Post on 06-Jun-2020
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Letters To The Thessalonians
Adult 2020 First Quarter Bible Study
Dibble Road Church of Christ
www.dibbleroadchurch. themomentoftruth.info
Compiled by Fred Singleton
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OUTLINE:
INTRODUCTION (1:1-4)
1. Salutation (1)
2. Thanksgiving for their faith, hope, and love (2-4)
I. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS (1:5-3:13)
A. REGARDING THEIR CONDITION (1:5-10)
1. Their reception of the gospel (1:5-7)
2. Their reputation in every place (1:8-10)
B. REGARDING HIS CONDUCT (2:1-12)
1. The manner of his preaching (2:1-8)
2. The manner of his life (2:9-12)
C. REGARDING HIS CONCERN (2:13-3:13)
1. For their faithfulness (2:13-3:10)
2. For their continued growth (3:11-13)
II. APOSTOLIC INSTRUCTIONS (4:1-5:28)
A. WALK IN HOLINESS (4:1-8)
1. To please God (4:1-2)
2. To abstain from sexual immorality (4:3-8)
B. WALK IN LOVE (4:9-10)
1. As they are taught by God to love one another (4:9)
2. To increase more and more (4:10)
C. WALK IN DILIGENCE (4:11-12)
1. To work with their hands (4:11)
2. To walk properly toward those who are outside (4:12)
D. WALK IN HOPE (4:13-18)
1. With no sorrow concerning those who have died (4:13-14)
2. For we will be rejoined with them when Christ returns (4:15-18)
E. WALK IN LIGHT (5:1-11)
1. For the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (5:1-4)
2. For we are sons of light and sons of the day (5:5-8)
3. For God has appointed us to salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (5:911)
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F. WALK IN OBEDIENCE (5:12-22)
1. With respect toward those over us (5:12-13)
2. With concern for one another (5:14-15)
3. With joy, prayer and thanksgiving (5:16-18)
4. Don't quench the Spirit or despise prophecies, but don't be gullible either
(5:19-22)
CONCLUDING REMARKS (5:23-28)
1. A prayer for their sanctification and preservation (5:23-24)
2. A request for prayer in his behalf (5:25)
3. A charge to greet one another with a holy kiss, and to read the
epistle to others (5:26-27)
4. A benediction of grace from the Lord Jesus Christ (5:28)
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Introduction
Matthew 24:42-44
42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But
know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief
was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be
broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an
hour you do not expect. English Standard Version THE CITY OF THESSALONICA: It was the capital and largest city of the Roman province of Macedonia. Located on the Egnatian Way, a major road from Rome to the eastern provinces, the city served as center of trade and commerce. Today, it is known as Thessaloniki, or Salonica. THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA: The establishment of the church is recorded in Acts 17:1-9. On his second missionary journey, Paul and his companions (Silas and Timothy) had just left Philippi and passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia to arrive at Thessalonica. As was his custom, Paul immediately located the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews for three Sabbaths concerning Jesus Christ. While some of them were persuaded, including a great number of devout Greeks and leading women, the unbelieving Jews became jealous and created an uproar in the city. Therefore, it became necessary to send Paul and Silas away secretly by night to Berea. Despite such ominous beginnings, a strong church was established in Thessalonica (cf. 1:2-10). Mostly Gentile (cf. 1:9), its members included Jason (Acts17:9), Aristarchus, and Secundus (Acts 20:4). AUTHOR: The apostle Paul, joined in his salutation by Silvanus and Timothy (1:1), and with specific mention of his name again later in the epistle (2:18). Early sources in church history that attribute this letter to Paul include: Clement of Alexandria (200 A.D.), Tertullian (200 A.D.), and Irenaeus (200 A.D.). TIME AND PLACE OF WRITING: First Thessalonians is considered one of Paul's ear-liest epistles, if not the first. From the letter itself (3:1-6), and the record of Paul's travels in Acts (Acts 17:10-18:11), it appears that Paul wrote this letter soon after ar-riving in Corinth on his second journey. This would put it somewhere around 52 A.D.
