Bible Study

December 9, 2025

1 Thessalonians 3:6 – 11 (CSB)

“Message is Faith”

6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you, 10 as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

What better report could Paul have heard than the one given to him by Timothy. “your church in Thessalonica is doing well. The adversary Satan has been unable to destroy the church. Faith and love abound in this congregation. They were special and they gave Paul fond memories of his time there.

Paul tells them he is encouraged by all they do but I am certain there is the admonition from Paul to “stand firm” in their faith. You have stood against the enemy, he said you have won the battle, you are stronger today for what you have done now ‘stand firm.’

Paul says he is encouraged by their faith. Every pastor standing before his congregation would be so encouraged when reports of faith are shared. In 2025 we see very little of this but Jesus even said we would do greater things than He did – so where are these greater things in the church today? This is not a message for the early church only it is a message for the church of all ages. The church is vehicle for Jesus to move on the earth today – what is your church doing or what better things could they be doing?

In verse ten Paul gives us the reason some churches do what they are called to do and others just exist. He prayed day and night a good reminder for the church today. Maintain an attitude of prayer then put it into practice.

Paul prays for them but tells them although they are doing good they are “lacking in faith.’ This is not a criticism but an admonishment to continue.

Our churches today would be well advised to take his message.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 8, 2025

1 Thessalonians 3:3 – 5 (CSB)

“Be Vigilant”

‘So that no one will be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience affliction, and as you know, it happened. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.”

God had made many promises to his people but He made one the Paul that is very interesting. He told Paul he would have many future sufferings as a result of following God. Annais told him that in Acts 9:6. How would we like to hear that in the very beginning. I ask if pastors have been wrong in telling people their new walk with Jesus will not always be easy but the rewards are awesome?

There were a couple of reasons Paul told them this so they would not think God’s plan was not working out. Paul told them to expect persecution as he had before his experience with the church in Thessalonica. When we know this we will better be prepared to deal with it when it occurs in our life. Paul faced tribulation in his walk with Jesus.

Why is there a hindrance in our walk? Satan is busy at work trying to destroy the very thing Christ has given you and that is new life. He will continue to tempt and try us to get us to fail in this new walk. Paul was aware of how Satan works as he was not a bit deceived by Satan’s actions.

I would add along with his knowing of Satan’s actions that he also knew his methods as we read in Ephesians 6:11 – 13 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.”

Paul took action to counterattack Satan to assure his work was beneficial.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 5, 2025

1 Thessalonians 2:18 – 3:2  (CSB)

“Message Is Most Important”

18 “So we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting in the presence of our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 Indeed you are our glory and joy! 3 Therefore, when we could no longer stand it, we thought it was better to be left alone in Athens. 2 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,”

There is no question as to the sincerity of Paul’s ,message here about wanting to return. This church was a source of joy for Paul but also for the future return of Jesus. Paul had been hindered from returning because of Satan. Paul does not tell what the hindrance was but Satan was at the core of it.

Satan wanted to stop Paul like a military leader would hinder his enemy. He would go after Paul from many different angles with a goal of destroying Paul’s ministry of preaching Jesus.

What is meant by “crown of boasting?’ Scripture teaches that eternal life is like an athlete who earns a victory. “His coming” refers to two things: (1). His actual presence, or (2). Christ’s second coming prior to his 1,000 year rule on earth. Paul refers to Christ’s coming four separate times in 1 Thessalonians. We could surmise Paul is referring here to Jesus’ second coming.

This separation became unbearable for Paul. Paul and Silas would remain in Athens while Timothy returned,. This is the final time Timothy will go in Paul’s palce to visit a church. Paul’s message did not focus on wealth, self-esteem, or ease of life but on one’s spiritual quality of life. Their faith was of supreme importance to Paul, which was the foundation of doctrine.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 4, 2025

1 Thessalonians 2:15 – 17  (ESV)

“Results of Wrath”

15 “Who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last. 17 But 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,”

There is little question who killed Jesus. It was the same group who hailed Him as He rode in on a donkey on the Sunday before His crucifixion. His own people the Jews were responsible for His death. As they killed Jesus they also killed the prophets.

