1 Thessalonians 2
June Memory Verse: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2
In this chapter, Paul first discusses when they met and his motives in sharing the Gospel with them. As Christians, we have been invited to join God in reaching a lost world. God doesn’t NEED our help, but He graciously ALLOWS us to be a part of what He’s doing around us. With this in mind, we must consider our motives and tactics. What good would it be to coerce someone, trying to trick them into praying a certain prayer? Obviously, deception about what it means to be a Christian won’t work. It won’t result in life change. And it also would provide them a false sense of eternal security if there was no true invitation of Christ into their heart. Instead, our motives must be pure. We must share the full message of the Gospel (not just the appealing parts). And we invite people to join us at CPC, not so that we’ll have more friends here or that our church grows, but so that they will take another step in becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
Second, in verses 8-12, we see a snapshot of how a Christian should live. We are to truly care for others and share our lives in community. We are to work hard and be a blessing, not a burden, to others. We are to live as an example (holy, righteous, blameless) and be encouraging and comforting. Lives lived in this way are so enticing to a watching world! Who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like that? Who wouldn’t want the same qualities in their own life? Use your good witness to point others to the same source for life change that you have.
Finally, we see that Paul maintains a heart of thanksgiving for those that have accepted God’s word. We too should rejoice over lives committed to Christ and lives changed by the power of God, not by anything we have done. Maintaining a posture of thanksgiving fills your life with joy, so give God the credit for the amazing things He does!
What are your takeaways from this passage today?
1. Are your methods and motives pure? Are you doing things for the right reasons?
2. Are you living in such a way that others would be drawn to you and drawn to Christ? If so, do people know you’re that way because of Christ? If not, what needs to change this week?
3. Who in your life are you thankful for? Thank God for them and also be an encouragement and let them know.
By: Thomas Carter – Leadership Team Member
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2
In this chapter, Paul first discusses when they met and his motives in sharing the Gospel with them. As Christians, we have been invited to join God in reaching a lost world. God doesn’t NEED our help, but He graciously ALLOWS us to be a part of what He’s doing around us. With this in mind, we must consider our motives and tactics. What good would it be to coerce someone, trying to trick them into praying a certain prayer? Obviously, deception about what it means to be a Christian won’t work. It won’t result in life change. And it also would provide them a false sense of eternal security if there was no true invitation of Christ into their heart. Instead, our motives must be pure. We must share the full message of the Gospel (not just the appealing parts). And we invite people to join us at CPC, not so that we’ll have more friends here or that our church grows, but so that they will take another step in becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.
Second, in verses 8-12, we see a snapshot of how a Christian should live. We are to truly care for others and share our lives in community. We are to work hard and be a blessing, not a burden, to others. We are to live as an example (holy, righteous, blameless) and be encouraging and comforting. Lives lived in this way are so enticing to a watching world! Who wouldn’t want to be friends with someone like that? Who wouldn’t want the same qualities in their own life? Use your good witness to point others to the same source for life change that you have.
Finally, we see that Paul maintains a heart of thanksgiving for those that have accepted God’s word. We too should rejoice over lives committed to Christ and lives changed by the power of God, not by anything we have done. Maintaining a posture of thanksgiving fills your life with joy, so give God the credit for the amazing things He does!
What are your takeaways from this passage today?
1. Are your methods and motives pure? Are you doing things for the right reasons?
2. Are you living in such a way that others would be drawn to you and drawn to Christ? If so, do people know you’re that way because of Christ? If not, what needs to change this week?
3. Who in your life are you thankful for? Thank God for them and also be an encouragement and let them know.
By: Thomas Carter – Leadership Team Member
4 Comments
Thank you for the message today, Thomas! I am so thankful for all the ministers, CPC members and friends! I am always encouraged and strengthen by everyone at CPC. God bless you all! 🙂
Thanks Thomas! Great job!
“Our purpose is to please God, not people”
This portion of scripture spoke to me today! As we share the Gospel we must stand by God’s word even when our culture rebels against biblical truth. Some pastors and churches have “changed with the times” and teach what is now called progressive Christianity. Truth cannot be abandoned to please people and make them feel better about themselves.
Thanks for the commentary Thomas and the challenging questions. There’s a lot to think about today!
Sharing Christ with pure motives and living pure lives are great challenges from this portion of scripture. Thank you, Thomas, for doing such a great job breaking it down and for the challenge questions to meditate on. When the word of God reveals who we truly are to ourselves, and we humbly submit to the work of Christ in our lives, then life change begins and we reflect the purity of Christ.