Highlight:  2 Thessalonians 1:5–10 (NLT) ⁵And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. ⁶In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. ⁷And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus.⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. ¹⁰When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 

Explain: 

Paul is talking to the Thessalonians about how they should look at their persecution. Here are some things he tells them:

1. God will use their persecution for two purposes:
   1. To show His justice by paying back those who are persecuting them.
   2. To make them worthy of His kingdom.
2. God will provide rest to those being persecuted. 
3. God will judge the unbelievers.
4. God will receive glory and praise from His people.

Apply:

• Persecution comes from those who reject God and refuse to receive Christ.
• Persecution is used by God to show His justice and develop His people.
• Persecution brings judgment on those who persecute.
• God will bring rest to those who are persecuted.

Respond:

I will seek to remember the purpose of persecution.

Highlight:

1 Thessalonians 5:9 – Do not quench the Spirit

Explain: 

At the end of his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul gives a series of short, imperative commands to those who read his letter. In v 19 he tells them not to quench the Spirit. What does that mean?

John Piper shed some light on this in one of his podcasts: He says that quenching the Spirit can mean at least four things: 

• To despise the supernatural working of the Spirit and treat it with contempt.
• Some in the church at Thessalonica despised prophecy maybe because they saw it misused.
• Paul warns them not to become jaded and put all prophecy in the same category. So quenching in this context means having an attitude of contempt that writes things or people off before testing them as the verse says.

• To neglect the gift we have. 1 Tim 4:4; 2 Tim 1:6. If you have a gift from God, you are quenching the Spirit if you do not fan it into flame.

• To shut down your emotions when emotional expression of praise, etc., are called for. Eph 5:18-21
• To resist the fruit of the Spirit (Eph 4:30)

Apply:

So, for me, quenching the Spirit means:

• Being cynical about things I am uncertain of and unwilling to test them with Scripture.
• Neglecting the Spiritual gift God gave me.
• Being self-conscious about expressing worship.
• Resisting the control of the Spirit that produces His fruit in me.

Respond:

God help me to encourage the work of Your Spirit, not stop it!

H  —  I Thessalonians 4:17 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. E  —  Paul was writing the people of the church in Thessalonica.  He was encouraging them to look forward to what would come in the future.  Those who followed Christ would be reunited with Him, and Paul wanted the people to encourage people with this thought and to share it with others. ; 
A  —  Sometimes I can get so caught up on what is going on in the present.  It is important to be concerned with things going on in my life right now.  God has given us talents and abilities to carry out work right now, but the truth of the matter is that one day He will return, and we will be with Him in paradise.  Maybe some things that I focus on, worry about, and pay too much attention to should not overwhelm my thoughts. Maybe the thoughts of Christ’s return should be at the forefront of how I live my life and what I share with others.  
R  —  Dear Lord please help me to share with others this awesome truth. Help me to point people to you so that they may accept you as their Savior and spend eternity with you.  Lord, we are looking forward to the day when you return and as the song says “even so come, Lord Jesus come….even so come!!”

H: v7 “for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.”

E: Paul was so concerned with the spiritual welfare of the Thessalonians that he sends Timothy to check on and minister to them. When he returns to Paul, he explains that their faith continues very strongly and this encourages Paul greatly.

A: God’s will for each and every one of us is to touch other lives through sharing our faith with those around us. Our desire should be that of Paul’s, that we long to see others come to and grow in their faith of the Lord Jesus Christ.

R: Sometimes I wonder about God’s work here at our church, and what other people are facing. I get so encouraged when I hear reports from our people about the Discipleship that they are doing, or how their D-Groups have broken through so many barriers. It encourages me to be apart of this because God is blessing our obedience.

B Hughes

Highlight: 

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”

Explain: 

Paul has been writing to the church at Thessalonica, and he was talking to them about his commitment to God and to them.  He then tells them that he thanks God because when the Thessalonian church received the word of God, they accepted it as what it is, and not as the words of men.  This was evident to Paul because he could see the work of God present in the believers’ lives.

Apply: 

I think the impact of verse 13 was there because of what Paul was talking about in the previous verses.  He was referring to his faithfulness and testimony that was lived out in their presence, and that is one of the reasons why the Thessalonians received God’s word the way that they did.  My life and testimony can have a huge impact on whether or not someone I share the gospel with responds in belief or doubt.  I know that I do not have the power to save, but I know that I can hinder someone’s belief if I am unfaithful and hypocritical in my lifestyle.

Respond:

Lord, help me to live a consistent life of surrender to You so that my life draws people to You rather than pushes them away from You.

Brad Perry

Highlight: 1 Thessalonians 1:4–7 (ESV) ⁴For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 

Explain: 

Paul, in one of the earliest letters he wrote, encourages the church at Thessalonica to remain strong, even though they are going through persecution. Paul writes to tell these people that they are the elect of God because 

1. The blessing of election – For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you.
2. The evidence of election – because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.The evidence of election:
   1. There is power in the Word.There is conviction in the heart.
3. The instrument of election – You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
4. The results of election – 
   1. Imitation – 
      1. Of the apostles – And you became imitators of us Of the Lord – and of the Lord, Reception – 
      1. Of the word – for you received the word in much affliction, Of the Spirit – with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
   2. Discipleship – so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

Respond

I thank God for choosing me!

