1. Difficult Passages
1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

2. 2 Kings 13:14 (ESV)
14Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father!”

3. Elisha was a man of many miracles

4. Even people of great faith, face life passages of great difficulty.

5. 1 Thessalonians 2:13–16 (ESV)
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

6. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

7. 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind

8. 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

9. Difficult Passages
1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

10. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)
13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

11. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 (ESV)
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

12. Become imitators of believers who have gone before us.

13. 1 Thessalonians 2:14–15 (ESV)
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind

14. Acts 5:41 (ESV)
41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

15. Acts 5:17–18 (ESV)
17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison.

16. Acts 5:28 (ESV)
28 saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”

17. Acts 5:29 (ESV)
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

18. 1 Thessalonians 2:14–16 (ESV)
14For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved.

19. We should EXPECT that we will pass through VERY difficult passages as we live as Christ followers in this world.

20. 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 (ESV)
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.

21. John 12:24 (ESV)
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

22. The Coliseum in Rome

23. The Cross, the message of Christ, conquered Rome.

24. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 (ESV)
16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

25. 1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 (ESV)
17But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20For you are our glory and joy.

26. We imitate those who have gone before us.
We trust his Word
We imitate those who have gone before us.
We understand the limits of Satan’s power.
And we rejoice in those who come to faith as we share and live our faith.