It was the will (and is) the will of God for all people to find His saving grace but the Jews did not desire for anyone to find salvation in and through Jesus. Paul at one time had sided with the Jews and killed believers. Paul is now a new man (in Christ) and he is fighting for the Gospel message to get out to everyone.

God’s wrath is to come to mankind. John wrote about it in the book of Revelation, Matthew tells of it in his gospel and Paul speaks of it here. God’s wrath will fall on the Jews yet He will save a remnant during the Tribulation period.

What is this “wrath” Paul writes about here? It covers several areas of scripture:

1. The Babylonian exile when the Jews disobeyed God and ended up in captivity,
2. Prophetically with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD,
3. With the second coming of Jesus,

Paul had been taken away from the Thessalonians and he had a desire to be with much as a mother and father desire to be with their children.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 3, 2025

1 Thessalonians 2:12 – 14 (NKJV)

“The Cost of Being an Imitator”

“That you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans. “

“Walk worthy” we are admonished to do and the reason for our walk is that our eternal salvation is based on our actions. Paul when using the term “His own kingdom and glory” is referring to heaven.

The “Word of God” was taught from the Old Testament by the apostles. Paul used that message on his missionary journeys. What does the “Word of God” do for us? According to John MacArthur the Word “includes salvation, teaching and training, counseling, reviving, restoring, warning and rewarding, nourishing, judging, sanctifying, freeing, enriching, protecting, strengthening, making wise, rejoicing the heart, and prospering.”

We are to become imitators of Jesus. Salvation requires more than being forgiven. True salvation should give us the desire to take on the image of Chrsit. We should desire each day to become more like Him. Being an imitator can become a costly responsibility in our life. Jesus asked his disciples a simple question.

The phrase “drink the cup” appears in a number of scripture references, primarily in Jesus’s references to his suffering and in the Lord’s Supper. In Matthew 20:22, Jesus asks His disciples if they can “drink the cup” he is about to drink, referring to the suffering and death he will face. In 1 Corinthians 11:25, the “cup” is part of the Lord’s Supper ritual, symbolizing the new covenant in his blood. True discipleship will become costly.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 2,2025

1 Thessalonians 2:9 – 11 (NKJV)

“Fatherly Advice”

9 “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children,”

Paul said later in 2 Thessalonians (3:7-9) that he did not ask for money but lived on what he earned and what the Philippian people sent him. False teachers would seek money when they taught but Paul maintained the integrity of the Gospel by not doing so.

Paul in his preaching included several items that benefitted those listening to him. (1). The authority of the scriptures, (2). The deity of Jesus, (3). The sinfulness of mankind, (4). Christ’s death and resurrection, and ((5). Salvation by the grace of God.

Paul summarized the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 . “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.”

He confirms what he is teaching by confirming they are witnesses to his teaching. Under Old Testament law you needed two or more witnesses to verify the truth. Paul is calling upon his listeners to confirm the truth of his message.

Paul used three words to describe his relationship with the Thessalonian people. They were exhorting, comforting, and charging. This was a personal touch from Paul.

God Bless.

Bible Study

December 1,2025

1 Thessalonians 2:5 – 8 (NKJV)

“The Cost of Ministry”

5 “For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”

Paul laid it on the line when he spoke of Jesus and the life a believer. He did not teach, preach, or speak of Jesus for any personal gain nor did he mince words when he spoke of Jesus. Paul had a special calling from God from the day of his blindness to the day of his death. In fact there are several things that we can learn from these few verses.

First, he did not speak to make favorable impressions on people or speak what they wanted to hear. His message was one of salvation much different than what we hear from some today. It’s easy to tell people what they want to hear much different telling them what they need to hear. Second, he did not boast about becoming rich for what he was doing. He did not use it to get rich by the world’s standard. And third, he did not seek personal glory something ministers must constantly be open to. To Paul it was about his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

There can be little doubt that Paul loved all the churches but as he writes to this particular church his affection comes across as a mother who cherishes her children this was a special church to Paul. A mother is willing to give up her life for her child is a like Jesus willing to give up His life for those willing to be born again.

Have you considered giving up your life and becoming a disciple of Jesus if you are not a Christ Follower?

God Bless.