2. Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Thessalonians
During 2nd Mission
Paul’s 2nd Epistle to the Thessalonians

3. What were the Thessalonians like?
Epistle to the Thessalonians
Thessalonica
Corinth
Acts 17 - he had been persecuted - He had stayed in the house of Jason and when the Jews heard he was there they had assaulted the home where he was staying - and kicked Paul out of town.
What were the Thessalonians like?

4. How did the letters get back and forth?
Timothy
How did the letters get back and forth? - BDictionary - p743 - top of 2nd column.... Timothy was the letter carrier. click for messenger picture.
When Paul left - Timothy & Silas had stayed behind in Thessalonica and Timothy was now the messenger who delivered these letters back and forth to the people for Paul.
Bible Dictionary p743

5. When’s it happening?
In the short time between the 2 letters - the Church members had suffered from some persecution & in 1 Thess 5:1 Paul had referred to the “Day of the Lord” coming as a “Thief in the Night”
The church members got a little confused about just WHEN the 2nd Coming was going to occur and some thought it was going to happen right away -
In their over-excitement they got a little mis-directed about how they should behave in relation to the 2nd Coming - So Paul sends this 2nd letter to them to help correct any misunderstandings.

6. That ye be not soon shaken...or troubled
2 Thess 2:2
That ye be not soon shaken...or troubled
What does it mean to be “shaken”?

7. To be “shaken” flustered rattled t upset shook up
“I say to all and especially the youth of the Church that if you haven’t already, you will one day find yourself called upon to defend your faith or perhaps even endure some personal abuse simply because you are a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (“The Cost—and Blessings—of Discipleship,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 6).

8. That ye be not soon shaken...or troubled
Paul wished that through better understanding the 2nd Coming - the saints may not be “shaken” or “troubled”
That is also good advice for us. There are many “Doomsday” worriers today. And by our better understanding about the 2nd Coming - we can be prepared for OUR day.
So we are gonna play a little game as we discuss some things today about the 2nd coming.
Divide the class into teams - 3 tables with 2 teams per table.
I have some questions as well as a chair balancing game
As a team - you will draw a question out of the bag and then quiz the other team at our table. Once they answer it they may add one more chair to their balancing act
Repeat with alternate teams quizzing each other and adding a chair to their balancing act to see who can be less shaken or troubled.
Let’s see if we as a class we can keep ourselves from being “SHAKEN”
Leave enough time to wrap up
2 Thess 2:2
That ye be not soon shaken...or troubled

9. How to defend your beliefs…
1 Thessalonians 1:3-5

10. How to defend your beliefs…
Faith
Charity
Patience

11. Patience is not Passive!
“Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can—working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!” (“Continue in Patience,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, 57).

12. Don’t be Shaken!

13. How to defend your beliefs…
With Faith
Charity &

14. Paul’s Great Adventure 3rd Mission
Next:
Paul’s Great Adventure
3rd Mission
Acts 19-20