"HOLINESS IN VIEW OF THE COMING OF CHRIST"
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PURPOSE OF THE EPISTLE: The abrupt departure from Thessalonica so soon after the beginning of the church naturally left Paul anxious about the condition of the brethren. When Timothy joined Paul at Athens (cf. Acts 7:14-16), his concern prompted Paul to send Timothy at once back to Thessalonica to encourage and ground the new disciples in the faith, and to learn how they were enduring persecution (cf. 3:1-5). When Timothy returned to Paul in Corinth (cf. Ac 18:5), the news was mostly encouraging (cf. 3:6-7). Despite persecution they had remained strong (2:13-16), and even proved themselves to be an example to others (1:6-8). Yet, as with any young church, they needed further instruction concerning holy living (cf. 4:1-12). They also needed to be reassured that their loved ones who died in Christ would not miss out on the blessings involving the coming of our Lord (cf. 4:13-18). Therefore we can summarize by saying that Paul's purpose in writing was: • To praise them for their steadfastness under persecution • To instruct them concerning holy living • To correct any misunderstanding, especially about the second coming of Christ THEME OF THE EPISTLE: This book is unique in that every chapter ends with a reference to the second coming of Christ (1:10; 2:19; 3:13; 4:13-18; 5:23). With his emphasis on steadfastness and holy living, an appropriate theme might be:
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016
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Lesson #1 Introduction (Notes)
Matthew 24:42-44:
I. Background
The city
Thessalonica – Today
Thessalonica – Paul’s day
The church
Established 51 AD
The vision
Philippi
Thessalonica – Acts 17:1-10:
Corinth
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II. The letters to Thessalonica
Timothy’s reports to Paul about the young church motivated Paul to write those
letters.
III. Main Outline – I Thessalonians
Prayer – 1:1-10
Defense – 2:1-3:13
Exhortation – 4:1-12
Teaching – 4:13-5:3
Preparation – 5:4-28
IV. Purposes of letter
Express
Defend
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Encouragement
Teaching
Summary
Why study this epistle?
Portrait of
Gain
Lesson #2 Genuine Conversion (Notes)
Intro – Review
Thessalonica
Paul’s Mission – 5/AD
Corinth
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All the names are on equal footing:
• God
• Father
• Lord
• Jesus
• Christ
• Paul
• Workers
• Church
Verse 2
Verse 3-4 Paul mentions 4 things he is thankful for when he remembers them.
Their work of
Their labor of
Their steadiness in
vs. 5a
The Messengers
vs. 5b
The Message
vs. 6
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They became the
vs. 7-10
Summary
Paul is happy and thankful for two main reasons then he thanks of the Thessalonians.
He is sure of their
He rejoices over their
Practical Application
*This opening passage gives us a process for normal individual and congregational
development.
Step #1 – Conversion to
Step #2 – Iimitation to
Step #3 – Example to
We should examine where we’re at personally and congregationally in this process.
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Lesson #3 Credentials For True Ministers (Notes)
Intro – Review previous lesson points:
Paul is writing to
He rejoices in memory of them for two main reasons:
A.
B.
In the next section he will defend his ministry among them.
I. Credentials of True Ministers – 2:1-3:13
True Ministers 2:1-2
Paul’s experiences show that he was a man who trusted God.
True leadership rests not only on speaking ability etc., it depends on
True Ministers are 2:3-12
Paul compares 2 sets of characteristics for judging ministers.
Worldly Characteristics – vs. 3-6
Error
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Impurity
Deceit
Popularity
Flattery
False pretense
Personal glory
Spiritual Characteristics – vs. 7-12
Gentle
Self-sacrificing
Hard-working
Pure
Fervent
Paul reminds them of their experience with himself and his workers.
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True Ministers
2:13-16
We don’t know how big the church in Thessalonica was.
True ministers don’t blame the church.
True Ministers
2:17-3:13
Note Paul’s attitude toward the brethren:
He was
There were his
His emotional life
He prayed
He wanted only
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Summary
Paul defends his ministry among these brethren by describing the characteristics of a
True Minister.
True Ministers
Lesson #4 Credentials For True Churches (Notes)
Intro – Review
I. The True Church Continually Purifies It’s Conduct – 4:1-2
The key word here is
Vs. 1-2
Paul mentions three areas where this young church needed to purify their lives.
Purity – vs. 3-8
Vs. 3 – Sanctification means to set something or someone apart for special use or ser-vice.
Integrity in _____________________________________vs.
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The pagan world of the 1st century was notable for two vices: sexual immorality and
greed.
Vs. 7-8 – Paul explains why they needed to purify themselves in these two areas.
They are
They will be
Purify your
Some sins you can hide
Non-Christians are affected when they see Christians consciously living and pursuing
purified lives.
Vs. 9-10
Vs. 11 – He gives them 3 things essential for a balanced life:
• Lead a __________________________________ life.
