2 Thessalonians

Living in the Last Days

2015 Cindy Brown. All Rights Reserved

This study was written using the ESV.
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Day 1: Background
If you have not done the study on 1 Thessalonians, do that before you
begin this study. The two books tie together, so some parts may be
confusing if you have not studied Paul's first letter. 2 Thessalonians was
written during Paul's second missionary journey in about 51 A.D., and is
his second letter to the church at Thessalonica. The persecution they were
facing has not subsided, but much to Paul's joy, they are still standing
strong! However, there are some things that Paul wants them to know and
an area of correction he wants to address, so he pens another letter to this
beloved church.
Read the book of 2 Thessalonians in one sitting. As you read, mark these
key words each in a different way so they jump out when you look at your
Bible later. It is easier to look for one word at a time so this means you will
be reading the book 5 times today. But this helps you to become very
familiar with the book and helps you see things you might otherwise have
missed. I have found this to be the most helpful thing I can do when I come
to a passage I don't understand. Instead of running to a commentary to
see what men say, slow down, read it many times, and you will be amazed
at how the Holy Spirit gives you understanding! And it's always more
exciting when you see it for yourself!

Key words:
affliction (suffering, persecutions)
coming of Jesus Christ (or synonymous references)
day of the Lord (and pronouns)
man of lawlessness
love

Day 2
Read through the book of Thessalonians again today. Look for the
remaining key words below, one at a time as you read.
Key words:
faith
glory (glorified)
idle(ness)
truth
imitate

Day 3: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

Read chapter 1.
Who does Paul include with him in the greeting of this book?
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What does Paul say his responsibility is in verse 3?
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Paul says he "ought" to give thanks for them. In the English, we might say
"should", but the word has a much stronger meaning in the Greek. It
literally means "to be indebted or obligated to." Because of the work that
God had done in their lives, Paul felt he was indebted to the Lord and had
to say thank you. Is this how you view thanksgiving? Or is it sometimes an
afterthought?
What things are you indebted to the Lord for and need to express
your thanks? List some of them below.
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____________________________________________________________
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What does Paul say about the recipients of this letter in verse 3? For
what does he commend them?
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Wouldn't you like to be known as someone whose faith is growing
abundantly?! These believers were growing in leaps and bounds, but their
faith was being watered with the rain of affliction. It's hard for us to endure
or to see those we love undergo difficulty, but God often uses affliction to
produce a harvest of faith in our lives. Because of the persecution, the faith
of these believers was greatly increasing.
Not only were they growing in their faith, their love for each other was
also increasing. Why do you think undergoing persecution brought
them closer together?
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In verse 4, what does Paul commend them for?
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Who was also impacted by their example of endurance?
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Steadfast means "having the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult
circumstancesendurance." Faith means simply "to trust." The reason
these believers were able to endure and bear up under the difficulty of
persecution was because they were trusting God.
When Paul says the "afflictions that you are enduring" at the end of verse
4, the word enduring has a slightly different meaning than the word
steadfast. Enduring means "to be patient with, in the sense of enduring
possible difficulty."
Not only were they enduring persecution, but they were doing it patiently. It
gives me the idea that these believers were submitted to the Lord; they

weren't fighting against him, but in patience and humility they accepted the
difficulty that God had allowed into their lives.
The Lord has recently been working in my life in regard to meekness.
Meekness is humility and bringing oneself low in submission. I think trust is
wrapped up in it, too. If we have an attitude of meekness, we will be
trusting God and be able to patiently endure difficulty. Recently, I was
painting my living room. I had one wall left and about a half gallon of paint.
I had started using a new roller and it seemed like the roller was absorbing
a lot of paint and I was finding it hard to get enough paint on the wall. The
result was that I could see lines on the wall where I had painted after it
dried. I painted that wall three times, I still could see lines and now I was
out of paint! I was not happy! We live in a rural area, about an hour and a
half from the nearest Home Depot, so I couldn't just run down to the store
and buy some more paint. The more I looked at that wall, the angrier I got!
I thought of the waste of time and money of buying more paint and I was
very frustrated! As I reflected later on what had happened, I realized I was
not submitted to the Lord, I was not trusting him, and I certainly was not
enduring the difficulty with patience. The result was frustration and anger.
What difficulty has the Lord allowed in your life? Are you angry, frustrated
and fighting against him? Ask the Lord to help you trust Him. As you trust
Him, you will have rest, knowing that God can be trusted and is sufficient
for any situation you find yourself in. The result will be that you will be able
to endure with patience, others will notice your uncommon response, and
all the glory will go to God!

