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 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

5. 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.

6. 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 6, August 11 1 and 2 Thessalonians Lesson 6, August 11 Friends Forever

7. Key Text 1 Thessalonians 3:13 NIV “May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

8. Friends Forever Initial Words {67} The friendship Paul has with them is deeper than earthly friendships. Paul is looking forward to spending eternity with the Thessalonian believers. This desire, in part, is what drives his intense concern throughout the letter about their beliefs and behavior.

9. Friends Forever Quick Look 1. Paul’s Desire to Visit (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20) 2. Timothy’s Substitute Visit (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5) 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

10. Friends Forever 1. Paul’s Desire to Visit For what is our...crown of rejoicing? Is it not you in the presence of our Lord Jesus…at His coming?” 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 NKJV “But we…having been taken away from you…in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you…time and again….

11. 1.Paul’s Desire to Visit His Concern {68} The persecution in Thessalonica echoed the earlier persecution of Christians in Judea. Here Paul shows that the persecution of Christians is tied to a larger pattern. Those who follow Christ are going to face opposition, even persecution.

12. 1.Paul’s Desire to Visit His Hope and Joy {69} The main verb of verse 17 is rooted in the concept of being orphaned. When Paul is forced to leave Thessalonica suddenly, he feels the loss of relationship as deeply as if his parents had just died. He wants very much to visit them because he misses them dearly. They are absent in person but not in heart.

13. 1.Paul’s Desire to Visit His Hope and Joy {69} Paul’s longing has an end-time focus. Paul looks forward to “showing them off” to Jesus after the Second Coming. They are the validation of his ministry for Christ, his eschatological joy and boast! Paul wants them to be evidence at the end that his life has made a difference in the lives of others.

14. Friends Forever 2. Timothy’s Substitute Visit 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 NKJV “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we…sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer…to encourage you…. I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

15. 2. Timothy’s Substitute Visit Forgoes Companionship in Athens {70} Paul does his best to boost Timothy’s authority with the church. Timothy is Paul’s “brother,” a “minister of God,” and a “coworker in the gospel.” This would be extremely high praise. Paul knows that the mission will be a difficult one, and he does his best to open the way so that Timothy will be received as if Paul himself had come.

16. 2. Timothy’s Substitute Visit Forgoes Companionship in Athens {70} In verse 5, Paul reveals that he has an additional motive for sending Timothy. He is worried that the difficult things the Thessalonians have experienced might have resulted in their loss of faith. He is worried that his mission to Thessalonica might somehow have been in vain or empty of results.

17. Friends Forever 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 NKJV “But now that Timothy has…brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us…we were comforted…. Praying exceedingly that we might see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith.”

18. 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit Joy and Encouragement to Paul {71} The “but now” of verse 6 is very emphatic. Paul did not waste any time before sitting down to write to the Thessalonians. The instant he got the news from Timothy, he immediately wrote 1 Thessalonians.

19. 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit Joy and Encouragement to Paul {71} There was something new in Paul’s joy and thanksgiving here beyond the constant joy and thanksgiving that he always felt when he prayed for the Thessalonians. The joy and thanksgiving in 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 10 is in immediate reaction to Timothy’s news.

20. 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit Joy and Encouragement to Paul {71} What was lacking in their faith (1 Thess. 3:10)? The immediate text doesn’t say. Chapters 4 and 5 indicate that they needed to bring their practice in line with their belief. Though they had love and faith and were “standing firm in the Lord,” they still had some important growth that needed to be done.

21. 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit Paul’s Renewed Prayer {72} 1. The second coming of Jesus is a powerful incentive for spiritual growth. Every act in this life has meaning in the ultimate scheme of things. 2. The Second Coming will be a glorious reunion of family and friends, whose relationships will last forever.

22. 3. The Result of Timothy’s Visit Paul’s Renewed Prayer {72} 3. Thessalonians grow into an abundance of love, an important component of their characters when Jesus returns. 4. Paul reverts to the OT definition of the word saints as angelic beings who stand in the presence of God. As such, they will accompany Jesus when He returns to earth.

23. Final Words Christ’s Object Lessons 102 {73} “True…love is not selfish and changeable. It is not dependent on human praise. … Overflows with love for God and for those for whom Christ died. Self is not struggling for recognition. … If his motives, words, or actions are misunderstood or misrepresented, he takes no offense, but pursues the even tenor of his way.”