II THESSALONIANS 1 Lesson # 6
BELIEF IN PERSECUTION = GLORY
NON-BELIEF, PERSECUTION = EXCLUDED FROM GLORY
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Q When you set out to accomplish anything good are there times of difficulty or bumps on the road? Can you give a short example of “rough times on a noble road”?
An = Think of some examples from your own life.
Q Have your friends, spouses, children ever gotten discouraged when such “bumps” on the road occurred?
An = Can you think of specific examples.
Q How did you encourage them to get back to the task or to go on despite the difficulties?
An = Again, think of specific examples.
Q Do you know Christians that have become discouraged because of persecution for their faith or because of being rejected by others because of their faith?
An = Take notes on those situations others mention and keep them in your prayers. (It would be good to pray at the end of the lesson for those they mention.)
Note: The Apostle Paul is in the same predicament that you have been in. He is trying to deal with people whom he deeply loves, and who have noble and good goals but have met with serious difficulties. The Thessalonian Christians have encountered great difficulties and have found the going very rough.
Q Is the Christian Life difficult? Is following Christ an easy thing to do in America?
An = Be honest here as you think of this question.
Note: The Thessalonians have found themselves facing great persecution and so this second letter is going to try to encourage them to keep going. Let’s watch how Paul begins his task. We can learn some things about how to be encouraged and to encourage others….
III. Greetings and Setting Up A Different Attitude: II Thessalonians 2:1-4
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 2:1-2.
Note: This is one of Paul’s customary greetings. He lets us know who is writing and to whom the letter is addressed.
Q What does Paul wish for them in verse 2?
An = He wishes them well. He wishes them peace and grace from God.
Q Paul says the church is physcially located in Thessalonica but according to the end of verse 1 where is it located spiritually?
An = It is in God who is their Father and in Jesus Christ who is their Lord. This seems like mere religious language but you will soon see that it is not. Paul will show them in this short book that it really matters “what you are in”, or “who you are since God is your Father and Jesus Christ is your Lord”.
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 2:3-4.
Q Does Paul like these people? Is Paul proud of them?
An = Yes he is! Paul is thankful for them in verse 3 and says he speaks proudly about them to the other churches in verse 4. Paul is never afraid to verbalize the positive!! At times it is really needed.
Q When you are discouraged does it help to have significant leaders, parents, authorities think well of you and believe in you? Can you give an example of someone doing that for you?
An = Step one in dealing with the bumps in the road is realizing that we have done some important things right.
Q What is Paul thankful for about the Thessalonians in verse 3?
An = That their faith is growing and their love for others is enlarging. Often times we cannot control success but we can decide to believe and to care about others. That is within our control. We can often not control much of our circumstances but we can control what we choose and we can choose to have faith and to love.
Q Remember I Corinthians 13? What three things abide for ever, even after death?
An = Faith, hope and love. If you do not think they know this passage then let them all turn to I Corinthians 13 and have someone read I Corinthians 13:13.
Paul is saying the key issues, the important, eternal issues are what really matters. Our role as leaders is to help those we love focus on the really important issues of character.
Think of an example of this if you can from an older member of the church so that we can see what really matters.
Note: Notice that the key issue is growth! It does not matter where we start in our Christian walk. It is of great importantance that we are going up, that we are growing. The direction of our progress is more important than where we are on the chart!
RQ Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our pastor was so proud of us and thanking God for us because we grew in faith and love? True leaders are interested in this!!
Q What does Paul boast about the Thessalonians in verse 4?
An = that they have hung in there in the midst of difficulties. Anyone can be courageous when things go well, but it is the special ones who can handle the tough times. Perseverance in the midst of trials is what would make an apostle proud of you. Good leaders are deeply moved when they see those they love handle trials well.
Paul had let them know how he feels about them and now he is going to move on to step two and let them see the bigger picture….
III. Encouragement in the Midst of Persecution: II Thessalonians 2:5-10
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 1:5
Q What is going to be the result of their suffering for being loyal to God?