• Attend to your
• Work with your
Vs. 12 – Here Paul explains why Christians should do these things:
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Summary
The true church “purifies its life” by:
Maintaining
Being
Establishing
Lesson #5 “Preparing For The End” (Notes)
Intro – Review
Theme of this epistle – The __________________________________ church
Marks of authenticity
Established by
Conduct was
Growing in
True churches grow in the knowledge of God’s purpose and Paul now teaches them regarding God’s purpose for the future time at the end of the world.
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I. The Problem – I Thess. 4:13
They were worried. Why?
Special words
• Uninformed
• Asleep
Three ways non-Christians react to death:
• Ignore it
• Deny it
• Fear it
Paul wanted them informed about death.
II. The Hope – vs. 14
Christians have hope because they have a historical precedent on which to base their
hope.
Acts 2:24
Paul reassures them
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III. The details – 4:15-5:3
Paul gives the details about the “end.”
Now, he doesn’t give details about:
• Resurrection of
___________________________________________________________________________Mt. 25:31-32
• Judgment of
____________________________________________________________________________John 5:28-29
• What happens to
____________________________________________________________________________II Pet. 3:10-12
What__________________________________________________________________is like. II Thes. 1:9
This doesn’t mean that these things are not
Paul gives details taught to him by Christ.
• vs. 15a
• vs. 15b
• vs. 16a
• vs. 16b
• vs. 16c
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In a situation where many things will be happening simultaneously, Paul focuses on
one thing
• vs. 17a
• vs. 17b-18
• ch. 5:1-3
Summary
Paul is adding to their
Paul reassures their
He gives specific details of the end.
Our Hope
It could be in our life-time. If so:
Lesson #6 I Thess. 5:1-28 8 Ways to Prepare (Notes)
Intro – The general theme of this epistle is the
The true church has:
True
True
The true church is:
Growing in
The true church is
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The object of the lesson is how to prepare for a
_______________________________________________________________________event.
Eight ways to be ready – 5:4-22
vs. 4-10
Vs. 6
Vs. 7-8
Vs. 9-10
vs. 11
Two key words that describe our ministry for one another.
We do this for each other.
vs. 12-13a
Paul refers to the work of leaders and the attitude the church should have toward them.
vs. 13b-15
1.
2.
3.
4.
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vs. 16
Not always easy, but possible when considering the of Jesus.
vs. 17-18
Christians aren’t always able to pray but they always have_________________________
to.
Why?
vs. 19-21
vs. 22
Notice that Paul says every form of evil.
II. Why do we need to be ready? Vs. 23-24
III. Why this lesson? Vs. 25-28
Summary
We all need to remember one important thing
When Christians are discouraged they need to realize
Are you ready?
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Lesson #7 II Thess. 1:1-12 (Notes)
Intro-II Thess.
Intro – Review
Thessalonian church established
Paul was
After receiving reports from Timothy, Paul writes two letters.
In the first one he:
Paul says that the true church:
I. OUTLINE
Note that II Thessalonians is neatly divided into three sections.
II. ENCOURAGEMENT – 1:1-12
Salutation – vs. 1-2
Thanksgiving – vs. 3-4
Righteous Judgment – vs. 5-10
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Paul comments on their suffering by telling them that:
They don’t
God not only permits suffering, He also
God will also
Vs. 6
Vs. 7
Vs. 8-9
Vs. 10
Prayer – vs. 11-12
His prayer request is specific in that God complete the work begun in them.
The work will be complete when Jesus returns.
Summary
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Lesson #8 II Thess. 2:1-12 “Events Before the Last Day” (Notes)
Intro – Key ideas so far.
Paul rejoices.
Paul teaches concerning Christ’s return
I. Events Prior to the Second Coming.
The DAY has not come. – 2:1-2
Language / Literary style.
APOCALYPTIC
Apocalyptic style used by New Testament writers.
James – Matthew 24:1-34
Paul – II Thessalonians
John – Revelation
Symbols/Terms
Apostasy – vs. 3
Man of Lawlessness / Son of Destruction – vs. 3.
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Restraining Influence – vs. 6
Mystery of Lawlessness – vs. 7
Breath of His mouth – vs. 8.
Appearance of His coming – vs. 8
Prophesy
We know the events and the sequence but not the time.
Sequence of Events
Two major events before Christ returns.
The Apostasy – vs. 3a.
Acts 20:28-30
II Timothy 4:3-4
The Man of Lawlessness Revealed – vs. 3-7.