Day 4: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

Read chapter 1 again.
In the midst of their suffering, Paul offers them some encouragement.
What does he remind them about God's character that should
encourage them?
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Sometimes we think that God does not care about what we are going
through because He doesn't act when we want him to, but God is the
righteous judge and He will avenge, particularly those who are suffering for
His sake. Remembering this will help us to endure. God will arise to our
defense, in His time.
Read the following verses below from Exodus 2 and 3. Underline in these
verses everything we see God do. What is his response to the Israelites
cries for help?
Exodus 2
23 During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel
groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for
rescue from slavery came up to God.
24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with
Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God saw the people of Israel--and
God knew.
Exodus 3
7 Then The Lord said, "I have surely seen the affliction of my people who
are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know
their sufferings
8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians
and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land
flowing with milk and honey..."
The Lord is just and He always does what is right. But He doesn't always
act as quickly as we would like him to. Remember that the Israelites had
been in Egypt for 400 years! But when the time comes, God will avenge
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those who have persecuted His people, and Paul reminds the
Thessalonians of this encouraging truth.
What does Paul tell the Thessalonians is true of them because they
are undergoing persecution?
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Think about this for a minute! Paul is telling them that because they are
suffering for Christ, is is a sign that God considers them worthy of His
kingdom!
Worthy means "to consider something of comparable merit or worth, to
regard as being valuable." It literally means "of equal weight" and actually
is a term used for weighing things on a scale. An item would be placed on
a scale and a unit of measurement would be placed on the other side.
When the items were of equal weight, it was said that the thing being
weighed was worth a certain amount.
So in light of this, what does it mean to you that the Thessalonians
were called worthy of the kingdom of God?
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Often if we are discriminated against or suffer direct persecution because
of our witness for Christ, we may be tempted to complain about the
injustice, but instead we should rejoice that we are "counted worthy to
suffer dishonor for the Name." (Acts 5:41). May we live lives that "equally
measure" the worth of the kingdom of God!
When does Paul say God will repay those who have persecuted the
Thessalonians from verses 6-7? This is important for us to
remember.
____________________________________________________________
What do we learn about the event when the Lord Jesus is revealed from
heaven? Read verses 7-10 carefully.
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Who will be with Him?

____________________________________________________________
What will characterize his coming?
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What will Jesus do to those who do not know God?
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What will happen to those who do not believe at this time?
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The reason unbelievers will suffer destruction is because they will be
separated forever from the presence of the only God who has the power to
save them. That is so sad!
What is said about the saints when Jesus is revealed?
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How will Jesus be viewed at this time?
____________________________________________________________
This must have been a sobering reminder for the Thessalonians. Those
who were persecuting them would suffer an awful fate apart from Christ.
This reality check must have motivated the Thessalonians to continue
persevering in their faith, with the hope that their testimony for the Lord
would save some. At the same time, they were reminded of the hope of
seeing Jesus face to face. He will be glorified and marveled at by all those
who have believed in Him. May our hope and the warning of destruction on
those who don't know God, continue to motivate us to speak out and testify
about Christ, despite the earthly consequences. Eternity is at stake here!

