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Resounding Faith | Sacrificial Love

October 13, 2024
1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13

¹⁷But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰For you are our glory and joy.

3 ¹Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ²and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

⁶But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹²and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

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Purpose

To discover and experience Jesus Christ in our midst

To cultivate mutually encouraging relationships

To participate in God’s mission to the world 

Opening Prayer

Almighty and merciful God, of your bountiful goodness keep us from everything that may hurt us, that we may be ready in body and soul with free hearts to accomplish whatever you want us to do; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Responsive Prayer — Psalm 89 and 115

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;

With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

That you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory,

Because of your love and faithfulness.

Summary and Connection

In this passage, Paul expresses his deep love and affection for the Thessalonian believers, likening their separation to that of orphaned children. Despite Satan’s hindrances, Paul’s longing to see them face-to-face is palpable. Unable to visit personally, he sends Timothy as his messenger to find out how the Thessalonian believers are doing, and to strengthen and encourage their faith amidst trials. Paul’s joy at Timothy’s positive report is evident, as is his continued prayer for the opportunity to revisit them. The apostle’s pastoral heart shines through as he prays fervently for the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth — particularly their growth in love — and for their hearts to be strengthened in holiness, especially as they look forward to Jesus’ return. We are in a sermon series called Resounding Faith, and in this study we’ll be looking at how Paul models genuine Christian love to brothers and sisters in Christ, particularly in the context of encouraging faith in the midst of affliction.

Discussion Questions

1. Looking at the Bible

Observation: Read the passage privately. What does the text say? What is the theme of this passage? Do you notice any keywords?

• On the basis of chapter 2, verses 17-20, how would you describe Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonian Christians?
• The New Testament has much to teach us about how a Christian is to view and deal with suffering. What insights does Paul offer in chapter 3, verses 1-5 that help us as we think about affliction in our lives?
• What is the “good news” that Paul celebrates in chapter 3, verse 6? How is this different from Paul’s normal mention of “good news”? At the same time, who is the hero of this good news (3:8-9)?

2. Looking at Jesus

At Central we believe that all of Scripture points to Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the theological center of the Bible. Every passage not only points to Jesus, but the grand narrative of the Bible also finds its fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus.

• What aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry seems to be Paul’s primary focus in this passage? (See 2:19 and 3:13.) How much does this aspect occupy your own thinking and application?

3. Looking at Our Hearts

• Paul’s loving, sacrificial posture toward the Thessalonian Christians demonstrates that, of all his potential concerns for them, his biggest by far was that they would stand firm in their faith in Jesus no matter what trials and temptations came their way. How would such a concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ manifest itself in our hearts and lives? 

4. Looking at Our World

• Paul prays in chapter 3, verse 12 that the Lord would make the love of the Thessalonians grow “for one another and for all.” How does our practice of love for one another in the church impact our love for our unbelieving friends, family, and work colleagues? 

Sending

• View Study Guide Notes

  Question 1: In 2:17, “torn away” literally means being made an orphan. Paul compares his being taken from the Thessalonians to a child being taken from his parents. The emotive language he uses in this passage is all the more remarkable since he was only in Thessalonica for a few weeks, or months at most, before being driven from the city by his opponents.

  John Stott states, “Paul’s double reference to joy (2:19-20) perhaps refers to the present, while the double reference to glory certainly refers to the future when Christ comes again. We must not interpret Paul’s glory in the Thessalonians in a way which conflicts with his affirmations that he will glory only in Christ and his cross. For the Thessalonians are trophies of Christ crucified. What Paul seems to mean is that his joy in this world and his glory in the next are tied up with the Thessalonians, whom Christ through the apostle’s ministry has so obviously transformed.”

  The fact that when Paul was with the Thessalonians he “kept telling [them] beforehand that we were to suffer affliction” (3:4) suggests that the theme of perseverance in the face of suffering was a significantly bigger focus in the early Church than it is in the Church today. It might be worthwhile to discuss why the group thinks this is the case, and how we might benefit from thinking about this topic more. 

  Regarding 3:6 and “good news,” this is the only place in all of Paul’s writings where this is used in any other sense than “preach the good news/gospel.” That Paul uses it just this once for other good news is an indication of the joy that the news brought him; however, it is still God who is the reason behind the good news, as demonstrated by the fact that the thanksgiving in verse 9 goes not to the Thessalonians but to God!

  (If you have seekers/unbelievers in your group, this could be a good spot at which to invite someone in the group to explain what Paul usually means by “good news/gospel.”)

  Question 2: On the theme of Jesus’ “Coming” — Paul mentions Jesus’ return not just at the end of chapter 2 and chapter 3, but at the end of every chapter in this letter (as well as in other places)! The Greek word “parousia” (which Paul uses at the end of chapters 2, 3, 4, and 5) doesn’t just refer to a “second coming” but also refers to the climax of the ages. The same word was used for a royal visit to a city where the guest of honor would be lavished with great honors and gifts. The first coming of Jesus wasn’t like that at all; it was a life of humiliation and suffering, culminating in his death on the cross in payment for our sins. However, the event that makes sense of Jesus’ first coming is the Parousia. We usually refer to this as the second coming, but it will be a coming utterly different to his first coming. Jesus will then be revealed to all humanity as the King and Lord who brings salvation to his people and judgment to his enemies, when “every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:11), and when Jesus will honor his faithful followers. So for Paul, the Parousia is not just the end point of history. For Paul it is the climax of the ages. It is the event that ultimately confirms God’s radical love for us, that puts into context our present suffering, and that serves as the great motivator for us to keep pressing on.

  Question 3: This application question challenges us to think through what our strongest longing for our Christian friends might be. For example, which text from a friend would concern us more: 1) “I just broke up with my boyfriend/girlfriend of two years and feel devastated,” or 2) “It’s been a year since I moved here and I haven’t found a church to attend.” The most agonizing emotional dilemma for Paul was whether the Thessalonian Christians were persevering in their faith. He was willing to do anything to try to keep them on track: 1) try to visit, 2) send his best ministry partner, Timothy, to them, 3) pray night and day, 4) pray that their love would increase more and more. What do we do when we see a friend wobbling in their faith?

  Question 4: Consider this quote from Greg Beale: “God intends that the love Christians have for one another be a witness to the world (John 17:23). In this respect, the Christian community is the school in which we learn to love. Like great musicians who practice tedious drills for long hours, Christians practice their scales at home in order to sing in public. In the community love is commanded and modeled, and here is where it must be lived out and practiced. This does not mean that love is limited to the boundaries of the community. But if the community does not live by the model and teaching of its founder, Jesus, how can it expect others to do so or to hear its call to join with them?”