To Start
Do you have the special skill of being able to imitate someone else’s voice? Perhaps a famous person or movie star?
Have you ever been told you look like someone else? Who was that?
The Thessalonians are encouraged by Paul because they became imitators of the church in Judea. This was not all good news though.
Read
1 Thessalonians 2:13-16
13 And 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. 14 For 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 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in 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.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What has stuck with you from the passage or the sermon on Sunday?
Discuss
There is a beautiful contrast in this passage between the work of God in the Thessalonians (v.13) and the work of sin in the Gospel opponents (v.16).
What does it look like when the Word of God is at work in someone?
What does it mean that Gospel opponents heap up their sin to the limit?
Sermon Extra
How do you explain to others your understanding of the Bible being God’s Word?
and/or
How do you ensure that God’s Word has every opportunity to be at work in you each day?
and/or
How have you seen God at work in yourself?
Share Life
“We’ve had our brains fried with evangelistic schemes over the years. All that effort we were putting in didn’t seem to go anywhere. You’re just beating your head against a brick wall.” — Christ Church Member
Is the word of God failing? Will he use me?
Go
Get your hands on your copy of the 2020 Go Journal. It is a resource to help you gauge your heart, hopes and fears.
Document your progress as you personally grow in evangelism this year.
To Close
God uses his Word to bring transformation in the lives of his people. Some will oppose this word and the God who spoke it and their destiny is clear - the wrath of God is coming on them.
But for those who accept the Bible as it really is - the Word of God - we ought to expect God to be at work in us, changing us and strengthening us by faith to be the people he wants us to be.
Why not pray to see this work in others, and like Paul, also express thankfulness to God for each other?
Pray
For your own acceptance of God’s Word and authority over you and that he might be at work in you.
For those who reject God giving thanks that his mercy is unceasing and asking God to change their hearts.
For churches undergoing intense persecution even now.