This Week
GATHERING TOGETHER
Welcome one another, catch up with one another and share personal stories to encourage, strengthen, and support at a time of isolation and discouragement.
PRAYING TOGETHER
Share your needs, and pray for one another.
IN THE WORD TOGETHER
Learning the way of apprenticeship together.
SERVING TOGETHER
Identify a service project to participate in together.
Starter Question
In what ways does the church in America, when it is truly exemplifying Jesus, stand in stark contrast to secular culture?
IN THE BOOK
Below there are three different types of questions, so we encourage you to seek a balance if possible. In addition, there is a Leader Study Notes section for further study!
The Understanding questions are designed to refresh your group's memory about the text. These can be answered fairly briefly without a need for a longer discussion. (What does it mean?)
Application questions are structured to draw out the ways the text, as preached, calls us to live. You should make a strong effort in your group to point people to Scripture as they’re discussing these. (How should I live?)
We’ve built out Personal Sharing questions that connect with the sermon but make a more conscious effort to allow the members of your group to know each other better. These help to build a sense of trust by giving people a chance to share their lived experiences. (What is my experience?)
We pray that as you consider which of these questions work best for your group that God blesses your time together so that the Word of Christ “dwells in you more richly” and you become “knit together in love” as a community.
Faith & Example
READ: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
UNDERSTANDING:
v. 1 - What are some things about the early church we learn from the opening lines of this letter?
Read Acts 17:1-11. How did Paul and his missionary company “turn the world upside down”?
v. 3 - Share the three traits of the Thessalonica church Paul is expressing gratitude for.
v. 5 - How has God proven himself in the lives of these believers?
APPLICATION:
What does it look like to truly live the Christian life in community as Paul exemplifies?
Why do you think the Bible makes such a strong connection between the virtues of faith, love, and hope and action (or work) in our lives? (See Notes)
In what ways does the Holy Spirit transform lives as evidence of God’s power in the lives of Christians?
PERSONAL SHARING:
Think about the gratitude letter Heath encouraged us all to write. What about this call challenges and excites you?
What keeps us from expressing (not just noticing) the work of God in other’s lives?
Summary
1 & 2 Letters to the Thessalonians are written to a down-to-earth church. They help us to see that the church is a people in which heaven comes to earth. In these letters, Paul:
encourages the young church to stand firm under persecution,
instructs them how to lead a godly life, and
clears up some confusion about the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
LEADER NOTES
Quotable Quote
“The Church is the Spirit-filled family of God who shows heaven has come down to earth. We are to be a glimpse of the glorious future here in the groaning and messy present.”
Some Marks of Jesus’ Down-to-Earth Church:
Life together as brothers and sisters
A heart at peace because of union with Jesus
Thankfulness in unceasing prayer
Faithful Witness through
A faith that works (by obeying God’s word)
A love that labors (for the good of others)
A hope in Christ’s return that produces endurance
The Connection Between Virtues & Works
Paul was constantly bearing in mind, or remembering, in thankful prayer these foundational spiritual qualities, the first of which was the Thessalonians’ work of faith. A true saving belief in Jesus Christ will always result in the mighty work of God that produces change in one’s nature or disposition. A work of faith is action representative of the transforming power of regeneration (2 Cor. 5:17). Simply stated, the elect engage in holy, righteous deeds to the honor of God. Work is the Greek word ergon, which refers to the deed, achievement, or function itself. Paul was confident of the Thessalonians’ election because their faith—the authentic saving and sanctifying gift from God—was producing righteous deeds in their lives.
Paul’s words here, however, do not in any way contradict his clear teaching elsewhere that salvation is by faith alone, apart from any human works. For example, in Romans 3:20–21 he declares, “By the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested.” Paul goes on to assert that sinners are “justified as a gift by His [God’s] grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith” (vv. 24–25; cf. 4:4; 5:1; Eph. 2:8–9).
However, the New Testament also stresses the active side of faith—salvation will necessarily produce holy conduct. Such teaching is not opposed to justification by faith alone through grace alone and, when properly understood, actually complements that doctrine. Paul is unequivocal early in the book of Romans that works flow from saving faith: “[God] will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life” (2:6–7). This does not mean people can earn salvation because of their good works, but rather that those works verify the reality of their faith.
John F. MacArthur Jr., 1 & 2 Thessalonians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 2002), 15–16.
ONE ANOTHERING:
Whether you are meeting together or not, check in with one another to make sure that everyone is cared for and has what they need. Does someone in your group need help with grocery shopping, childcare, or caring for themselves? Keep a list of the ways you can provide care as a comGroup.
Remember that the Benevolence Ministry is a resource for our comGroups.
How can we love or serve one another this week?