Labour of Love I
Do you remember what it was like to be new in a school, on the first day, totally out of your comfort zone and with no friends? Did you spend much of the day longing for your parents to come get you? We’re starting a new series on 1 & 2 Thessalonians that focuses on the return of Jesus Christ and how we should be living to be ready for Him. The Church at Thessalonica were like bewildered, lonely, school children desperate to go home rather than embracing and making the most of their mission. The current Church is a lot like this too, and we are in great need of learning the same lessons taught in these two letters.
Scripture
1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 ESV Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bible Study Questions
Acts 17 records how the Gospel was preached to the people of Thessalonica. Paul recalls the disappointments and frustrations involved. What were those challenges? (1 Thessalonians 2:17-18) Can you see how we and all the Church have been blessed as a result of Paul having to write these letters because of those challenges?
What is the primary theme of 1 & 2 Thessalonians? ( 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)
As we look forward to the return of Jesus we need to know how to be ready. Paul encourages and gives thanks for the grace of God being evident in the believers of the Church of Thessalonica. How is God’s grace evident in them? (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
How is the commendation concerning, work, labour and steadfastness in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 similar to Jesus Words to the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:2-3?
In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 the Church is commended for their “work of faith”. How is faith show to be genuine by work? (James 2:17-18)
How do you think the people of the Church of Thessalonica laboured in love? (John 14:15)
Being steadfast in hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3) is commendable. Hope makes it possible for us to persevere faithfully, but what should our hope be rooted in, and how should this keep us steadfast? (Matthew 24:42, 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Prayer
Dear Father God in Heaven, Thank You for the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You that He will return to take us so that where He is, we may be also. Thank You that You have given us Your blessed Holy Spirit to guard and equip us so that we will be ready for His return. Please help us to stay focused on being ready for Him. Keep us working out our faith, empower us to labour in obedient love, and comfort and strengthen us in the hope of His return. Please move us to share the Gospel and to encourage those we love so that they will also be ready for Him. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Worship
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the name! I’m fixed upon it
Name of Thy redeeming love
Hitherto Thy love has blessed me
Thou hast brought me to this place
And I know Thy hand will bring me
Safely home by Thy good grace
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Oh that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Full arrayed in blood-washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Bring Thy promises to pass
For I know Thy pow’r will keep me
Till I’m home with Thee at last
Serving
The great focus of the letters to the Thessalonians was that Jesus is coming, and He could come any time, perhaps even today. Because of this we should realise an urgency to live according to His will and to obediently minister the Gospel to those we know and love. Studies have show that 70 of Church growth comes from people witnessing to their close friends and family. How can we help our close friends and family be ready for Jesus return? Pray for the Lord Jesus to give us the desire, the words and the opportunities to tell others about His amazing love.