Weekly bible study of the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians at Harvest Bible Church in Cypress TX

1. 1 Thessalonians
Week 3

2. Plan for this Study
Week 1 – Overview of the Study and Introduction to 1 Thessalonians (1:1)
Week 2 – 1:2-10 Thanksgiving for the Church
Week 3 – 2:1-16 Reminders for the Church
Week 4 – 2:17-3:13 Concerns for the Church
Week 5 – 4:1-8 Moral Purity
Week 6 – 4:9-12 Disciplined Living
Week 7 – 4:13-18 Death and the Rapture
Week 8 – Eschatology
Week 9 – 5:1-11 Holy Living and the Day of the Lord
Week 10 – 5:12-15 Church Relationships
Week 11 – 5:16-22 Basics of Church Living
Week 12 – 5:23-28 Paul’s Benediction and Closing Remarks
Week 13 – Review, Conclusions, Application

3. Review of Week 2
1 Th 1:2-10 Thanksgiving for the Church
• The Model of Church Leaders (Pastoral Theme)
o Prayer
o Teaching God’s Word – Proclamation
o Setting the proper example - Pattern
• The Model of Church Members (Ecclesiastical Theme)
o Faith that produces works
o Labor of Love
o Steadfastness of Hope
• God’s Election
• God’s Salvation from wrath

4. Themes
Reminder of our 5 Major Themes in 1 Thessalonians:
1) An apologetic theme with the historical correlation between Acts
and 1 Thessalonians
2) An ecclesiastical theme with the portrayal of a healthy, growing
church
3) A pastoral theme with the example of shepherding activities and
attitudes
4) An eschatological theme with the focus on future events as the
church’s hope
5) A missionary theme with the emphasis on gospel proclamation
and church planting

5. Week 3 Overview
1 Th 2:1-16 Reminders for the Church
• The Integrity of Paul’s Message (Missionary Theme)
o Acts 16 & 17
o 1 Th 2:1-8
• The Integrity of Paul’s Example (Pastoral Theme)
o 1 Th 2:9-11
• The Integrity of the Church’s Example (Ecclesiastical
Theme)
o 1 Th 2:12-14
• The Integrity of God (Eschatological Theme)
o 1 Th 2:15-16

6. 1 Th 2:1-16
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as
you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel
of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—

7. 1 Th 2:1-16
6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even
though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly
cares for her own children.
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and
day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the
gospel of God.

8. 1 Th 2:1-16
10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and
blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received
the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also
performs its work in you who believe.

9. 1 Th 2:1-16
14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ
Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the
hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.
They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved;
with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath
has come upon them to the utmost.

10. The Integrity of Paul’s Message
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was
not in vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as
you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel
of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—

11. The Integrity of Paul’s Message
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in
Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to
you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—

12. Acts 16
6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been
forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia,
and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was
standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia
and help us."
10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into
Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to
them.

13. Acts 16
11 So putting out to sea from Troas, we ran a straight course to
Samothrace, and on the day following to Neapolis;
12 and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of
Macedonia, a Roman colony; and we were staying in this city for some
days.
16 It happened that as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave-girl
having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much
profit by fortune-telling.
17 Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, "These men
are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you
the way of salvation."

14. Acts 16
18 She continued doing this for many days. But Paul was greatly
annoyed, and turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name
of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And it came out at that very
moment.
22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates
tore their robes off them and proceeded to order them to be beaten with
rods.
23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into
prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely;
24 and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner
prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

18. 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in
Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to
you the gospel of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

19. 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as
you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel
of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by
way of deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

20. 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as
you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel
of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with
the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who
examines our hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a
pretext for greed—God is witness—
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

21. 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in
vain,
2 but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as
you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel
of God amid much opposition.
3 For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of
deceit;
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the
gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our
hearts.
5 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with
a pretext for greed—God is witness—
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

22. 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others,
even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our
authority.
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly
cares for her own children.
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and
day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the
gospel of God.
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

23. 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even
though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother
tenderly cares for her own children.
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and
day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the
gospel of God.
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

24. 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even
though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly
cares for her own children.
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to
impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives,
because you had become very dear to us.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and
day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the
gospel of God.
The Integrity of Paul’s Message

25. 6 nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even
though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly
cares for her own children.
8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to
you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had
become very dear to us.
9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working
night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we
proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
The Integrity of Paul’s Example

26. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly
and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received
the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also
performs its work in you who believe.
The Integrity of Paul’s Example

27. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and
blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received
the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also
performs its work in you who believe.
The Integrity of Paul’s Example

28. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and
blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls
you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received
the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the
word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also
performs its work in you who believe.
The Integrity of the Church’s Example

29. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and
blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and
imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you
into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you
received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it
not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God,
which also performs its work in you who believe.
The Integrity of the Church’s Example

30. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in
Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same
sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did
from the Jews,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.
They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved;
with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath
has come upon them to the utmost.
The Integrity of the Church’s Example

31. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ
Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the
hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us
out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved;
with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath
has come upon them to the utmost.
The Integrity of God

32. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ
Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the
hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,
15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.
They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men,
16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be
saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their
sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.
The Integrity of God

33. Week 3 Review
1 Th 2:1-16 Reminders for the Church
• The Integrity of Paul’s Message (Missionary Theme)
o Not in error or out of impurity or deceit
o Not with flattering speech or pretext
o Not seeking glory
o Pleasing to God, not men
• The Integrity of Paul’s Example (Pastoral Theme)
o Gentle, caring, with fond affection
o Hard working so as to not be a burden
o Devout, upright, blameless
o Exhorting, encouraging, imploring

34. Week 3 Review
1 Th 2:1-16 Reminders for the Church
• The Integrity of the Church’s Example (Ecclesiastical
Theme)
o Walking in a worthy manner
o Accepting of the word of God for what it is
o Imitators of their Leaders
o Endured suffering
• The Integrity of God (Eschatological Theme)
o Wrath on those who killed the Lord and the prophets and drove Paul out
o Wrath on those not pleasing to God, and hostile to men
o Wrath on unbelievers

35. Conclusions
• Leaders must stay true to the message of God, without error,
without pretense, and not seeking glory for self
• Leaders should be blameless and upright, serving with
gentleness, fond affection, yet pushing for spiritual growth
• The goal of leaders should be a church walking in a manner
worthy of God
• Church members should accept the word of God for what it is
• Church members should imitate Jesus and their Godly
leaders and should expect persecution
• Pride has no place in our service to God