1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012 Adult Bible Study Guide Jul Aug Sep 2012

2. Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide An Appeal Dear User…. This PowerPoint Show is freely shared to all who may find it beneficial. While intended primarily for personal use, some find it useful for teaching the lesson in church. There are those, however, who add illustrations, change background, adjust font size, etc. While their intention may be good, this is not right. Slide #1 says “designed by claro ruiz vicente.” For honest Christians, it is not necessary for another’s creation to be copyrighted in order to be respected. P LEASE U SE A S I S.

3. Jon Paulien, Principal Contributor

4. 1 and 2 Thessalonians When the Lord Descends From Heaven {5} The Thessalonians faced stresses, strains, struggles, even outright persecution. Life for them, as for all of us, has its hard moments. How easy and understandable it would have been for them to fall into the futility, nihilism, and pessimism.

5. 1 and 2 Thessalonians When the Lord Descends From Heaven {5} Instead, the Thessalonians had a sure hope, a hope based on what Christ had done for them, a hope that pointed to the greatest promise of all—the Second Coming.

6. 1 and 2 Thessalonians When the Lord Descends From Heaven {5} Though Paul had chided the Thessalonians, as they had behavioral, as well as theological issues in the church, it was to them, and to us, that Paul wrote some of the most incredible, uplifting, and hopeful words in all inspiration.

7. 1 The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 2 Preserving Relationships 3 Thessalonica in Paul’s Day 4 Joyous and Thankful (1 Thess 1:1–10) 5 The Apostolic Example (2:1–12) 6 Friends Forever (2:13–3:13) 7 Living Holy Lives (4:1–12) 8 The Dead in Christ (4:13–18) 9 Final Events (5:1–11) 10 Church Life (5:12–28) 11 Promise to the Persecuted (2 Thess 1:1–12) 12 The Antichrist ( 2:1–12) 13 Keeping the Church Faithful (2:13–3:18) 1 and 2 Thessalonians Contents

8. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Our Goal {5} We’ll get a glimpse into the life of an early Christian church and see some of the struggles and challenges that it faced, including the difficulties that arose from the fact that Christ had not yet returned.

9. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 1, July 7 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 1, July 7 The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica

10. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Key Text 1 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

11. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Initial Words {7} A gracious God often provides living tokens to assure believers that they are right with Him. But our confidence in God will be even more solidly grounded when it is based on the clear teaching of His Word.

12. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Quick Look 1. Paul’s Gospel Strategy (Acts 17:1-3) 2. The Gospel in Christ (Isaiah 9:6; 53:5) 3. The Gospel Gives Birth (Acts 17:4, 12)

13. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 1. Paul’s Gospel Strategy Acts 17:1-3 NKJV “Now when they…came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul…went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining…that Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead….”

14. 1.Paul’s Gospel Strategy The Preachers Pay a Price {8} Paul and Silas entered Thessalonica in pain, their bodies bearing the cuts and bruises they had received from their heavy beating and confinement in Philippi. They boldly entered the synagogue at Thessalonica, and spoke again of the Messiah, who had changed their lives and sent them on a mission.

15. 1.Paul’s Gospel Strategy His Steps {9} 1. Attend the synagogue on Sabbath to reach the Jews in large numbers. 2. Preach directly from their common Scriptures. 3. Tell the story of Jesus. How Jesus’ life conformed to the Bible prophecy. Same pattern Jesus used with His disciples after the resurrection.

16. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 2. The Gospel in Christ “For unto us a Child is born…. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. But He was wounded for our transgressions,…bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 9:6; 53:5 NKJV

17. 2. The Gospel in Christ Two Views of the Messiah {10} Most Jews and early Christians identified two major strands in the Messianic prophecies. A conquering king who would bring justice to the people and extend Israel’s rule to the ends of the earth. A Suffering Servant, humiliated and rejected.

18. 2. The Gospel in Christ Two Views of the Messiah {10} The mistake that many made was in not understanding that all these texts were referring to the same person— to different aspects of His work at different times.

19. 2. The Gospel in Christ Suffering Before Glory {11} But “after the suffering of his soul” (v 11, NIV), He would justify many and receive a powerful inheritance (v 12). despised rejected sorrowful The Suffering Servant of Isaiah was despised, rejected, and sorrowful (Isa. 53:2–4). Like a sanctuary lamb, He was slaughtered on account of our sins (vs 5–7), according to the will of the Lord (vs 8–10).

20. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica 3. The Gospel Gives Birth Acts 17:4, 12 NKJV “And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women and men.

21. 3. The Gospel Gives Birth A Church is Born {12} One of these, Aristarchus, was later a coworker with Paul and even, at one point, a fellow prisoner. Another, Jason, was wealthy enough to house the church at his home after they were no longer welcome in the synagogue, and also provided at least a portion of the bond needed to prevent Paul’s arrest.

22. 3. The Gospel Gives Birth A Church is Born {12} The Jewish, and relatively wealthy, character of the original church plant in Thessalonica is emphasized. “Prominent” Greeks also became believers. By the time 1 Thessalonians was written, the church to which Paul was writing was largely made up of Gentiles from the laboring classes.

23. The Gospel Comes to Thessalonica Final Words {12} “What we can see here is the universal character of the gospel— that it is for all people, all classes, all races; rich or poor, Greek or Jew, it doesn’t matter—Christ’s death was for the whole world. That is why our message, as Seventh- day Adventists, is for the whole world—without any exceptions.