Level Up July 28

Level Up – The Epistles Summer 2024 I Thessalonians ◼ Introduction – NIV Study Bible o Author ▪ Paul (1:1; 2:18; 3:1-2) o Date and Place of Writing ▪ A.D. 51 ▪ Corinth o Recipients ▪ Newer converts in Thessalonica, mostly Gentile.

▪ Probable timetable: • Paul in Thessalonica: Acts 17:1-9 • Timothy had been sent to Thessalonica to see how the new believers were doing, and had returned with an update (3:1-10). o Purpose – Why did Paul write this letter?

▪ Paul left Thessalonica in a hurry (Acts 17:5-10) after a rather brief stay (one month), which did not give him much time to walk through several issues.

• Suffering as a part of the Christian life • Holiness in sexual matters • The need to do one’s own work and not live off others • The resurrection at Christ’s return and readiness for Jesus’ coming o What does the beginning of the letter tell us?

▪ 1Paul, 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 a, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christb.

• aFaith produces action. Belief is the catalyst.

• bThis is not wishful thinking, but firm confidence and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ and His return. ◼ The Bible Project – highlights o The backstory for it is found in the book of ____________________. o He designed the letter to have two main movements, first a ______________________ of their faithfulness to Jesus, then a ____________________ to keep growing as followers of Jesus. o These two movements are surrounded by three ________________________.

o Paul opens by giving thanks and celebrating the Thessalonians' faith, their love for others and their hope in Jesus, despite ____________________________. o He goes on to retell the story of their _____________________, how they used to be idolatrous polytheists. o Paul then retells the story of his ___________________________ in Thessalonica and of the dear friendships he formed with the people. o Paul moves on to reflect on their _______________________ persecution. o Paul then shares about the __________________________ he experienced when he heard of the hardships the Thessalonians had after he and Silas fled. o Paul concludes with a prayer for ________________________. o He opens the letter's second movement by challenging them to a life that is _______________________________ with the teachings of Jesus. This means, first of all, a serious commitment to holiness and sexual purity. o Following Jesus also means a ___________________ to loving and serving others. o After this, Paul addresses a number of ____________________________ the Thessalonians had raised about the future hope of Jesus' return. o Paul closes all of these exhortations like he began, with a hopeful prayer that God would permeate their lives with his ________________ that he would set them apart to be completely devoted and blameless until the return of King Jesus. ◼ Practice: “You know” phrases. What do the Christians in Thessalonica know? o 1:5 ______________________________________________________________________ o 2:1-2 ______________________________________________________________________ o 2:5 ______________________________________________________________________ o 2:11 ______________________________________________________________________ o 3:3-4 ______________________________________________________________________ o 4:2 ______________________________________________________________________ o 5:2 ______________________________________________________________________ ◼ Go back to the main themes of I Thessalonians: What do YOU know about these things?