Weekly Challenge -1 Thessalonians 2:1-4

Life Group Community:

Our discussion of 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 included 2 main topics.  First, why can it be hard for us to speak with boldness?  Second, how do we define success as Christians?

For the first topic of boldness, we saw that Paul spoke boldly and we know that the young believers in Thessalonica spoke with boldness.  Both parties were suffering for the cause.  We viewed a clip from God’s Not Dead where only one student spoke boldly because he knew it was the right thing to do.  I am sure he was not the only believer in that class.

The second topic of defining success as a Christian was enjoyable as well.  Some Christ followers might say we cannot talk about being successful because we will never “arrive” as a Christian.  While it is true that we don’t achieve a special perfect status, Paul said that he was successful.   The other end of the spectrum is the home of the Christians who look at their actions and life status as success.  I have been on 20 mission trips, I have not been divorced, my children know all the books of the bible, my kids have never been on a date, the pastor finds me to shake my hand, etc. (you get the point). 

We decided as a class that success comes back to the heart.  We know there has to be enough evidence to convict you if you were arrested for being a Christian.  Jesus said in Matthew 7, that by their fruits you will know them.  But your serving, mission trips, parenting, loving your spouse, and being in community have to come from a heart of love and thanksgiving.   Then you will be changed, your family will be changed, your community will be changed.  That sounds successful to me!

My challenge to you this week is to ask God the Spirit to show you how to adjust your heart.  Maybe you need to stop judging other parents, or couples who have been divorced.  Maybe you need to evaluate why you are doing activities.  Is it to check the Christian box, or is it so your heart will produce the fruits?

Be intentional this week.

Travis

Weekly Challenge -1 Thessalonians

Life Group,
These young/new believers were expectantly "Waiting" for the return of Jesus, but they were not passive.  Their actions were making a difference all across Greece.  That is such a great story.  Just imagine people asking them why they are doing these things?, why they have hope?, why they are acting different?
The new believers from Thessalonica could not open their bibles to give answers.  They could not draw out the Roman Road to salvation.  They could not use church answers and use words like exegetical, theological, and pedagogical.

But they could say something like "I don't know much, but I do know that when I heard Paul talk about this hope, I felt it was true and decided to follow it.  Now I have joy and peace because I have a new hope.  So I have decided to pass it along to other people"

So what is your story?  What do you tell others about how your life was changed or why you are a part of a community of believers?
My challenge to you this week is to make this a discussion during a family dinner. 

Be intentional.
Travis

Weekly Challenge -HOPE

Life Group Community:

We had a great start to our new study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians.  Aaron and I are both excited about the opportunity to teach through these 2 letters. 
During LG, we spent a lot of time on Saturday reviewing the introduction to the new church in Thessalonica and the purpose, places, people, and dates. 

Our study would make a great movie. We have a story of HOPE which includes Jewish/Christian converts, Greek converts, mobs, Jason hiding people, Paul and Silas having to escape out of town, Timothy meeting with the new believers and reporting to Paul, and locations such as Thessalonica, Corinth, Lystra, and Philippi.

We have the same hope as these new followers of God the Son.  We get to live with hope (anticipation, expectation, and confidence) and be linked by community.

The challenge for the week is to read 1 Thessalonians again, but think about the hope the new followers have even through the trials, confusion, persecution, being made fun of, taken to jail, and losing contact with their leader.

Think about this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr (and possibly others before him):

I may not be the man I want to be;

I may not be the man I ought to be;
I may not be the man I could be;
I may not be the man I one day will be;
but praise God, I’m not the man I once was . . .
and that makes all the difference.
 

Be intentional this week.

 

Travis