Day 5: 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

Read chapter 1 again.
Paul closes this chapter with a prayer. What does Paul ask God to do
in the Thessalonians?
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When this happens, what will the results be?
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Let's take a closer look at this prayer. In verse 5, Paul talked about them
being considered worthy of the kingdom of God. Now he prays that God
would make them worthy of his calling. What exactly is our calling? Many
times we hear people say they were "called to be a missionary" or "called
to be a pastor." Apart from Paul being "called to be an apostle" we don't
see this idea anywhere else in Scripture. Is this the Biblical meaning of the
word? The word called simply means "to be invited, or to issue a
summons." What does the Bible say we are called to? Look up the
following verses and note it below.
Romans 1:6
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1 Corinthians 1:2
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Jude 1
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So based on these verses, what would a Christian look like who
walked worthy of His calling? Does this characterize your life as a
Christian?
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What a wonderful thing to pray for! Pray that God would make you worthy
of His calling. Pray that your life would accurately represent who you are
as a child of God.
I find the second thing Paul asks for very encouraging! He asks God to
fulfill or complete every resolve for good in them. Resolve means "that
which is desired or wished for." I really do want to follow the Lord and it is
my desire that He would be glorified in my life. Here Paul prays that God
would complete those desires and make them a reality, bringing them to
completion.
What good things in your life do you want God to fulfill in you?
____________________________________________________________
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He also asks God to fulfill every work of faith done by His power. "Work of
faith" almost seems like a contradiction, but many times God asks us to
serve in ways we don't understand and many times we don't see results
and we may feel like we aren't making a difference. But in faith, we do
what God has asked of us. Paul prays that God would fulfill and complete
our work. This reminds me that God is the one at work. "Unless the Lord
builds the house, they labor in vain that build it." (Psalm 127:1, KJV)
Read verse 10 and verse 12 again. How is it that Jesus is glorified?
____________________________________________________________
He chooses to use us to glorify him and bring him honor! Why does
he do this according to verse 12?
____________________________________________________________
It certainly is God's grace that he allows me the opportunity to lift Him up
before the world. I do it so imperfectly and not often enough, but in his
grace he allows me this wonderful privilege. From verse 11, we can see
that God is the actor. It is all about God working; you and I are just the
vehicle he chooses to use.

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Express this prayer from verses 11-12 to God in your own words.
____________________________________________________________
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What is the theme of chapter 1?
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2 Thessalonians 2
Day 6: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Read chapter 2 today.
Paul now sets out to do some corrective teaching. Rumors have been
swirling so Paul wants to set the record straight.
As we learned in 1 Thessalonians, the Rapture and the Day of the Lord are
described as two different events. The word rapture comes from a Latin
word meaning "caught up." In review, the Rapture is when Christ will
descend from heaven, the dead in Christ will rise and those who are alive
will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. It will be a joyous event! You
can read Paul's description in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. We saw that the
Day of the Lord is described as a day of darkness and gloom (Amos
5:18-20), a day of wrath, suffering and distress (Zephaniah 1:14-18), and a
time of punishment for sin (Isaiah 13:9-13). For a complete description,
you can read Revelation 6-19.
Now carefully read verse 1 again. Which event is Paul describing
here?
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It seems that there has been some erroneous teaching going around that
the day of the Lord had already come and these believers had missed the
rapture. Obviously, this would cause them some alarm.
Which event does Paul reference in verse 2?
____________________________________________________________
So if they are two separate events, why does Paul reference them side by
side? The word "concerning" in the Greek can be translated two ways and
as with many End Times passages, there is some debate. The question is
whether the word concerning means about or "on the basis of". If Paul is
teaching them "about" the coming of the Lord, it would seem the Day of the
Lord is the same event since he immediately references it in the next
verses. Based on what we have already studied, it seems clear they are
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two separate events. The second possibility is that Paul is teaching them
about the Day of the Lord "on the basis of" the Rapture. In a nutshell, Paul
was saying "I appeal to you on the basis of the Rapture that you should not
fear that you are in the Day of the Lord."
Perhaps because of the intense persecution they were suffering, some
thought that the Day of the Lord had already come. From the passages we
read in the Old Testament, this would be alarming!
What also lead some to believe that the Day of the Lord had come?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Paul is clear that this is not the case and he does now want them to
be deceived. According to verse 3, what must happen first?
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What exactly does it mean that the rebellion must come first? Look
up the following verses to get a better understanding of what this will
look like.
1 Timothy 4:1
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2 Timothy 3:1-5
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The second thing that must happen is for "the man of lawlessness" to be
revealed. Sometimes he is referred to as the Antichrist and in Revelation
13 he is referred to as the beast.

