Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
V.3 We remember …
your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love and
your endurance inspired by hope ..
Faith produced work.
Love prompted labor.
Hope inspired endurance.
I think it is important that we get this in the right order. First we have faith, love and hope then we work, labor and endure.
V.3 We remember …
your work produced by faith,
your labor prompted by love and
your endurance inspired by hope ..
Faith produced work.
Love prompted labor.
Hope inspired endurance.
I think it is important that we get this in the right order. First we have faith, love and hope then we work, labor and endure.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction
The gospel delivered with words and power. This is how Paul knows God has chosen the Thessalonians.
Not a lot of real power showing up in North America these days
Hmmm
Many are called but few are chosen …
Gonna go do a study on God’s power … we sure need it in these parts.
Hmmmm
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction
The gospel delivered with words and power. This is how Paul knows God has chosen the Thessalonians.
Not a lot of real power showing up in North America these days
Hmmm
Many are called but few are chosen …
Gonna go do a study on God’s power … we sure need it in these parts.
Hmmmm
I just sent my comment 16 hours into the future.
lol
I just sent my comment 16 hours into the future.
lol
… sending comments into a future time … reminds of that movie, The Lake House. Did you see it, Wendy?
Getting back to v.4-5, it is like when Peter went to Cornelius house and the Holy Spirit came on all who heard Peter’s message. The Jewish believers realized that “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life,” because they saw and heard what the Holy Spirit did. (Acts 10:44-46 & 11:15-18)
… sending comments into a future time … reminds of that movie, The Lake House. Did you see it, Wendy?
Getting back to v.4-5, it is like when Peter went to Cornelius house and the Holy Spirit came on all who heard Peter’s message. The Jewish believers realized that “God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life,” because they saw and heard what the Holy Spirit did. (Acts 10:44-46 & 11:15-18)
What a HUG to receive a letter as such………..
V.2-3.
Enjoying your study!
What a HUG to receive a letter as such………..
V.2-3.
Enjoying your study!
“…not in word only, but also in power…”
i must confess that i have been meditating on this verse for almost 5 years now. grappling with it and trying to understand if it holds any meaning for us today.
in our modern times we seem to do words very well. but power? what do you think he even means by power? and why are we lacking it so much now?
“…not in word only, but also in power…”
i must confess that i have been meditating on this verse for almost 5 years now. grappling with it and trying to understand if it holds any meaning for us today.
in our modern times we seem to do words very well. but power? what do you think he even means by power? and why are we lacking it so much now?
I think by power Paul is talking about the way people’s lives change when they become a Christian. Many of those that became Christians were Greeks with little knowledge of God’s ways before becoming Christians.
People’s general lack of ability to keep new year’s resolutions shows how unable we are to change ourselves. So if a person’s life changes after becoming a Christian we realize it is God’s power that has changed them. I think we see this a whole lot more when non-churched people become Christians. Not that churched people don’t need to change but the changes are usually less noticeable as God works on underlying areas like their motives.
I think we don’t see a lot of power or changed lives these days because we are too comfortable. We don’t like God messing with our comfortable Christian lives so we keep Him at a distance (vast generalization, I know).
Good to hear from you again Alison.
Another thought I had about being chosen v.4 I don’t think we should assume the opposite i.e. if there are not dramatic conversions then God has not chosen those people. I think the point about God have chosen the Thessalonians is that it is always God who initiates a relationship with people.
I think by power Paul is talking about the way people’s lives change when they become a Christian. Many of those that became Christians were Greeks with little knowledge of God’s ways before becoming Christians.
People’s general lack of ability to keep new year’s resolutions shows how unable we are to change ourselves. So if a person’s life changes after becoming a Christian we realize it is God’s power that has changed them. I think we see this a whole lot more when non-churched people become Christians. Not that churched people don’t need to change but the changes are usually less noticeable as God works on underlying areas like their motives.
I think we don’t see a lot of power or changed lives these days because we are too comfortable. We don’t like God messing with our comfortable Christian lives so we keep Him at a distance (vast generalization, I know).
Good to hear from you again Alison.
Another thought I had about being chosen v.4 I don’t think we should assume the opposite i.e. if there are not dramatic conversions then God has not chosen those people. I think the point about God have chosen the Thessalonians is that it is always God who initiates a relationship with people.
