Thessalonians 1-2: Verse by Verse With Bible Study FellowshipSample

Audio Teaching

Listen to deeper insights and practical applications from Days 1-5 

Church Leaders – 5:12-13

The newly appointed, inexperienced Thessalonian leaders were learning to live by God’s wisdom. Perhaps some believers found it difficult to accept their authority. The truth is we cannot wait for leaders to live perfect lives before we respond to correction given based on the authority of God’s Word. 

God’s Word comes with God’s authority and power to transform hearts and minds. Paul calls all the church members to honor, obey and love their leaders. Peace among Christians means to behave with Christ’s love at home, as a church and in the world.

Fellow Church Members – 5:14-15

Paul addresses three types of church members who fail to live at peace:

• The unruly often rebel against leaders to serve and assert self. Members must warn them to obey.
• The timid often fall prey to anxieties and fears. Members must comfort them to stand firm.
• The weak often fall into sin. Members must strengthen them to resist evil and to do good.

When conflicts arise, leaders and all members are to lovingly work together to serve those who are stumbling. Church members minister to one another with humility, honor and patience. The goal is restoration, growth and unity. Unkindness is repaid with good. Evil is never to be repaid with evil. This common aim of developing Christlikeness in each person multiplies the fruitfulness of the church. 

Personal Worship – 5:16-18

Paul points out three marks of the Spirit-filled Christian:

• Always rejoicing 
• Continually praying
• Thankful at all times

This attitude and outlook on life are only possible by steady prayerful dependence upon God. Christians are called to give thanks to God in (not for) every situation. Will you thank Him for all that He is, all He has done and all He is doing?

Public Worship – 5:19-22

The Christian who disrupts group worship by drawing attention to self will quench the Spirit. When people seek glory for themselves, the Spirit is not the power source at work. Glory is due to God alone. We treat truth with contempt by basing our reactions on personal emotions instead of careful and humble study. Believers honor God and one another by following the order and leaders established to “test [prove] everything” by the Word of God. Wholesome and pleasing group worship requires diligence among the church body to cherish good and reject evil.

Dependence on God – 5:23-28

Paul speaks of God’s all-encompassing work in all believers:

• “Whole spirit, soul and body” – the power of the gospel renews the whole person.
• “To be kept blameless” – God’s indwelling Spirit governs us toward basing every thought, word and deed in love for God.1
• “At the Lord’s coming” – we believe by faith in God’s faithfulness to make His children perfectly ready to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes.2

Paul’s request for prayer and closing remarks prove he depends on God to mature His people. No issue discussed in this letter is accomplished through willpower or self-effort. What the Thessalonians saw in Paul’s life was given by God through prayer and obedience by faith. What he saw in them was the proof of God at work in their lives as well. Where God is at work, grace and joy abound!

Deception and Oppression 

Religious cults and philosophical systems competed for followers in Paul’s day. Bold “holy men,” mystics, magicians, astrologers and scholars outnumbered God’s true preachers. Paul’s primary opponents were unbelieving Jews. They opposed Paul’s message with ridicule, threats and false accusations. Paul appealed to God and the church as his witnesses. He had given root to work already flourishing among them. Proof was found in his fidelity to God’s Word, not by looking at crowd size, majority opinion, the feelings or ideas of the accusers or any other standard. God defines and rewards successful Christian work. It withstands the refining fire of the Lord’s return and bears fruit for eternity.3

An essential truth for Christian faith is this – Jesus Christ is coming again. Paul refers to His return in every chapter of this letter.4 Scripture teaches Jesus Christ’s return will be literal, physical, visible and unexpected. His return relates to the “day of the Lord” and with resurrection of the dead and final judgment. 

Scripture does not reveal all the exact sequences, timing and details. Therefore, Scripture allows faithful Christians to humbly disagree about disputable matters left unclear. God did not reveal all we wish to know. He does command believers to diligently study, know and obey what He has revealed in His Word. He also commands believers to treat one another with love, grace and peace.

God the Father calls His children to holy living – to be consumed by complete devotion to Him. God’s jealous love guarantees believers have ultimate everlasting life. God’s jealousy provides what is good and protects from sin. God is never selfish, insecure, fearful or anxious about relationships. Paul shared God’s love with the Thessalonians. He commanded them to live blamelessly by following the Spirit. Paul’s example among them, teaching and prayers aimed for Christ’s holiness to become their own way of life until His return.

Questions

Q1. Describe the kind of church life that results from brothers and sisters following God’s instructions (verses 12-28). Which aspect do you find the most challenging?

INSIGHTS: People work hard to care for one another and their community (5:12); people honor hard work and compassion (5:13); everyone can help and encourage others (5:14); they work together to bring peace, end resentments and to bring justice (5:15). Personal responses will vary.

Q2. Which of the instructions about how church members are to live stand out to you? How might you apply these in your present situation?

Q3. What do you define as your highest priorities, and how well do your words, plans and time spent with people serve your aims?

Reflect

We’ve reached a time in our study to pause. Let’s reflect on what we’ve discovered so far to help us grow. Reflect on the Scripture, your prayers and your responses to the questions raised as you’ve studied. Here are two questions to guide you into taking what you’ve learned into the rest of this study and into your daily life.

What verses from this letter speak to you most profoundly about God, His people or yourself?

How do these instructions to persevere while we wait for Christ’s return impact your view of life and the world?

Related Verses

1 Love for God: 2 Peter 1:3-4

2 God’s work: 1 Corinthians 1:9; Philippians 1:6

3 Eternal fruit: 1 Corinthians 3:13-15

4 Christ’s return: 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-17; 5:1-11, 23