To Start
Share with the group about a significant person who shared the Gospel with you. Who was it? What methods did they use to engage you? What sort of personal morals or godliness did they demonstrate?
How important is it that a person’s character matches the Good News of the Gospel they are sharing?
Read
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica
1 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
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
Look through the passage and identify the various ways Paul defends his preaching amongst the Thessalonians. What of that list strikes you as being of greatest intrigue?
How does Paul make it clear that God is his judge and master?
Sermon Extra
How might we be like children, mothers and fathers who “encourage, comfort and urge” each other to live in a way that is worthy of our faith? (v. 12)
and/or
How can we help our ministry team to exercise authority over us and yet act like loving fathers and mothers? (v. 8, 11)
and/or
What stops you from sharing the Gospel? (v. 2)
Share Life
What would it look like for us to collectively continue this brave and wonderful work of the Apostles?
Go
Pray throughout this week for more courage in evangelism.
You could buy and read “Honest Evangelism” by Rico Tice. It’s an excellent book on this subject.
To Close
Our passage today has contained a defence of Paul’s ministry but also an encouragement to see that Gospel work is God’s work of proclaiming God’s message through God’s approved messengers so people may be called into God’s Kingdom and God’s glory.
Any sense of personal aggrandising or self-promotion is therefore excluded and yet those who are God’s workers must work diligently with compassion to seek transformation in the lives of others through the gospel.
Why not pray that all of us can be involved in this work, as we encourage each other to live lives worthy of God.
Pray
For each other, that you may pursue lives worthy of God.
That you may have courage to encourage, urge and comfort each other.
For our ministry team that they may continue working diligently with compassion during this strange season of ministry.