INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE
1. Connect
2. Pray
3. Main Scripture
4. Explore and Discuss
5. Personal Application
6. A Practical Exercise
7. Scripture Memory

CONNECT
Here are some questions to get the conversation rolling.
◾ What has God been stirring in your heart or bringing to mind this past week?
◾ Describe a time you felt close to God. What steps did you take or what circumstances led you to that experience?
◾ What energizes you?

PRAY
Spend a few minutes in prayer, drawing your attention toward God. Consider these prayer points as you invite God to lead and guide you.

◾ Dear Lord, I pray You’d break through the noise and help me hear Your voice.
◾ Help me sense Your presence at all times in many ways.
◾ I’m here, ready to receive from You. I hold nothing back. Show me what it is You want me to know.
◾ Lord, grow my trust and dependence on You. Reveal parts of my heart and life where I rely on my power instead of the power You’ve given me through the Holy Spirit.
◾ I pray You’d help me experience you in this area (name an area) of my life this week.
◾ I pray You’d deepen my love and concern for the people around me.
◾ May the people of Brookwood (you might name specific people) experience more of your great love this week.

MAIN SCRIPTURE
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (NIV)

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.

2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.
3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that He has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell 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 rescues us from the coming wrath.

EXPLORE AND DISCUSS
Don’t rush through this. It’s OK if you don’t get to all the questions. The goal is to have meaningful conversations that help you grow in your understanding of the Bible and in your relationship with God and each other. Sometimes it will make sense to go on to the next question. Other times you might stop down and process a bit longer. Allow God to guide the pace of your discussion.

1. When Paul, Silas and Timothy thought of the believers in Thessalonica, their hearts were filled with gratitude. What came to mind when they prayed for them?

2. What comes to mind when you think about the people at Brookwood? In what specific ways do you think God wants us to grow?

3. This passage names three virtues: faith, love and hope. How have you seen or experienced these?

4. The gospel (good news) came to them not simply with words but also with power and conviction. What’s the difference?

5. Do you lean toward word (doctrine and beliefs) or power (miracles and wonders)? What happens when someone focuses on one to the neglect of the other?

6. Which Scriptures have been most influential in your life? What does that tell you about yourself?

7. The Thessalonians remained faithful amidst great opposition (for further insight on the hostility they experienced, see Acts 17:1-9).

◾ What challenges your passion for God?

◾ What helps reignite the fire?

8. Who’s modeled the Christian life for you? What continues to inspire you about them?

9. I’ve been a person who… I long to become a person who…

10. Pause and thank God for people who’ve helped you along the journey.

PERSONAL APPLICATION
Ask God what He wants you to know and remember from this week’s study and discussion. Share this with your group or with a friend, and pray for each other.

A PRACTICAL EXERCISE
Read at least one chapter of the Bible every day this week.

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
One of the best ways to hear God throughout the day is to memorize Scripture. God often brings His words back to mind at just the right time!

Here’s a verse to store in your heart and mind based on this week’s theme:

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7 (NLT)

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.