I agree Susan, …… always God who initates a relationship with people!…….
Our part is to….stand in the gap and pray for folk.
Please join in prayer with me for a long-time friend who at this time does not have …..a relationship with our loving Lord.
We are all saddened that her 48yr old daughter has become paralized from the waist down!
Our dear son was in this same condition 26yrs ago……and I KNOW that it was Jesus who carried me [ and the family] in His loving arms.
May she answer God’s call on her life!
Thanks x x x
I agree Susan, …… always God who initates a relationship with people!…….
Our part is to….stand in the gap and pray for folk.
Please join in prayer with me for a long-time friend who at this time does not have …..a relationship with our loving Lord.
We are all saddened that her 48yr old daughter has become paralized from the waist down!
Our dear son was in this same condition 26yrs ago……and I KNOW that it was Jesus who carried me [ and the family] in His loving arms.
May she answer God’s call on her life!
Thanks x x x
I’ve not seen that movie Susan … I’ll look for it … how old is it?
Power … there has to be more to this than just words and conversions. I “hear” (have no way to confirm) … that in the third world countries where idol worship is prominent that there are miraculous healings and showing of God’s power.
When Moses had to contend with the magicians of Egypt who were essentially able to perform the same tricks as Moses did with his staff, hmmmm
But the Lord was victorious … always able to do more and be more powerful showing the upper hand at all times.
That was then … I’ve been thinking that the power of God was shown through love in NT days.????
I have no silver and gold but what I have I will give to you… Rise up and walk.
The woman with the blood disorder of many years:
Jesus said, “Who touched me … virtue has gone out of me” … may be translated ‘who needs me’?
Jesus looked on the people and lamented with love and compassion for them saying that the fields were ripe for harvesting and there were not enough workers to bring them in. His love and compassion were always evident … I say love first because we can have all the compassion we want … but without love that compassion is useless.
There has to be more to the power that was shown to the Thessalonians.
Pentecost had tangible power shown there.
Just throwing some thoughts out off the top of my head …
I’ve not seen that movie Susan … I’ll look for it … how old is it?
Power … there has to be more to this than just words and conversions. I “hear” (have no way to confirm) … that in the third world countries where idol worship is prominent that there are miraculous healings and showing of God’s power.
When Moses had to contend with the magicians of Egypt who were essentially able to perform the same tricks as Moses did with his staff, hmmmm
But the Lord was victorious … always able to do more and be more powerful showing the upper hand at all times.
That was then … I’ve been thinking that the power of God was shown through love in NT days.????
I have no silver and gold but what I have I will give to you… Rise up and walk.
The woman with the blood disorder of many years:
Jesus said, “Who touched me … virtue has gone out of me” … may be translated ‘who needs me’?
Jesus looked on the people and lamented with love and compassion for them saying that the fields were ripe for harvesting and there were not enough workers to bring them in. His love and compassion were always evident … I say love first because we can have all the compassion we want … but without love that compassion is useless.
There has to be more to the power that was shown to the Thessalonians.
Pentecost had tangible power shown there.
Just throwing some thoughts out off the top of my head …
The Lake House, Wendy was produced in 2006. The ‘time’ thing was bizarre but very clever.
Prayers for your friend, Alison.
v.8 …your faith in God has become known everywhere … What a great witness.
The Lake House, Wendy was produced in 2006. The ‘time’ thing was bizarre but very clever.
Prayers for your friend, Alison.
v.8 …your faith in God has become known everywhere … What a great witness.
Yes Alison prayers your way for your friend … and prayers for healing for the daughter of your friend.
Yes Alison prayers your way for your friend … and prayers for healing for the daughter of your friend.
v.10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Jesus rescues us! Doesn't say how he will rescue us, whether by snatching us away to heaven or protecting us in the midst of the tribulation. Doesn't matter. We can rest in the knowledge that he will rescue us.
v.10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Jesus rescues us! Doesn't say how he will rescue us, whether by snatching us away to heaven or protecting us in the midst of the tribulation. Doesn't matter. We can rest in the knowledge that he will rescue us.
v.8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
The Thessalonians were good missionaries. They spread the message 'everywhere'. It seems this was a natural outcome of their newfound faith.
v.8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
The Thessalonians were good missionaries. They spread the message 'everywhere'. It seems this was a natural outcome of their newfound faith.