1 Thessalonians Discussion Questions:

Prior Sections:

Where did Paul write out this letter?

1 Corinthians

How long was Paul at Thessalonica?

One month.

What were Paul and his team accused of?

That there was another king than Ceaser.

Why did Paul write this letter?

To check in on their well-being, because they had to flee from intense persecution.

What was Timothy’s report back to Paul?

That the Thessalonian church was doing more than better than expected, but they were flourishing,

Section 1: Celebration of their faithfulness to Jesus :

Verses 1:1-5:

In verses 1-5, how does Paul start the letter?

With thanking God for their faith, love, and hope.

Verses 1:6-10

In verses 6-10, how were the Thessalonian Christians before their conversion?

They were a people worshipping polytheistic idols and every detail of their lives was consumed by the Greek gods.

What did turning their allegiance to the creator God of Israel mean for them?

It came with a cost of hostility from their families and friends turning their backs against them.

What made it all worth it for the Thessalonians?

The awesome sacrificial love of Jesus, and the promise of His return.

Verses 2:1-12

What kind of metaphors does Paul use when explaining the relationships that he formed with them in Thessalonica?

Intimate metaphors.

How did they treat each other?

Paul says that they treated him like their child he treated them like he was their mother and their father.

What does Paul remind us of good Christian leadership?

That it is not about power, but about healthy relationships and loving service.

Verses 2:13-16: Their Common Persecution:

What is the thing that Jesus, Paul, and the Thessalonian believers all had in common?

They all suffered for God.

What was the strange comfort that Paul draws out from their persecution?

That their suffering is a way of participating in the story of Jesus.

Verses 2:17-3:10

What is Paul explaining in these verses?

That he sent Timothy back from Corinth, because he was worried about the Thessalonians.

He was only there for a short time, and was forced to flee.

Timothy’s report was that they were flourishing.

Verses 3: 11-13: Prayer For Endurance:

1. What does Paul pray for them?

That god would grow their capacity to love , strengthen their commitment to holiness, as they fix their hope on the return of Jesus.

Section 2: A Challenge to Grow:

Verses 4:1-8

How did Paul start the second section of the letter?

By challenging them to live a life consistent with the message of Jesus.

What does this challenge mean as opposed to?

A serious commitment to holiness and sexual purity as opposed to the sexually destructive society around them.

Verses 4:9-12:

What else does following Jesus mean, according to Paul?

Commitment to loving and serving others.

Commitment to loving and serving others.

What should Christians be known for?

As people who work very hard.

Not so they can have money, bus so they can share generously share with those who are in need.

Verses 4:13-18: Future Hope of Jesus’ Return:

What had happened to some of the Thessalonians that caused questions and concerns?

A few of them had died(likely martyred) and they were curious as to their fate when Jesus returned?

What does Paul make clear, despite, their grief and loss?

That not even death can separate Christians from the love of Jesus.

When Jesus returns, he will call the living and the dead to Himself.

What kind of image does Paul use to describe this even?

He uses the image of a city or areas that is subject to the Roman Ceaser would send out delegates to greet their Ceaser.

How is this illustration like when Jesus comes back?

There will be a delegation of God’s people who will welcome and greet Jesus as He transfers back into this world as he sets up his kingdom of holiness and peace.

Verses 5:1-11: This hope Should Motivate Faithfulness:

What does Paul poke fun at?

The Roman propaganda that Ceaser is the one who provides peace and security.

How did Rome’s peace really come?

Violence, enslaving their enemies, and military occupation.

What does Paul say will happen one day?

That Jesus will come back and confront that kind of injustice.

How does Paul say each follower of Jesus should live?

As if that day is already here.

Despite the night time of human evil around them, they should…?

stay sober and awake as the light of God’s kingdom dawns here as it is in heaven.

Verses 5:23

How does Paul finish this letter?

With a prayer that God’s holiness would permeate their lives, keeping them holy and blameless, until the return of Jesus.

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What does 1 Thessalonians remind us?

That from the beginning, following Jesus produces a counter-cultural(holy) way of life.

What will this generate?

Suspicion and conflict among our neighbors.

What should the response of believers be to such hostility?

Love, grace, and generosity.

What is this way of life motivated by?

Hope in the coming of the kingdom of Jesus that has already begun in His resurrection from the dead.