers were imitators of Paul and Jesus?

(see verse 6)

Answer:

They received the word while going through persecution and yet they held the joy of the Holy Spirit though they endured afflictions.

For the Thessalonian believers to be imitators of Paul and Jesus they would have had to have left their old ways behind them, taking up a new way of life.

They could not be imitators and yet still keep doing what they had always done before, verse 9 for instance tells us that they had turned away from their idols.

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

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.

9 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,

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Question 4:

How was it noticeable among the people of the region that this group had been changed by the gospel?

(see verses 7-10)

Answer:

They became an example to all believers (verse 7)

The word of God was preached by them throughout all of Macedonia and Achaia (verse 8)

Their faith was displayed to the entire region (verse 8)

The very noticeable transformation in their lifestyle including their turning from idols (verse 9)

Their willingness to patiently wait for Jesus (verse 10)

Additional question for group discussion:

The Thessalonian believers stood out from among the other people in the region because their lives had been changed by the gospel.

Do people see a difference in our lives today and if so how?