1. DEEPER LIFE DECEMBER RETREAT
BIBLE STUDY 1
LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY DURING PERSECUTION

2. LIVING RIGHTEOUSLY DURING PERSECUTION
TEXT: 2 Thessalonians 1:4-6

3. SUMMARY
Our study presents us with the example of the church of the Thessalonians:
Their example was such that Paul spoke of this in other churches and was always thankful to God on their behalf.
They remained steadfast in their faith, love and hope though they were tempted and tried severely.
Despite growing persecution and affliction, their Christian virtues grew and increased.
The study of today touches on three points:
Patience and Faith’s Reassurance during Persecution.
Punishment and Frightening Recompense for Persecutors.
Promises and Future Rewards for the Persecuted.

4. Patience and Faith’s Reassurance during Persecution:
2 Thessalonians 1:3,4
The church was commended for their perseverance and steadfast faith in the Lord.
They had remained steadfast and full of faith despite the persecutions they were enduring.
They lived and walked by faith, stood steadfast in the faith, endured all things by faith and remained faithfully obedient to the word of God.
These believers kept on trusting God and living for His glory despite all kinds of persecution, trial, affliction or deprivation.

5. Punishment and Frightening Recompense for Persecutors:
2 Thessalonians 1:5a,6
God cannot and will not treat the righteous and the wicked the same way.
A righteous God cannot leave the wicked and the enemies of righteousness unpunished.
There will be a future, inescapable judgment for all persecutors of the righteous.
Promises and Future Rewards for the Persecuted:
2 Thessalonians 1:5b
God has power to make us meet and keep us worthy of His eternal Kingdom.
Repentance from all sins is necessary to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.

6. DISCUSSION

7. QUESTION 1
What made the Thessalonian church an example to other churches?
1 Thessalonians 1:3,7
1 Thessalonians 1:8,9
1 Thessalonians 2:13,14
2 Thessalonians 1:4

8. QUESTION 2 What should be our attitude during persecution?
Romans 5:3-5
Romans 12:12,14,17,21
1 Thessalonians 3:3
Hebrews 10:35-38
1 Peter 4:14

9. QUESTION 3 Why is faith and perseverance important during persecution?
1 Thessalonians 3:3,7
Hebrews 10:38,39
James 5:8
1 Peter 1:5-7

10. QUESTION 4
What is the ‘righteous judgement of God’, according to 2 Thessalonians 1:5a?
Romans 1:18
Romans 2:6-11
1 Peter 4:17,18

11. QUESTION 5 What fate awaits unrepentant persecutors? Acts 17:30,31
Psalm 94:20-23
2 Thessalonians 1:6

12. QUESTION 6
What are the promises and future rewards for the persecuted?
2 Thessalonians 1:5b,11
1 Corinthians 6:9a
2 Timothy 2:11,12

13. QUESTION 7
What should we do to be partakers of the promises and future rewards?
Mark 9:47
Luke 9:62
Luke 21:34-36
Revelation 3:4

14. CONCLUSION
The Thessalonian church was commended for their perseverance and steadfast faith in the Lord – they had remained steadfast and full of faith despite the persecutions they were enduring.
In all kinds of persecution, trial, affliction or deprivation, we should continue trusting God and living for His glory.
Our faith and perseverance are indispensable in times of trials or persecution.
There is punishment of persecutors in this world and in eternity; it is proof of God’s displeasure against those who persecute the righteous.
He who is a child of God and a partaker of the divine nature is made worthy of the eternal kingdom of God.