Slices
Prepare
Think about the conflict, pressures and suffering that your church leaders face. Remember these as you read today’s passage.
Bible passage
Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica
2 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.
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.
Explore
Paul describes his ministry in Thessalonica, explaining his behaviour in defence of criticism while simultaneously encouraging the Christians. He describes his courage (vs 1,2), his integrity (vs 3–7a) and his tender care (vs 7b–12).
The courage Paul shows in sharing the gospel after persecution and suffering in Philippi is remarkable (v 2). What has given him the motivation for this (v 2)?
Verses 3–7a describe Paul’s integrity demonstrated during his ministry in Thessalonica: a model of how to respond to pressure and conflict in a Christ-like way. Imagine you are facing pressure and conflict because of your faith. How would these verses encourage you?
Paul says that he, Silas and Barnabus were like young children among the Thessalonians (v 7a). Other versions use the word ‘gentle’. The picture of a nursing mother (v 7b) emphasises the loving, tender, caring nature of their ministry. Identify these characteristics of Paul’s ministry to the Thessalonians (verses 7–13). Looking at verses 3–13, what might their ministry have looked like if they had insisted on asserting their authority (v 6)?
In verses 13–16 Paul praises the Thessalonians for their endurance in the face of persecution. Verse 16 is a salutary warning against the persecutors. Persecuting Christians comes with serious health warnings.
Respond
Pray for church leaders to have courage, integrity and tender care in their ministries, especially in times of pressure, conflict and suffering.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Ezekiel 24,25; 1 Peter 3
Pray for Scripture Union
The Revealing Jesus mission framework has four stages: Connect, Explore, Respond and Grow. Our research suggests that around 35% of our Faith Guides are already working with the 95 at the Grow stage. Pray that as more Faith Guides look to start Grow activities children and young people will develop deeper relationships with Jesus.
