Paul’s Thessalonian Fan Club: Where Faith Grows Faster Than a Chia Pet.
Section 1. Welcome and Announcements
Hey everybody! So glad you could join us today. It’s always a blessing to gather together, lift each other up, and learn more about God’s amazing love for us. Before we dive in, let’s take a look at a few important things happening in our church community.
- Thanksgiving Food Drive: We’re collecting non-perishable food items to help local families in need this Thanksgiving. Please bring your donations to the collection bins in the lobby by November 20th.
- Children’s Christmas Play Auditions: If your child is interested in being part of our annual Christmas play, auditions will be held next Saturday at 10 am in the fellowship hall.
- Men’s Breakfast: Calling all men! Join us for a time of fellowship, good food, and encouragement next Saturday at 8 am. Our guest speaker will be sharing on “Living a Life of Purpose.”
- Women’s Bible Study: Our women’s Bible study group is starting a new series on the book of Ruth. They meet every Tuesday evening at 7 pm in Room 205. All women are welcome!
Section 2. Call to Worship
Let’s quiet our hearts and minds as we turn our attention to God. We’ll be focusing on 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12. As we read, let’s consider the faithfulness of God and the hope we have in Him.
Section 3. Opening Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for the gift of this day, for the opportunity to gather together, and for your unwavering love that surrounds us. Open our hearts to receive your word, guide our thoughts with your wisdom, and fill us with your peace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Section 4. Praise and Worship
Let’s lift our voices together in praise! Our worship team has prepared a beautiful selection of songs to help us connect with God and celebrate His presence in our lives. Let’s focus on His goodness and express our love for Him through music.
Section 5. Scripture Reading
Today, we’ll be looking at the opening verses of Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. Paul wrote this letter to encourage the believers in Thessalonica, who were facing persecution and hardship. He commends them for their faith, love, and perseverance, and he reminds them of the hope they have in Jesus Christ.
In this passage, Paul expresses his thankfulness for the Thessalonians’ growing faith and love, even amidst persecution. He emphasizes God’s just judgment and the ultimate rest and glory that believers will receive with Christ’s return. This message offers comfort and encouragement to those enduring trials and affirms the importance of living a life worthy of God’s calling.
Here’s 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12:
1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. 5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of his kingdom, for which you are suffering.
6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Section 6. Pastoral Prayer or Intercessory Prayer
Let’s bow our heads and lift our voices in prayer, reflecting on the encouraging words we’ve just read from 2 Thessalonians.
Lord, we thank you for the example of the Thessalonian believers, who persevered in their faith and love even in the midst of persecution. We pray for those who are facing trials and hardships today. Give them strength, courage, and hope. Remind them of your unwavering love and your promise to be with them always. Help us to support and encourage one another, just as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians. May we always be a light in the darkness, pointing others to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Congregational Prayer Response: Lord, make us worthy of your calling and bring to fruition every desire for goodness and every deed prompted by faith.
Section 7. Offering
As we prepare to give our tithes and offerings, let’s remember that this is an act of worship, a way for us to express our gratitude to God for His blessings. It’s also an opportunity to support the work of His church and to reach out to those in need.
Father, we thank you for your abundant blessings. We offer these gifts as a symbol of our love and devotion. Use them to further your kingdom, to support your church, and to reach out to those who are hurting. May our giving be a reflection of our gratitude and a testament to your faithfulness. Amen.
Section 8. Special Music
Now, we have a special treat for you. Our choir has prepared a beautiful piece of music to uplift our spirits and draw us closer to God. Let’s give them our full attention as they share their gifts with us.
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Section 9. Complimentary Bible Study!
Headline: Suffering? Discover Hope & Strength Through 2 Thessalonians!
Hey friends! Ever feel like you’re facing challenges that just seem overwhelming? Like you’re struggling to hold on to your faith in the midst of difficult circumstances? You’re not alone.
I remember a time when our church was going through a particularly tough season. We were facing financial difficulties, leadership changes, and a lot of internal conflict. It felt like everything was falling apart.
I was exhausted and discouraged. I started to question whether I was even cut out for ministry. That’s when I turned to the book of 2 Thessalonians.
Paul’s words of encouragement and hope were like a lifeline. He reminded me that even in the midst of suffering, God is faithful. He reminded me that our struggles are not in vain, and that one day, we will be rewarded for our perseverance.
I want to help you find that same hope and strength in the midst of your own challenges. That’s why I’m giving away a Free Bible Study based on 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.
In this study, we’ll explore:
- How to find strength in the midst of suffering.
- The importance of perseverance in our faith.
- The hope we have in Jesus Christ.
- How to live a life worthy of God’s calling.
Download your free Bible Study today and discover the hope and strength that God has for you!
Section 10. Bible Study and Sermon Outline
Sermon Title: “Standing Strong: Hope and Encouragement in the Face of Trials”
Here’s a powerful Bible Study Sermon Outline based on 2 Thessalonians! I’m happy to share this to help you study and teach the scriptures!
- I. Greeting and Thanksgiving (2 Thessalonians 1:1-3)
- Verses 1-3: Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians…
- Explanation: Paul begins by extending grace and peace to the Thessalonian church, expressing his constant thankfulness for their growing faith and love.
- II. Commendation and Perseverance (2 Thessalonians 1:4-5)
- Verses 4-5: Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance…
- Explanation: Paul commends the Thessalonians for their steadfast faith and perseverance in the face of persecutions and trials. He emphasizes that their suffering is evidence of God’s righteous judgment.
- III. God’s Justice and Future Relief (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10)
- Verses 6-10: God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you…
- Explanation: Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God is just and will ultimately bring relief to those who are troubled, while punishing those who do not know God or obey the gospel. He describes the glorious return of Jesus.
- IV. Prayer for Worthiness and Glorification (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
- Verses 11-12: With this in mind, we constantly pray for you…
- Explanation: Paul concludes by sharing his continual prayer for the Thessalonians: that God may make them worthy of His calling and bring to fruition every desire for goodness, so that Jesus may be glorified in them.
May Jesus pour his Grace Upon you and your family during this special time in our lives.
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Section 14. Benediction
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Corinthians 13:14)
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