Sermon Tone Analysis

Greeting (1)

Partnership

Paul, Silas & Timothy (1st person verbs)

Identity

the church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

instrumental: God established the church

spatial: in the presence of God or in union with Him

Question: How does knowing of the prevalence of idol worship in Thessalonica and that many of the Thessalonians who were professing Christ had once been idol worshippers impact Paul’s identifying this church as unified to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ?

b.

Being a church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ & grace and peace

Question: What is the connection between being a church in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and grace and peace?

(The gospel message is the basis for the church’s union with God, and the gospel is summed up with grace and peace.

The grace of God and peace with God.)

Reasons for gratitude (2-5a)

Their virtues

work of faith

labor of love

steadfastness of hope

Question: How does the world’s understanding of the relationship between work & faith, labor & love and steadfastness & hope differ from one that is informed by the gospel?

(faith, hope and love are subjective genitives which means they identify what motivates and produces the actions of work, labor and hope)

2. Their salvation

Paul knows that the Thessalonians who profess Christ are chosen by God (4)

Question: If any confusion comes from our attempt to understand v. 4, what do you suppose would be the most likely cause?

(Paul’s certainty that they are chosen by God)

“because” in v. 5 points to Paul’s certainty that the Thessalonians were chose by God.

loved by God (v. 4)

the gospel came not in word only

also in power

in the Holy Spirit with full conviction (confidence)

Question: What comprises the basis for Paul’s certainty of their salvation?

(loved by God v. 4, words, power and in the Holy Spirit, full conviction)

Question: What do verses 4-5 make clear about how the conversion of people works?

(those saved are chosen by God v. 4, loved by God v. 4, the heard the gospel, were receptive to the gospel because of the Holy Spirit’s powerful work of conviction)