An = They will be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God! So often we only can see the pain of how others treat us and regard us and Paul is trying to let them see things from the vantage point of God, an eternal perpective. If we can grasp the importance of how God sees things, and that being worthy of entrance into His Kingdom is what really matters then we gain an eternal vantage point. Step two: seeing the eternal perspective, persecution and difficulty makes us worthy of His call. It proves He was right to select us.
It was not only the Thessalonians who suffered but also Paul and the other apostles. True believers will suffer for their faith. If Jesus is our Lord, then we know that He knows what suffering entails. Jesus was crucified, humiliated, betrayed, killed. Our Lord does not stand aloof from the suffering of life. He came to earth and embraced it to the full. Our Lord was a “man of suffering and acquainted with grief”. The prophets were persecuted, Moses was horribly hassled, King David faced many difficulties. True believers on the path to truth will encounter bumps in the road. It is a fact of spiritual life.
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 1:6-9.
Q What will happen to those who afflict true believers?
An = God will afflict them (verse 6) and they will be excluded from the presence of God’s glory (verse 9).
Q According to verse 7 what will God do for those being afflicted?
An = He will give relief to both the Thessalonians and to the apostles. God is our Father and He will bring judgment and He will bring relief. Our hope is in Him and His love of His children. It matters that He is our Father.
Q When will this judgment come about?
An = This is key, it will come about when Jesus comes again! Jesus will come in glory and He will not come alone! He will come with mighty angels of flaming fire (verse 7).
Q According to verse 8 who will receive punishment?
An = Those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel.
Q What will be their penalty according to verse 9?
An = They will face eternal destruction, away from His presence. If you have ever “sensed the absence” of God then you have a little inkling of the horror that awaits them. It is a terrible state. His glory is magnificient, its absence is literally hell.
Note: Step three: Paul says judgment is coming and it pays to believe. Many people like to remain comfortable with their religion and they do not like to talk about heaven and hell, but just because they ignore it does not mean it will go away. Just as there are consequences to actions in this life there are certainly consequences to action in the life to come.
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 2:10.
Q What is Paul adding about Jesus’ coming?
An = He will be glorified in His people and we will have the glory of marveling at Him. His glory will be with and among us.
RQ Does it move us to know that true believers marvel at His Glory. So often we only want our own glory and do not look forward to the opportunity to marvel in His Glory. That is where the true joy is! Once you have sensed His glory with the help of the Holy Spirit then you understand what Paul is speaking of.
Note: Paul compliments them. They need to be told this. They truly believed, they listened to the testimony of Paul about Jesus and Jesus is therefore coming for them to include them in His Glory.
IV. Paul’s Prayer For The Thessalonians: II Thessalonians 1:11-12.
>>>> Have someone read II Thessalonians 1:11-12.
Q What is the goal of Paul’s prayer in verse 11?
An = Three things: 1) That God will count them worthy of their calling. 2) That God will fulfill their good desires and hopes. 3) That the Thessalonians will do their acts of faith with His power.
Paul is a true leader. He wants them worthy, their good desires fulfilled, their acts successful because of their faith. Paul wants their best, their growth. We do not want people to be cattle but to be strong believers themselves if we are true leaders.
Q What is the reason for his prayer according to verse 12?
An = That Jesus’ Name be glorified in them and they in Him. It is intertwining glory! His glory in them and they in His glory. Ultimate fellowship with God in intertwining glory. RQ How is it done? It is done according to our Father’s grace. It is accomplished because Jesus Christ is our Lord. Our future is a bright one when we stand fast in the midst of persecution. If we are in Him. If God is our Father, and Jesus our Lord then glory awaits the other side of persecution and trials.
Homework:
1) Read II Thessalonians 2
2) Why will people be deceived by the “man of Lawlessness”?
3) Why are we to be thankful in verses 13-14?
4) Why does Paul want God to strengthen and comfort the Thessalonians?