"Houses of Hope" Week 4: Is Following Jesus Worth It?

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1 Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:13

Welcome, we’re delighted you’ve chosen to dig more deeply into the Scriptures and consider what God has for you through this sermon.

These sermon practices are ideally intended to be discussed with others, so find a friend, family member, or roommate to join you. If you haven’t yet joined a life group yet, check out our groups page or stop at the Welcome Center for more info.

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1 Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:13 [NIV]

¹³And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. ¹⁴For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews ¹⁵who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone ¹⁶in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

¹⁷But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. ¹⁸For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. ¹⁹For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? ²⁰Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

[CHAPTER 3]

So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. ²We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. ⁴In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. ⁵For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

⁶But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. ⁷Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. ⁸For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. ⁹How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹²May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³May 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.

Getting Started

Before you start today’s study, be sure you take a moment to sit quietly before the Lord, then have one person pray, asking the Holy Spirit to give you all deep insight into the Scriptures and the ability to receive his teaching and direction in your time together.

Exploring Scripture: Thessalonica’s Example

Read aloud Thessalonians 2:13 - 3:13

Today’s scripture reading is longer than usual, so get comfortable. Share the reading between a few in your group and read out loud starting at first Thessalonians 2:13 and continue all the way through chapter 3.

Pause after each paragraph and summarize that section in your own words
The believers in Thessalonica suffered significantly for following Jesus. As best you can tell, why do you think some people are so threatened by Jesus and his followers?

Reflection: The Weight of Following

Have you ever experienced tension, rejection, or persecution for being a Christ Follower?
Do you hide your faith from those who don’t trust Jesus? (No shame intended; remember, there are no perfect people allowed at our church!) If so, what experiences are you trying to avoid?

Exploring Scripture: Paul’s Prayers of Blessing

You may recall that Paul and his companions had been chased out of Thessalonica, and wanted desperately to return to visit them to see if their faith had stayed strong through all the persecution. After Timothy‘s solo visit, Paul was ecstatic to hear they had remained strong in the lord. In response, Paul prayed three specific prayers found in the last three verses of chapter 3.

Rewrite those prayers three on your own and then share your paraphrase with each other.
Which one feels the most meaningful and/or encouraging to you?

Reflection: Loving Like the Thessalonians

Paul commended these young believers for imitating Christ so well. They loved people so well, even though they were persecuted for modeling such love. In this passage, we learn the principle that loving, like Jesus, is worth the suffering.

Who is more of a challenge for you to love well: church people or churchless people?
What stood out to you in the sermon on this passage?

Wrapping Up

Choose one person you are going to love better this week and ask God to pour His love deep into your heart and help you to love like Him. Before you each pray aloud, pray in silence and ask the Lord to bring to mind how he wants you to interact with the challenging person you have chosen to love better. After these moments of silence, pray aloud for yourself and the others in your discussion.

“Houses of Hope” Week 4: Is Following Jesus Worth It?