What is he like?
Vs. 3
Vs. 4
Vs. 5-7
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What will the man of Lawlessness do? Vs. 9-12
Summary
The day of the Lord has not come.
3 Practical lessons:
Bad teaching
Satan desires
We can be
Lesson #9 II Thess. 2:1-10 “Who Is The Man Of Lawlessness?” (Notes)
Intro
These letters contain two main ideas:
In his second letter Paul reassures them that two things must take place before the return of Christ.
I. Who is the Man of Lawlessness?
II Thessalonians 2:1-10
The
Problems with their theory:
Problems with their theory:
Revelation 20:1-3
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The
Favorite theory of Evangelicals.
The reorganization of the New Testament church into the Roman hierarchical system
produced four major changes:
Separation of Clergy
Special authority
New roles
Changes to the scriptures
Other points that support the Papacy as the Man of Lawlessness
Problems with their theory
Many “Christian” groups have been part of a larger apostasy
A Principle
There has been a principle of evil working in the world since the church was estab-
lished.
Every age produces a different version or face of this principle.
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The Man of Lawlessness when revealed will pose a threat because his revealing will be accompanied by:
Revealed to whom?
What is the “retraining power?”
The “principle of evil” theory works well because:
Summary
We in our day, need to do two things in response to the apostasy, principle of evil, and eventual revealing of the Man of Lawlessness:
Lesson #10 II Thess. 2:11-17 “What is the Deluding Influence?” (Notes)
Intro – Review
I. The will of God – 2:11-12
God’s will is expressed in various ways throughout the Bible.
God’s direct will.
Direct positive will
Direct negative will
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God knows in advance what the result of His will (no matter how it is expressed) will
be.
God “sends” a delusion in the sense that He permits it to happen.
The way of truth – 2:13-17
Paul outlines why the Thessalonians should be thoughtful despite their sufferings.
They have been chosen for salvation – vs. 13
Their salvation is sure – vs. 14
Paul tells them how they are to respond to the attacks of others – vs. 15
Stand firm
Hold to traditions
Paul completes the passage with a blessing – vs. 16-17
III. Will and Salvation
This passage outlines 5 ways that God’s direct positive will operates:
God Vs. 13
God Vs. 13
God Vs. 14
God Vs. 13
God Vs. 14
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In all of these we see God’s direct will operating and in doing so guarantees our salva-tion because:
• God always
• God never
• God continues
• God guarantees
• God has the power to
Man also operates his direct will in the process of salvation:
• Man
• Man vs. 13
• Man stands firm in
God will permit man to refuse salvation and suffer the consequences if man wills this.
Summary/Lessons
God wants to save us but do we always
Don’t_____________________________ be
Comfort comes from________________________________ not
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Lesson #12 II Thess. 3:1-18 “Be Ready” (Notes)
Intro – Review of what Paul has done so far.
Thanks
Defense
Taught
Encouraged
I. Exhortation #1 – Pray – 3:1-5
Paul asks them to pray for him.
Vs. 1
Vs. 2
Vs. 3
You can’t save a person by just praying for him.
Vs. 4-5
II. Stay busy in doing good – vs. 6-15
Paul describes a problem they are having and how to deal with it.
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Paul describes 5 things they should be doing:
Remain
Vs. 6
Follow______________________________________________________________________. Vs. 7-9
Remember__________________________________________________________________. Vs. 10-12
Don’t be____________________________________________________________________. Vs. 13
Discipline___________________________________________________________________. Vs. 14-15
III. Closing Remarks – vs. 16-18
Vs. 16
Vs. 17
Vs. 18
Summary:
This closing section sees Paul accomplishing three things with his reader
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Exhortation:
Three things that we today need to be doing in order to prepare for the second com-
ing of Christ.
Believe____________________________________________.
People perish because
To believe the truth we must:
____________________________________________________________Hebrews 11:6
__________________________________________________John 17:17; Romans 10:17
____________________________________________________________Matthew 7:21
In order to continue believing we must:
_______________________________________________________________I Peter 2:2
______________________________________________________________John 15:6-7
Believing the truth is a lifetime process.
Pray
Why pray?
___________________________________________________________Matthew 26:36
_______________________________________________________________I Peter 5:8
_______________________________________________________I Thessalonians 5:17
_______________________________________________________________James 5:16
Stay____________________________________________________________.
The 3 D’s of Laziness:
D______________________________.
D______________________________.
D______________________________.
You’re ready if:
How about you? Are you ready?