1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Paul’s Side Hustle: Thessalonian Toga Parties!

Welcome:

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

I am truly blessed to welcome you all today as we gather in the house of the Lord to grow together in our faith journey. It is a joy to have each and every one of you here, seeking to deepen your understanding of Christian discipleship and spiritual growth. Let us open our hearts to God’s presence as we dive into His Word and seek His guidance in our lives.

Opening Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
We come before you with hearts full of gratitude for this time of fellowship and learning.
We thank you for bringing us together as a community of believers, eager to grow in our faith.
As we open your Word today, we ask for your Holy Spirit to guide us,
enlighten our minds, and transform our hearts.
May this time be a testament to your grace and a step forward in our journey of discipleship.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Introduction to Scripture:

Today, we turn to the inspired words of the Apostle Paul in the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verses 1-8. In these verses, we find Paul sharing his experiences and insights on what it means to be a faithful disciple of Christ and how to nurture spiritual growth amidst challenges.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 (NIV)

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 gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children.
8 So we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

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