The document summarizes key aspects of Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. It discusses Paul setting a true Christ-like example through thankful prayers, work of faith, labour of love, and steadfast hope. Paul established a tender relationship with believers like a nursing mother or father. He provided a transforming hope by outlining the life, love, and limitless future found in hope. Finally, Paul offered tips on Christian living including alertness, attitudes, and things to avoid.

1. The Gospels
Acts of the Apostles
Paul’s Letters
Other Letters
Revelation
A Walkthru’ of the New Testament
Lesson 14: 1 Thessalonians – Cascading Hope

2.  Romans – Life Transformation Journey
 1 Corinthians - Heaven’s Gold
 2 Corinthians – Jars of Clay
 Galatians – No longer I
 Ephesians - Pushing Limits
 Philippians - The Mind of Christ
 Colossians – Complete Maturity in Christ
 1 Thessalonians – Cascading Hope
 2 Thessalonians – Confident Hope
 1 Timothy - Fighting Fit
 2 Timothy – Fearless Faithfulness
 Titus – Double Grip
 Philemon – The Avatar

3. EVENT TIMELINE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

4.  Summary and Background
 True example:
chapter 1-2:7
 Tender Relationship:
chapter 2:8-3
 Transforming Hope:
chapter 4
 Tips on Life:
chapter 5
 Discussion
Christ’s
Example
Leader’s
Hope
Christian’s
Hope

5. 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. Ch 1
Christ’s
example
Paul’s example
Thessalonians’
example
Macedonian
believers

6. 17 When Paul and his companions had
passed through Amphipolis and
Apollonia, they came to
Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish
synagogue.2 As was his custom, Paul
went into the synagogue, and on three
Sabbath days he reasoned with them
from the Scriptures Acts 17:1,2

7. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined
Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-
fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent
women.
5 But other Jews were jealous; so they
rounded up some bad characters from the
marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in
the city.
10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent
Paul and Silas away to Berea. Acts 17:4-
5a,10

8. Purpose of the letter was to:
 Cascade and spread the faith and hope
 Encourage the afflicted new believers
 Assure them of the hope of Christ’s coming
and
 Reuniting with loved ones in Christ.

9. Pauls example (chapter 1:2-7) demonstrates and
results in:
◦ Thankful prayers
◦ Work of Faith
◦ Labour of Love
◦ Steadfastness of Hope
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.

10. Paul preaches
◦ In face of opposition
◦ Pure motives
◦ No trickery
◦ No flattery
◦ No mask to cover up greed
◦ Worked day and night
◦ Not looking for praise
◦ Not asserting authority
But as those approved by God and entrusted
with gospel (ch 2:3-6)

11. 3 For the appeal we make does not
spring from error or impure
motives, nor are we trying to trick
you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as
those approved by God to be entrusted
with the gospel. We are not trying to
please people but God, who tests our
hearts. Ch 2

12. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor
did we put on a mask to cover up
greed—God is our witness. 6 We were
not looking for praise from people, not
from you or anyone else, even though
as apostles of Christ we could have
asserted our authority. Ch 2

13. Paul thanks God for their
commitment.
13 And we also thank God
continually ..because, when you
received the word of God….
you, became imitators of
God’s churches in Judea.. You
suffered .. the same things
those churches suffered from the
Jews-Ch 2

14. The Lord’s
message rang out
from you not only in
Macedonia and
Achaia—your faith in
God has become
known everywhere. Ch
1:8

15. 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. -
Ch 1

16. 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. Ch 1

17. Rather than asserting apostolic authority,
Paul establishes a relationship (2:7-3:13):
◦ Like a nursing mother – gentle, caring
◦ Like a father – Exhorting, encouraging, charging
◦ Like orphans –intense longing, every effort, again
and again
◦ Life a brother – Strengthening, thanking, blessing

18. 7 But we were gentle
among you, like a
nursing mother taking
care of her own
children. 8 So, being
affectionately
desirous of you, we
were ready to share
with you not only the
gospel of God but also
our own selves,
because you had become
very dear to us. Ch 2

19. 11 For you know
how, like a father with
his children, 12 we
exhorted each one of
you and encouraged
you and charged you
to walk in a manner
worthy of God. Ch 2

20.  17 .. we were orphaned
by being separated from
you.. out of our intense
longing we made
every effort to see
you. 18 For we wanted
to come to you—
certainly I, Paul, did,
again and again ch 2
 … I was afraid that in
some way the
tempter had tempted
you.. Ch 3

21. 7 Therefore, brothers
and sisters…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. Ch 3

22. Paul provides the long
term vision (Ch 4) in the:
 Life of Hope
 Love from Hope
 Limitless Future in
Hope

23. 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 …. 7 For God did
not call us to be impure,
but to live a holy life.

24. 9 Now … 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. Ch 4

25. 14 For we believe that
Jesus died and rose
again, and so we believe
that God will bring
with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in
him… we who are still
alive, who are left until
the coming of the
Lord, will certainly not
precede those who have
fallen asleep.

26. 16 For the Lord himself will
come down from
heaven, with a loud
command.. and the dead
in Christ will rise
first. 17 After that, we who
are still alive and are
left will be caught up
together with them in
the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. And so we
will be with the
Lord forever.

27. Hope is like the sun,
which as we journey
toward it, casts the
shadow of our burden
behind us – Samuel
Smiles

28. ◦ Alertness – be sober,
breastplate of faith and
love, helmet of hope
◦ Attitude to people–
Respect, admonish
idlers, encourage
fainthearted, be at
peace, be patient..

29. ◦ Attitude to self – Give
thanks in all
circumstances, rejoice
always, pray without
ceasing, test everything,
hold fast to good
◦ Avoid – fall asleep, evil
for evil, quench spirit,
despise word of
prophets, evil

30.  True example:
◦ Thankful Prayers
◦ Work of Faith
◦ Labour of Love
◦ Steadfastness of Hope
 Tender Relationship:
◦ Like a Nurse
◦ Like a Father
◦ Like Orphans
◦ Like a Brother
Christ’s
Example
Leader’s
Hope
Christian’s
Hope

31.  Transforming Hope:
◦ Life of Hope
◦ Love from Hope
◦ Limitless Future in Hope
 Tips on Life:
◦ Alertness
◦ Attitude to Others
◦ Attitude to Self
◦ Avoid
Christ’s
Example
Leader’s
Hope
Christian’s
Hope

32.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRZjLYh
uLOM

33.  What powerful lessons did Paul communicate
through His personal example? What was the
impact?
 What was special in Paul’s approach to
relationships? What aspects strike you in
particular?
 What do we learn about Christ’s second
coming? How can we prepare best for it?