Thankfully Hopeful

Who are they?

Paul - apostle, Jewish, leader of missionary team

Silvanus - aka Silas (by Luke), Acts 15:22 carries a letter from Jersualem Council to Gentile believers, 1 Peter 5:12 Peter writes by him

Timothy - close companion of Paul, Jewish, 3rd generation believer, church planter

Thessalonians

church planted during second missionary journey of Paul and Silas

aggressive opposition from the Jews in Thessalonica

“the church IN God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”

the “called out ones” - ties to v.4

in the septuagint ekklesia is used to refer to God’s covenant people Israel. Paul sees Gentile believers as God’s covenant people now understanding the gospel.

John 17:20-23

John 17:20–23 ESV

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

What are they doing?

giving thanks

constantly praying, with Thessalonians in mind

Acts 2:42, 4:24

Acts 2:42 ESV

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Acts 4:24 ESV

24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

Why are they doing it?

Remembering...

Work produced by faith (deed, achievement, function)

James 2:17

James 2:17 ESV

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Labor (effort, arduous, wearying) motivated by love

1 Cor. 13:3

1 Corinthians 13:3 ESV

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Steadfastness (endurance, the sense of staying under pressure) inspired by hope in Jesus Christ

Rom. 5:1-5, 8:18-25; Hebrews 12:1-2

Romans 5:1–5 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:18–25 ESV

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.