Search The Scriptures —Study 5 — 1 Thessalonians 5

Study 5 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 5

1.   Verses 1-11. How will the ‘day of the Lord’ break upon the world, and what will it mean (a) for men in general, and (b) for Christians? Cf. Mt. 24:32-44; Lk. 21:25-28.

2.   What practical effect should the prospect of the Lord’s return have on our attitude and behaviour? Make your own list of the injunctions of this chapter and examine your own life in the light of them.

Notes

1.     Verse 2. ‘The day of the Lord’: an Old Testament phrase, signifying God’s future intervention in history in salvation and judgement. (Is. 2:12; 13:6; Zp. 1:14; 3:11, 16), and applied in the New Testament to the second coming of Christ. (Lk. 17:24; 1 Cor. 1:8, etc).

2.     Verses 6, 7, 10. The word ‘sleep’ is used in this passage in three meanings; in verse 6 in the sense of spiritual insensibility, in verse 7 in the meaning of natural sleep, and in verse 10 in the sense of physical death, as in 4:14, 15 (cf. 4:16 ‘the dead in Christ’)

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED 

Search The Scriptures —Study 4 — 1 Thessalonians 4

Study 4 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 4

1.   Verses 1-12. What aims and aspects of Christian living are emphasized in these verses? Why should we so live? And what

2.   makes such a standard of living possible for us?

3.   Verses 13-18. In what ways do these words on the Lord’s return bring comfort? State in your won words what Paul says will happen.  On what grounds can we be sure of your share in such a wonderful hope?

Notes

1. Verse 8. “Who gives his Holy Spirit to you”: the indwelling Holy Spirit is the seal of God’s ownership, the evidence that we are His.  Cf. Eph. 1:13; Rom. 8:9b. It is by the power of the Spirit that we overcome the flesh Cf. Gal. 5:16.
2. Verses 11, 12.  Cf. 2 Thes. 3:10-12; Eph. 4:28.
3. Verses 1-12. Notice the repeated emphasis in the verses, not only on upright behaviour, but on the need to advance and progress in the thing of God.

 LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 3 — 1 Thessalonians 3

Study 3 From The Books of Thessalonians I & II  Is: 1 Thessalonians 3

1. In what ways did Paul show his love and concern for the Thessalonian Christians? When, like Paul, we pray for our fellow-Christians, what does his example suggest that we ought to pray for them?
2. What is there taught concerning suffering for Christ? Cf. Jn. 16:33; 2 Tim. 3:12. To what dangers does such an experience expose us (cf. 1 Pet. 5:8, 9) and how are they to be successfully faced?
3. Verses 11-13.  How are love and sanctification linked in these verses? Does this teach us anything important about what is involved in becoming holy?

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 2 — 1 Thessalonians 2

Study 2  From The Books of Thessalonians I & II  Is: 1 Thessalonians 2

1. Verses 1-12, 17-20. List all the characteristics of a faithful Christian worker which these verse mention.  Which do I particularly need to covet?
2. Verses 13-16.  Consider the place of the Word of God in the work of the Gospel. What differing responses does it evoke from those who hear it? Is this still true today?

Note.  Verses 14-16, 18. He who seeks either to receive or to spread the gospel will meet the opposition of Satan and his agents. Cf. Mk. 4:15; 1 Thes. 3:5

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 1 — 1 Thessalonians 1

Study 1  From The Books of Thessalonians I & II Is: 1 Thessalonians 1

1. What explanation does this chapter give of the way in which these Thessalonians became Christians? Am I talking a similar share in the reception and spread of the gospel of Christ?
2. Pick out the outstanding features of the Christian life and character of these converts. Making every allowance for the difference in circumstances, is our Christian life of this kind?
3. What marks of a work of the Holy Spirit are mentioned here? Can we share in a similar experience?

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study - Introduction On the Books of Thessalonians

Study 0  From The Books of Thessalonians  Is: The introduction

Almost certainly these two letters were the first books of the New Testament to be written. They were written in Corinth during Paul’s second missionary journey, and not long after the church at Thessalonica had been founded, about 50 AD (Acts 17:1-10). In them we get an insight into the life of a local Christian church within about twenty years of the death and resurrection of our Lord. The first letter was written on Timothy’s return from a visit to Thessalonica, and the second a few months later.  They are among the most personal of the apostle’s letter in the New Testament, and present a vivid picture both of himself and of his readers, while revealing also the marvellous results of his missionary work in a great heathen city, the capital of Macedonia.

The apostle was greatly encouraged by the report, which Timothy brought, of the church’s steadfastness under persecution and of its continued progress.  But there were some matters that gave him concern, in particular the wrong were some matters that gave him concern, in particular the wrong views that were held about the  second coming of Christ. This is then the chief theme of the two letters.  It is shown to be a comfort in bereavement, a motive for endurance, an inspiration to hope, a safeguard in temptation, a help to purity, a challenge to watchfulness, a ground of rejoicing, and a separating and sanctifying power. The apostle’s great aim is summed up in 1 Thes. 3:13.

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 21 — Psalm 28 and 29

Study 21  From The Book of Psalms  Is: Psalm 28 and 29

***Tomorrow we will dive into the book of Thessalonians***

1.      In Ps. 28 David’s prayer is answered. What difference does this make to him?  Are you always as thankful about God’s answers to your prayers?

2.      Ps. 29 is the description of a thunderstorm viewed as a manifestation of God’s glory. What spiritual lessons does it teach regarding God, and regarding our duties and privileges as His people?

Note. 29:3. ‘The voice of the Lord’: i.e., thunder and so throughout the psalm. Cf. Ps. 18:13

 LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 20 — Psalm 27

Study 20  From The Book of Psalms  Is: Psalm 27

1.      What does verses 1-6 reveal of David’s attitude in life and of his chief desire?  Upon what is this attitude and desire based? What equivalent desire should we have today? Cf. 1. Pet. 2:4, 5; 1 Cor. 6:19-20.

2.      In verses 7-14 what are David’s seven petitions? How does he address God, and how does he encourage himself to continue in prayer?

LINKTO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 19 — Psalm 26

Study 19  From The Books of Psalms  Is: Psalm 26

1. Describe in your own words the main trend of David’s life as he describes it here.  Can you make similar claim for yourself?
2. In verse 12, David seems to be assured that God will answer his prayer. On what has it been based that he can have this assurance? Cf. Ps. 66:18; Jas. 4:3.

Note.  Verse 12. ‘Level ground’: i.e., a place of safety and ease, where he can fulfill the promises of verses 6, 7

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED

Search The Scriptures —Study 18 — Psalm 25

Study 18  From The Book of Psalms  Is: Psalm 25

1. What are the main petitions made here by the psalmist? What light do these petitions throw upon his circumstances and spiritual experience? How far can you make these petitions your own?
2. In verses 6-15 what is said about God and what He does for those who fear Him? How far is this true in your own experience? What does this psalm teach about how you can experience more of the friendship, guidance and deliverance of the Lord?

LINK TO THE VERSES LISTED