Highlight: 

Colossians 4:2–6 (NLT) ²Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. ³Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. ⁴Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. ⁵Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. ⁶Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. 

Explain and apply: Paul discusses two aspects of our lives as devoted followers of Christ. He speaks of:

1. Prayer – v2 – 
   1. Devoted –Continue steadfastly in prayer –  “Continue steadfastly” is literally “Devote yourself to’. The idea is that we are to intentionally, consistently devote ourselves to prayer. Evangelism begins here. Discipling another person is a spiritual battle.
   1. Real –being watchful in it  “Being watchful” is literally “having an alert, focused mind.” I think this means to be intentional AS we pray. What does that involve?
      1. Actually think about what you are praying. It is so easy to heap up words and clichés that are not even conscious thoughts. The idea is this: PAY ATTENTION to your prayers.
      1. Actually believe as you pray. Believe that God is going to answer and that He hears you.
   1. Thankful – with thanksgiving:I think the idea is that, as we pray, we genuinely recognize Who God is and the result is an attitude of thanksgiving
2. Outreach – Requirements for:
   1. Prayer – v3 – At the same time pray also for us– Evangelism and discipleship always require prayer!
   1. Opportunity – v3 – That God may open for us a door for the Word. I see here that the reason for prayer is that GOD has to open the door for the word.
   1. Message – To declare the mystery of Christ – The focus must remain on Christ and His work—in other words, the Gospel.
   1. Sacrifice – on account of which I am in prison. Doing this kind of declaration will require sacrifice of our lives.
   1. Clarity – v4 – that I may make it clear which is how I ought to speak. Making it clear is to make the message understood to the mind, felt in the emotions, and decisive to the will.
   1. Life style – v5 – Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. This verse says a couple of things about lifestyle:
      1. It speaks to the MANNER of our lives – I should live a life that reflects the presence of the Holy Spirit in me producing His fruit. In short, I should act like Jesus.
      1. It speaks to the URGENCY of our lives – If I make the most of my time, I will not waste it. I will live with a sense of urgency. 
      1. It speaks to the STRATEGY of our lives. If I walk in wisdom, I use the most strategic activities which are most likely to bear fruit.
   1. Genuine – v6 – let your speech be gracious– The idea is that I don’t speak deceptively to manipulate, but I speak out of genuine good will for that person. I “play it straight.”
   1. Attractive – v6 – seasoned with salt. Salt was used to preserve and to bring flavor. My speech should be the kind that doesn’t repel unbelievers, but makes them hungry and thirsty to hear more.

Respond:I want to do this with the neighbors I am seeking to share Christ with!

Highlight: Colossians 3:16–17 (NLT) ¹⁶Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. 

Explain: Paul tells the Colossians that the gospel (the message about Christ) should be the thing that “fills their lives.” What does it look like for the gospel to fill your life? It looks like our “map” at Peace Church:

Apply:

• KNOW – Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.We worship together.
• GROW – 
• Teach (Impart knowledge to each other about who Jesus is)
• And counsel(This means to impart practical, focused application of the word to others in order to see life change)
• Each other(This is not just unidirectional, it is engaging and multi-directional. It is life group!)
• With all the wisdom he gives – (Wisdom has to do with insight. We are to do all of this as we are mutually led by the Holy Spirit)
• SERVE –And whatever you do or say
• GO – Do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus (I live on mission, doing everything I do as a representative of Christ)

Respond:I will, at some point, develop a message on this to share our map.

Highlight: And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. ⁷ Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. 

Explain: Paul is describing for the Colossians how they are to live out their calling. He says that through faith (which is the way that they accepted the Lord) they are to continue to follow Christ. Intentionally, they are to allow their roots to grow down into Him (the similar passage in Eph 3 speaks of being rooted in Christ’s love). They are to also build their lives around Jesus (another way of saying to become mature like chapter one talked about). As they see their walk coming to more and more resemble Jesus, they will grow strong in their faith and the net result will be Thanksgiving!

Apply: Real Thanksgiving flows from a heart that is thankful. This happens when you begin to look in the mirror of life and see that you are coming to resemble Jesus, not because of your own will power, but because you have dedicated yourself to pursuing a relationship with Christ and see that you now have new desires that drive you to live a changed life. The net result of this kind of life is a confident and thankful heart.

Respond:I will remember today that thankfulness flows from seeing Christ in my life because He has inspired my heart.

H  Colossians 1:24-25
E   Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in fullness.  
A   Paul was writing to the church, and in these thoughts he was sharing that he had suffered in what he was doing, and in what God had called him to do  He mentioned to the church that he was a servant, and he was to present the word in its fullness.  He went through many trials and tribulations as he traveled and listened to where God would lead him next, but he never got weary.  He knew what his calling was, and he went after it!!
R  Lord, please help me to listen to what you are calling me to do.  Please help me to continue moving forward even when things aren’t easy. Please forgive me for giving up at times when times got hard.  Give me the strength and the courage to live out what you have called me to do.