To Start
Share about a time you were separated from people you love.
What was the most difficult part about it and (if it happened) what was the reunion like?
The yearning Paul has to be with the Thessalonians is palpable. He clearly has a longing to be with them again for his benefit and theirs.
Read
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13
Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians
17 But, 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. 18. For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19. For 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? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
3:1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2. We 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, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4. In 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. 5. For 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
6 But 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. 7. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May 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.
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
In the midst of his intense longing to see the Thessalonians he describes them the benefit of hearing from them in intriguing ways - see 2:19, 3:8-9.
How do you make sense of this when in other places we see Jesus as our hope, joy and the one who gives life (John 10:10).
In what way do you feel this when you spend time with fellow believers?
Sermon Extra
What can you do to increase the amount of encouraging Christian conversation with others?
What are the things that block you from having conversation that builds others up as whole-hearted disciples?
Share Life
“For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he returns? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy.” — 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
How does the return of the Lord energise your evangelism?
Go
Use the Go Journal to reflect this week on your motivation and personal attitude towards evangelism.
Are you willing to grow this year?
To Close
Paul’s desire to see the Thessalonians was not so they could shoot the breeze about the weather; rather, it was his heart’s urgent desire to build them up and see them keep maturing in Christ.
He longed to hear that they had not turned from “the Way” and that they were clinging to Christ as Paul and his companions were despite persecution and distress.
His thankfulness for God’s work in them relieved and encouraged his heart, enabling him to rejoice more and more in the work of God through the gospel.
Why not pray Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians for each other?
Pray
Together for each other 2 Thessalonians 3:12-13.