THe Mid-Week Update!!

Lesson Recap

2nd Thessalonians  1: 1-12

God's In Charge

You Can Feel Safe-Because God Is Just

This week began the beginning of our new study...that of 2nd Thessalonians. In our intro we learned that the book was written from Corinth shortly after the first letter.  Paul sent it because the first letter did not have the desired effect of dealing with problems relative to the Lord's return.  Some of the people believed Jesus' coming was so imminent that there was no point in working.  Paul wrote 2 Thessalonians to explain that certain things must happen before the return of Jesus, and to encourage them to continue with daily life.

"My life stinks," Josh complained to his friend Matt at their regular Friday breakfast meal.  He elaborated further :I hate my job, and besides that I learned that no one is getting a raise this year.  The roof on my house is leaking and we don't have the money to repair it.  My wife just got a report on the baby's heart condition.  The doctor is recommending surgery.  Where is God in all this?  I don't agree with the song we sang last week 'Every Day With Jesus Is Sweeter Than The Day Before'  Do you?"

Matt was thoughtful for a moment.  He knew that Josh was a new believer and that life had been especially difficult recently.  Matt and Josh had been meeting weekly for breakfast weekly for several months.  Matt was mentoring Josh on a one-to-one basis.  "Sorry it's so tough right now," Matt began. "Perhaps it would be good if we started to study God's word to study what the bible teaches about God's justice.

In this lesson we explored evidence that God is just.  It was designed to help us move from 'life stinks' to 'God is great'.

What Is God Doing In Me?

V3- We must always thank God for you...sounds obligatory but it is not.  Paul realized all believers owe God a gratitude for every good He does.  And God was doing a good thing in the Thessalonian church.  Despite their difficulties (v4), Paul saw much evidence of what God's grace and peace already had brought in to their lives.

What Is God Going To Do With Me?

What's happening in the following verses? 

V 5-the bad stuff in v4 is evidence they are believers and are heaven bound

V 6-it is righteous (just, fair) for God to pay back those that mistreat you

V 7-God will give you relief/rest when Jesus returns

V 8-God will punish those who do not know Him-those that denied His grace

V 9-the ungodly will experience everlasting ruin-the opposite if eternal life

V 10- at the time of the unbeliever's doom, the saints will glorify, honor, and praise Jesus as we admire him in all his splendor.

   The Thessalonians will participate in this act of praise because the believed Paul's conversion testimony, and responded by placing their faith in Jesus as the promised Messiah.

What Does God Want To Do Through Me?

Often times we pray for believers going through troubled times.  We ask God to heal them. deliver them from harm, restore their losses, etc.  We looked ot Paul's example which is twofold

V 11

The petition concerning the Christian's worthiness.

How would you reword this?

The petition concerning the Christian's works

How would you reword this?

V 12

The goal of Paul's prayer as it concerns Christ.

Paul's desire was for the Thessalonians to behave in such a way that the name of Jesus would be honored and glorified.

The goal of Paul's prayer as it concerns believers

Romans 8:30 Believers are glorified in the present by growing in Christ-like character.

Remember Josh in the beginning of this study?  He was having trouble trusting God because of the difficult circumstances in his life.  What reasons would you give him for trusting God?

Conclusion:  The way believers respond to difficult circumstances reveals much about our view of God, as well as our trust in Him.  Sometimes loss and setback lead to bitterness and disappointment.  Most adult Christians have known other believers who have moved from saying "life isn't fair" to supposing "God isn't just."  As adults and parents of teens, we need regular reminders not only that God is fair with us but also that He is more than fair.

SPOT Camping Trip

...has been cancelled.  We will try and get it back up and running again next year.  Watch for something in June!

Activities

...are now listed on the right column of the blog.  You can even sign up here if you wish.  If you need help just ask me!

Snacks

• 7/17 Stubbs
• 7/24 Luther
• 7/31 Decker

Prayer Requests

• Lori's mom had surgery yesterday.  She came home today with word that there is to be no chemo!
• Jeff Bradshaw's barber John is dealing with depression

• VBS was this week.  There were ton's of kids.  Pray that the Spirit moved these kids.