1 & 2 Thessalonians
By Jim McCracken and Rich Kao
© Five Stones Impact 2024
O B S E R V A T I O N S
1 Thessalonians
1. How did faith, hope, and love work in the Thessalonians? (CHAPTER 1)
2. What accompanied the gospel there, and how did they become a model? (CHAPTER 1)
3. Rather than being a burden, how did the apostles relate to them and what did they urge them to do? (CHAPTER 2)
4. What were Paul’s instructions about how to live and what to avoid? (CHAPTER 3)
5. What are the negative parts of false religious regulations (CHAPTER 4 )
6. When the Lord returns, what will happen to those who are alive and those who already died? (CHAPTER 4)
7. For those who are in darkness, what will it be like when the Lord returns? (CHAPTER 5)
8. How should those who are in the light prepare themselves? (CHAPTER 5)
2 Thessalonians
1. How are the Thessalonians growing and in what way does Paul boast about them? (CHAPTER 1)
2. What things must happen before the actual return of the Lord? (CHAPTER 2)
3. What will cause them to stand firm? (CHAPTER 2)
4. What are Paul’s prayer requests? (CHAPTER 3)
5. How does he warn them about idleness and how were the apostles a model? (CHAPTER 3)
D E E P E R T H O U G H T
1 Thessalonians
1. In what way did the Thessalonians become imitators of the apostles? (CHAPTER 2)
2 How did the apostles make a special effort to be genuine and how were their words received? (CHAPTER 2)
3. Why does Paul pray earnestly that he can see them again? (CHAPTER 3)
4. What will be the result if they live their lives according to Paul’s instructions in the Lord? (CHAPTER 4)
5 How do Paul’s final instructions relate to his prayer that their whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless? ( CHAPTER 5)
2 Thessalonians
1 When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with powerful angels, how will God, being just, show himself? (CHAPTER 1)
2. What is the character of the “man of lawlessness,” and how will he be overthrown? (CHAPTER 2)
3. How should they treat those who do not follow good instructions? (CHAPTER 3)
C O N S I D E R A T I O
N
C O R N E R
ANSWERS TO LESSON 27 OBSERVATIONS
1 Thessalonians
1. Faith produced work, love prompted labor, and hope inspired endurance. (1:2 - 3)
2. Power, the Holy Spirit, and deep conviction. They became imitators of the apostles and the Lord, received the gospel with joy, and turned from idols to serving God. (1:6 - 10)
3. They were like a father and a mother to them, urging them to live lives worthy of God. (2:6 - 12)
4. The church was standing firm in faith and love. (3:68)
5. Live to please God with a holy life. Avoid sexual immorality. (4:1 - 8)
6. Those who have died in Christ will return with him and those who are alive in Christ will be caught up to meet him in the air. (4:13 - 18)
7. Destruction will come on them suddenly as labor pains on a pregnant woman. (5:1 - 4)
8. Be alert and self-controlled, with faith, hope, and love. (5:4 - 8)
2 Thessalonians
1. They are growing in faith and their love is increasing. Paul boasts about their perseverance and faith in persecutions and trials. (1:3 - 4)
2. A rebellion must occur and the man of lawlessness be revealed. (2:1 - 12)
3. The sanctifying work of the Spirit and holding to the truth of the teachings given to them. (2:13 - 15)
4. That their message would spread rapidly and be honored, and that they would be protected from evil people. (3:1 - 2)
5. Keep away from those who are idle. The apostles were never idle but worked hard and paid their own way. (3:6 - 10)
Consider this:
Paul calls the Thessalonians his joy and crown. They were predominantly Gentile, which was Paul’s main calling Though hindered by both Jews and Satan himself, Paul saw amazing fruit among them, which continued as the gospel “ rang out” from them and they became a model to all believers in the region!
QUESTIONS FOR DEEPER THOUGHT
11 Thessalonians
1. Despite severe suffering, they welcomed the message with joy and became a model to others. (1:67)
2. They had pure motives, did not look for praise from men, were never a burden, but were holy, righteous, and blameless. (2:3 - 12)
3. To supply what is lacking in their faith because he has such a great love for them. (3:10 - 12)
4. They will win the respect of outsiders and please God with a holy life. (4:1 - 12)
5. Some of his instructions apply to their spiritual life, some to their soul or emotional life, and some to their practical, natural life. (5:12 - 28)
2 Thessalonians
1. Those who stay firm in the Lord will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, and he will punish those who reject the gospel of the Lord Jesus and do not know God. (1:5 - 10)
2. He will proclaim himself to be God, rejecting all that is truly God. Satan will work through him with counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders. The Lord Jesus will overthrow him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him with the splendor of his coming. (2:112)
3. Don’t associate with them so they will feel ashamed, and warn them as brothers. (3:14 - 15)