Theme: Living with integrity
Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18
Objectives:
Know: Paul encouraged the Thessalonians believers to be active and industrious, never getting tired of doing good.
Think: Maintain the mindset of a productive contributor.
Do: Do what is good and right at every opportunity.
Notes and questions:
B1 Outline
C1 Concerning prayer 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
C2 Concerning work 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
C3 Concerning blessing 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18
B2 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
C1 What 2 things does Paul prayer for?
D1 Success for the Gospel
D2 Delivered from enemies of the Gospel
C2 Since there are people, institutions, governments, etc. that want to stop the Gospel from being preached, what should we do?
C3 How does the Lord show His faithfulness?
C4 Whom do we rely on?
C5 Who does the we in 2 Thessalonians 3:4 refer to? Why does this we have authority? (Paul is an apostle. There are no apostles today).
C6 The word direct in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 refers to moving something down the path the shortest, most direct, possible way.
D1 What is Paul praying for God to do for them?
D2 How do you explain the love of God?
C7 The word steadfast is also translated patience. The word refers to endurance under trial. Most will endure if all is well and easy, but God’s grace is needed to endure when times are difficult. How does God help us? Can you think of an example in your life?
B2 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15,
C1 The words keep away means avoid.
D1 Whom are we to avoid?
D2 Why?
C2 Aren't we to love, not judge, instead of avoiding?
C3 We are to avoid
D1 Those with doctrinal errors. These would be major doctrines as the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Second Coming, Salvation, and Scripture.
D2 Believers who will not repent: "And if your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have won your brother. But if he does not hear, take along with you one or two more, so that 'BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY WORD MAY BE ESTABLISHED.' But if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the assembly. But if he refuses even to hear the assembly, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:15-17 [EMTV]
D3 False teachers: Now I urge you, brothers, to look out for those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. (Romans 16:17 [EMTV])
D4 Those who sin willfully: I wrote to you in my epistle not to associate with fornicators. Yet I certainly did not mean with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to leave this world! But now I have written to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous person, or an idolater, or abusive person, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God will judge. Therefore "PUT AWAY THE EVIL PERSON FROM YOURSELVES." (I Corinthians 5:9-13 [EMTV]
D5 Those who are willfully disobedient: But we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother living in idleness, and not according to the tradition which they received from us. (II Thessalonians 3:6 [EMTV]
D6 Those who are divisive: But avoid foolish disputes and genealogies, and strifes and legal fights; for they are unprofitable and futile. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person has been perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:9-11 [EMTV])
C4 Why would some not be willing to work? What are these people doing?
C5 What is the command of God for those unwilling to work?
D1 The idea of quietness is that they stop being nosy.
D2 They are to eat their own food, not the food of others
C6 How do we apply this today?
C7 If we are not to associate with a Christian who is disobedient, what is to be our attitude and motivation? (And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count [him] as an enemy, but admonish [him] as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)
C8 What are some principles of compassion and generosity?
D1 But do not forget the doing of good and generosity, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrews 13:16 [EMTV])
D2 Widows, widowers, orphans
E1 Honor widows who are really widows. (I Timothy 5:3 [EMTV])
E2 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27 [EMTV]
D3 What is the attitude in being generous?
D4 Ray Steadman has this comment: Send out your bread on the face of the waters, for you shall find it in many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1 [LITV] Think about the implications of that verse. Ray Steadman once said, “The idea expressed here is one of openhanded generosity. Give freely, wisely, and generously to the needs of those about. This phrase, ‘Cast your bread upon the waters,’ was a proverb in Israel for what looked like wasteful expenditure. No one would take good bread and throw it in the river. But here we are enjoined to do that very thing. This is not encouraging us to be spendthrifts, to thoughtlessly and carelessly give away our money, spending it like a drunken sailor. What is meant is, be willing to take a chance where a real need is evident.”
D5 “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”— John Bunyan
D6 Is generosity just money and other material things?
D7“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
— John Wesley, Letters of John Wesley
B3 2 Thessalonians 3:16-18,
C1 What is the significance of the phrase Lord of Peace?
D1 Some things about God and peace.
E1 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. (Romans 16:20 [EMTV])
E2 Finally brothers, farewell. Restore yourselves, comfort yourselves, be in agreement, be at peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. (II Corinthians 13:11 [EMTV]
E3 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9 [EMTV])
E4 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians 5:23 [EMTV]
E5 Now may the God of peace, who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the everlasting covenant, (Hebrews 13:20 [EMTV]
E6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be on His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 [MKJV]
E7 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, of those preaching the gospel of good things!" (Romans 10:15 [EMTV])
E8 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. (I Corinthians 14:33 [EMTV]
E9 If He is the God of Peace, what should we be doing?
D2 How far can we be at peace?
E1 If possible, as much as depends on you, keeping peace with all men. (Romans 12:18 [EMTV]
E2 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to slander no one, to be peaceable, gentle, demonstrating all meekness to all men. (Titus 3:1-2 [EMTV])
C2 Why don’t we see peace in the world?
B4 Next week:
C1 Objects of Worship
C2 Theme: The Problem of Idolatry
C3 Scriptures:
D1 Deuteronomy 5:7-9
D2 1 John 5:19-21
D3 1 Corinthians 10:14
D4 Colossians 3:1-5
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