I Thessalonians Lesson 1 (Text: Chapter 1:1-10)

Introduction to I Thessalonians

It is important to study God’s Word, the Bible. It is important to memorize verses and to think upon His Word. The Word of God never changes, even though we live in a world of constant change. Our friends and families change. Circumstances change. Our thoughts and attitudes change. And all around us we experience change every day. But the Word of God remains the same, and is sure and steadfast. We can always depend upon His Word.  Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Psalm 119:89 says, “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven,” and in I Peter 1:23, we read that the Word of God lives and abides forever. In uncertain and changing times, we can always depend upon His Holy Word to give us comfort, strength, grace and power for each moment of our lives, regardless of our situations or our circumstances. The Word of God also helps newborn babies in Christ to grow spiritually. In I Peter 2:2 we read, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” We, as believers in Christ, are commanded in God’s Word to grow spiritually. II Peter 3:18 says, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Word of God has always existed and will always exist. In John 1:1-2 we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” Read the following verses from the Bible: Psalm 119: 2, 9, 11, 28, 50, 67, 71, 74, 92, 114, 130, 147, 148, 162 and 165. As you begin these study courses of God’s Word, please begin them with this thought and prayer found in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”  And in Psalm 119:105 we read: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This tells us how to stand with God and how to go with God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  II Timothy 3:16-17

I Thessalonians Key Verse: I Thessalonians, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”

Key Words: Coming – found 4 times; Comfort – found 6 times.

Theme: Christ’s Return: “The Believer’s Hope.”

Date: 53 A.D. (Paul was approximately 46 years old. He had been saved for 16 years.)

Writer: The Apostle Paul

Written to: Saints at Thessalonica (mostly gentiles). From: Corinth (on second missionary journey – Acts 17:1-10).

The Book: Number in Bible – 52nd Book in the Bible; Number of Chapters – 5; Number of verses – 89; Number in order of writing – 13th in the New Testament.

Purpose: 1) Strengthen and confirm new Christians 2) Answer false accusation about Paul 3) Explain that the Christian dead would participate in the rapture 4) Warn Christians about pagan immorality 5) Remind Christian members to honor and follow Scriptural leaders 6) Warn members not to give up jobs and wait

Divisions: 1) Recognition of how they were saved, dealt with and cared for (Ch. 1-3) 2) Reminder of how to live to please God (Ch. 4-5)

Outline:

  1. People in the church (Ch. 1)

1) Elect (v. 4) 2) Example (v. 7) 3) Enthusiastic (v. 8) 4) Expectant (v. 10)

  1. Preacher in the church (Ch. 2)

1) Faithful steward (v. 4) 2) Gentle mother (v. 7) 3) Concerned father (v. 11) 4) Loving brother (v. 14) III. Program in the church (Ch. 3) 1) Involved a man sent from God (v. 2) 2) Involved a letter written by Paul (v. 2) 3) Involved prayer by Paul (v. 10) 4) Involved reminder of the second coming (v. 13)

  1. Plan for the church (Ch. 4)

1) Walk in holiness (v. 7) 2) Walk in love (v. 9) 3) Walk in honesty (v. 12) 4) Walk in hope (v. 13)

  1. Prospect for the church (Ch. 5)

1) Walk in light (v. 1-11) 2) Walk in gratitude (v. 12,13) 3) Walk in obedience (v. 14-28)

  1. Conclusions – each chapter refers to the Second Coming

1) His coming and salvation (1:13) 2) His coming and service (2:19,20) 3) His coming and stability (3:13) 4) His coming and sorrow (4:18) 5) His coming and sanctification (5:23)

Miscellaneous: In I Thessalonians we see: 1) The model church (Ch. 1) 2) The model servant (Ch. 2) 3) The model brother (Ch. 3) 4) The model walk (Ch. 4)

Chronological Order of Paul’s Books: 1) Prophetic – (I and II Thessalonians) 2) Platform (doctrinal) – Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians 3) Prison epistles – Colossians, Ephesians, Philippines, Philemon 4) Pastoral epistles – I and II Timothy, Titus

The purpose of a church, as seen in I Thessalonians: 1) A center for getting out the Gospel (1:8) 2) A nursery for new babes (2:7, 8) 3) A target for the devil (2:14, 15; 3:5) 4) A family circle (abounding in love) (3:12) 5) A workshop of divine discipline (4:1, 3, 7) 6) A school for character development (4:9-13) 7) A hospital for the spiritually weak (5:14)

Note: Jesus is referred to as “Lord” 25 times in Thessalonians

Simply click the “Take the Quiz” Button to the right. Have your KJV Bible with you, and look up the answers to the questions on the quiz. You can then answer the questions from the Bible, (Open Book Test).

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