powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012

Jon Paulien, Principal Contributor

1 The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 2 Preserving Relationships 3 Thessalonica in Paul’s Day 4 Joyous and Thankful (1 Thess 1:1–10) 5 The Apostolic Example (2:1–12) 6 Friends Forever (2:13–3:13) 7 Living Holy Lives (4:1–12) 8 The Dead in Christ (4:13–18) 9 Final Events (5:1–11) 10 Church Life (5:12–28) 11 Promise to the Persecuted (2 Thess 1:1–12) 12 The Antichrist ( 2:1–12) 13 Keeping the Church Faithful (2:13–3:18) 1 and 2 Thessalonians Contents

1 and 2 Thessalonians Our Goal {5} We’ll get a glimpse into the life of an early Christian church and see some of the struggles and challenges that it faced, including the difficulties that arose from the fact that Christ had not yet returned.

1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 10, September 8 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 10, September 8 Church Life

Key Text 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 21 ESV “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”

Church Life Initial Words {115} Paul concludes his first letter to the Thessalonians with seventeen admonitions (5:12–22) followed by a closing prayer (5:23–27). In the prayer Paul summarizes a main theme of this letter: that believers in Thessalonica and beyond would continue to grow in holiness until the Second Coming itself.

Church Life Quick Look 1. End-Time Relationships (1 Thessalonians 5:12-15) 2. End-Time Attitudes (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22) 3. End-Time Holiness (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24)

Church Life 1. End-Time Relationships 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15 NKJV “We urge you…to recognize those who labor among you…and to esteem them…. We exhort you…warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the week, be patient with all. See that no one tenders evil…but always pursue what is good….

1.End-Time Relationships Response to Ministry {116} “Recognize…. Esteem….” Paul calls on the members to “know” these leaders, meaning to notice, respect, or recognize them. The implication being that, perhaps, some in the church were disrespectful of authority. Distrust and challenge Blindly submit

1.End-Time Relationships Providing Ministry {117} Leaders’ behavior towards members: 1. Warn unruly 2. Comfort fainthearted 3. Uphold the weak 4. Be patient to all 5. See that no one retaliate 6. Always pursue good for all

1.End-Time Relationships Providing Ministry {116} Thought leaders of Paul’s day knew that dealing with people is delicate work. They encouraged leaders to carefully diagnose the condition of their followers, to be sensitive as to whether or not the follower was open to correction, to choose the right timing, and to apply the appropriate remedy.

1.End-Time Relationships Providing Ministry {116} Above all else, leaders were expected to examine themselves before trying to correct others. Paul added elements to this framework. For the Christian, God is the model of leadership, and the goal of church leadership is a membership who live lives worthy of God.

Church Life 2. End-Time Attitudes 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 NKJV “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every evil form.”

2. End-Time Attitudes Three Positive Attitudes {118} Rejoice always Pray without ceasing In everything give thanks Christians need to learn how to accept and how to offer constructive criticism. That can happen only in the context of relationship.

2. End-Time Attitudes Five Relations to “New Light” {119} Do not quench the Spirit Do not despise prophecies Test all things Hold fast what is good Abstain from all evil Paul brings up another form of admonition, the gift of prophecy.

2. End-Time Attitudes Undermining the Gift of Prophecy {119} 1. “Quench the Spirit.” Ignore or resist the work of a true prophet. 2. Accept what is said but misinterpret or misapply it. 3. Give prophetic authority to persons or writings that have not received the gift from God. What is the impact of Ellen White’s prophetic ministry in your own life?

Church Life 3. End-Time Holiness 1 Thessalonians 5: 23, 24 NKJV “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

3. End-Time Holiness Sanctified Wholly {120} What God does in believers should extend throughout the entire person. Every part of the believer’s life is to be affected by sanctification as the return of Jesus approaches. In speaking of “spirit, soul and body,” Paul was not attempting to be scientific and precise about various layers of the human person.

3. End-Time Holiness Sanctified Wholly {120} In biblical thought mind and body are a unified whole, not parts that exist separately. Rather, he was expressing that every part of our mind and body is to be submitted to God. God is to be allowed full control of our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Church Life Final Words {18} According to this letter, the Thessalonians were far from perfect, but what they did have was worth preserving until Jesus comes. As much as anything else, then, Paul was praying that they would continue to grow in grace through a relationship with Jesus.

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