2 Thessalonians 1
Ice Breakers
When you think of “The End of the World,” what comes to mind? How does it make you feel?
What have your conversations / interactions with “end times” stuff looked like in the church? (Any crazy stories?)
Does that stuff leave you feeling more assured in Jesus, full in spirit, and eager to do good and love well? Why or why not?
Have you ever had someone meet you in a heavy season and surprise you with just the right words (encouragement, comfort, feeling “seen", etc.)?
What did they say?
Why was it so meaningful?
Food for Thought
What do you know about this letter (who wrote it, when, why, to who)? Feel free to reference:
Bible Project video above!
Read Acts 17 for some background.
Use commentary / study bible intros.
Knowing that the Thessalonians had been suffering for their faith (and some of them succumbing to false teaching!), how would Paul’s first words (3-5)to them here have sounded?
What can we learn from Paul about our own first words to one another - especially when we’re going through hard times?
What are you like when a target’s on your back, pressure is high, or things aren’t going right? Are there certain things in particular that can set you off or take you out of the game?
Can you imagine growing in faith (confidence in Christ) and love (affection felt and shown towards others) in those situations, relationships, or seasons?
What do you think the Thessalonians needed in order to do that? What do you need in order for that to happen?
How do you think Paul’s next section - talking about Jesus’ future revelation - would’ve been heard by the Thessalonians?
Do you have a hard time with any of Jesus’ future arrival and judgment?
Hearing how Paul talks about it, though, how is it part of Jesus’ good news for his people?
Are there ways you can let Jesus’ future arrival minister to you today - not to take you out of the present, but to keep you in it even more?
What do you think of the boldness of Paul’s prayer - to ask God to fulfill their every desire? Why is that risk? But to what kinds of desires and opportunities is he asking God to fulfill?
Have you ever stopped to wonder what kind of prayers do we know God wants to answer? What kind are those?
This begs the question: what kind of desires do we have? What do our prayers sound like on good days and bad ones? Do we have the same goal?
How can what Jesus has already done and promised he will do give us every confidence to him do more work in us and through us?