TEACHING 3: 1 Thes. Chapter 3/ 4:1-12
1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 3/ CHAPTER 4:1-12
Welcome to the 3rd teaching for the 3rd discipleship hour/home groups. I have put chapter 3 and part of chapter 4 in this post because much of chapter 3 is similar to what we discussed last week. Hope you enjoy. Questions will be at the end of this post to prompt your group/self as you study the passages and connect your hearts to them.
The Rotonda, a domed building of early 4th century A.D., served as a Pantheum or as a Mausoleum for emperor Galerius. Now the church of Saint George. Was a mosque during the Turkish occupation and the minaret still stands. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list of most important sites.
Chapter 3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
Timothy’s Encouraging Report
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
Chapter three starts by talking about Timothy’s mission to the church in Thessalonica. At the end of chapter two, we learn that Paul could not get to Thessalonica because Satan had prevented it. Literally in the original Greek, Satan had somehow “severed” Paul’s ability to go there. So, Paul sends Timothy and the report he hears back is wonderful.
Paul didn’t want the people shaken by these trials. He wanted to encourage them. They were facing everything from their property being seized, loss of jobs, being shunned by their families, and some even killed. Both Jews and Gentiles were causing this persecution. Paul is deeply concerned for these young Christians going through such severe trials all on their own. The good news Timothy brings comforts them not just with peace but with fresh energy to work even more for the Lord. And out of this joy from learning the people are on the right track, Paul prays for them.
THE WHITE TOWER (Thessalonica) The present tower replaced an old Byzantine fortification, known to have been mentioned around the 12th century, that the Ottoman Empire reconstructed to fortify the city's harbour sometime after Sultan Murad II captured Thessaloniki in 1430.
4:1-12 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Arch of Galerius and the Roman Forum
Chapter four becomes a reminder and a challenge to the people to live lives that please God. It is really easy during hardship to fall away into sin. The incorrect belief that "God doesn't care" or "holiness isn't worth it" starts to seep in as people get tired. This practical section leads the people to have an understanding of what God expects for them so that they can pursue holiness.
Paul gives them commands for sexual purity. In an immoral culture, there would have been pressure to live in immoral ways. The word Paul uses in greek for “sexual impurity” is the word “pornea” in Greek, a word we still use in English today to describe imorality (pornography). Paul in 4:4 commands them to have control over their body. For those that choose to reject Paul’s teaching on sexual purity, Paul reminds them that it is actually a rejection of God and His teaching, not just Pauls's teaching if they choose to live in sin. The people are also commanded to live with brotherly love. This is something the church has excelled at but the call to these believers was not to settle for how far they have come but to desire to grow even more in love. I feel that it is common for a believer, for myself, to grow to a certain point and feel satisfied. I love the challenge that we shouldn’t be satisfied with our growth until we are made to be like Christ in the end.
There is also a very practical reminder to continue working and earning a living. The people believed so strongly Jesus would come back soon that many quit their jobs, putting a financial burden on the church to take care of them. Paul corrects this misunderstanding about the second coming. They are to be an example to the world around them by working hard to make a living and pursue what God has given them the talents to do.
INDUCTIVE STUDY PROMPTS
Read the passage. Let’s get into God’s word! (Acts 17 for extra reading)
Write down how the passage made you feel. How does it apply to your heart and life. One word, like convicted, happy, anxious, melancholy, etc. Let’s make this passage personal!
Write down a word or phrase or idea in the scripture that jumped out at you. Let’s let the Holy Spirit work through His word!
Leader asks some/all to share their feeling and their word/phrase/idea, then asks what from their life does that person associate with that feeling and word/phrase/idea. (example from studying Psalm 23) Might be remembering visiting grandpa’s sheep farm and sadness of loss of him, or pain of strained family relationships, or joy remembering grandma and grandpa’s good Christian marriage. Let’s talk about it from our life experience!
Leader asks if there is anything that he/she/group can pray for that person in relation to all that was shared. Let’s pray!
Leader takes notes and remembers to follow up with that person the following week to see how things are going. Let’s be consistent/remember/challenge each other!