Bible Study Summary - Sunday's Upcoming Scriptures

This Sunday’s Sermon – “Every Time I Think of You: Your Work of Faith”

The Apostle Paul begins several of his letters expressing words of affirmation of how that church is either being faithful in living out their faith or has been blessed by God in a particular way.  This is a four Sunday sermon series which will focus on four of Paul’s letters.

I Thessalonians 1:1-10

-          Probably earliest of the NT books written – early 50’s, just 20 years after the death & resurrection of Jesus.

-          Thessalonica was and is a thriving seaport city in northern Greece, 200 miles north of Athens. 

-          Paul came to Thessalonica after preaching in Philippi where he had been imprisoned.

-          This church was mostly non-Jewish.  They readily embraced the message of the gospel.

-          When Paul wrote this letter, he was probably in Corinth.  Paul is reflecting on his time with them. 

-          v. 4 – God had called this church for a special purpose in their particular location.

-          v. 2 – Paul tells them that he prays for them.  He thanks God for their particular faith – a faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

-          Paul’s opening thanksgiving continues on through half of the letter (chapter 3!)  Since this church is only a few months old and they  have faced persecution, Paul wants them to know that he is praying for them and thanking God for them. 

-          Paul affirms this church for 3 things that are evident of their new life in Christ: 1) Faith 2) Love 3) Hope – Reminds us of the end of I Corinthians 13 and “faith, hope, and love.”  Paul wrote that too!

-          Faith – Paul says this is something we have to work at which is the focus of my sermon – “Your Work of Faith.” 

-          What does it mean to work at your faith?  Should faith come naturally?  In what ways do you work at your faith?

-          John Wesley knew of the importance of having the early Methodists work at their faith.  He formed them into societies and classes which meet on a regular basis to help people grow in their faith.  We need to have “little churches” within the big church!

-          This “Every Time I Think of You” sermon series is about encouragement.  Paul was good at encouraging the churches.  In the French language, the word, “encourage” means to “put the heart in.”  To discourage means to “tear the heart out.”  How can we follow Paul’s example and put the heart in people?

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