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Read verse 4, and note the characteristics of the man of lawlessness.

____________________________________________________________
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Read Daniel 11:36-37. Note how this man is described here.
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Read the passage below from Revelation 13. In one color, highlight what
the beast or man of lawlessness will do.
1And I saw a beast (the Antichrist) rising out of the sea, with ten horns and
seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its
heads.
2And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bears,
and its mouth was like a lions mouth. And to it the dragon (Satan) gave his
power and his throne and great authority.
3One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound
was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast.
4And they worshiped the dragon (Satan), for he had given his authority to
the beast, and they worshiped the beast (the Antichrist), saying, Who is
like the beast, and who can fight against it?
5And the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous
words, and it was allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months.
6It opened its mouth to utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his
name and his dwelling, that is, those who dwell in heaven.
7Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And
authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
8and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not
been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the
Lamb who was slain.
How will people respond to the beast?
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So this adds to our picture of what the Day of the Lord will look like. Now
we know a bit more about who will be involved and what the people will be
like. Again, Paul is reminding them again that this has not taken place yet.

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Day 7: 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12

Read chapter 2 again.
This wasn't new information. They had heard this before, but sometimes
we get confused when someone comes along and says something different
(v.2) and we start to question what we thought we knew. That's why it is so
important to always go back to the Word.
Is there an area in your life you are now questioning what you
previously knew? If so, ask God to give you clarity and seek answers
in His Word.
____________________________________________________________
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In verse 6, why does Paul say the man of lawlessness has not yet
been revealed?
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To restrain means "to prevent someone from doing something by
restraining or hindering." What or who do you think might be the one
doing the restraining?
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A mystery in the New Testament is something that has been revealed
that was previously unknown or not completely understood. What
does Paul tell us about the mystery of lawlessness?
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When does verse 7 say the one restraining the mystery of
lawlessness will stop doing this? Write the phrase below.
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So the Antichrist will be revealed once the restrainer is "out of the way."
The Word is not clear here and does not specifically name the restrainer,
but I think it is the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence in believers. Can you
think of an event we have studied so far where the Holy Spirit will be out of
the way? If you are not sure, read 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17.
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How would the Holy Spirit be "out of the way" after this event?
____________________________________________________________
So if this is correct, according to verses 7-8, when will the man of
lawlessness be revealed in our timeline?
____________________________________________________________
According to Revelation 13:5, how many years will the man of
lawlessness be given authority?
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From verse 8, when will the man of lawlessness be brought to
nothing?
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So if the Antichrist is revealed after the Rapture and his authority comes to
an end when Jesus Christ is revealed at his Second coming, that puts the 7
years of the Tribulation in between that time. But according to Revelation
13:5, he will have the greatest influence during the last 3 1/2 years.
What will Jesus do to the man of lawlessness?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
This speaks of the power of Christ! Remember in Revelation 13 we read
that the whole world marvels and follows the beast. He is given power and
great authority and is worshipped. Essentially, he is the most powerful man
in the entire world. But for Jesus to be victorious over him is as easy as
breathing! We serve a mighty Savior!
According to verse 9 and Revelation 13:2-4, where does the man of
lawlessness get his power from?
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How will his power be shown?
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In verse 10, how are the works of the Antichrist described?

___________________________________________________________
The man of lawlessness is characterized by false signs and wonders
and deception. What does John 8:44 say about the devil, the one the
man of lawlessness gets his power from?
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Why does verse 10 say his followers are perishing?
____________________________________________________________
Here we see a willful disregard for the truth. It says they refused to love the
truth. This verse and John 8:32 say that the truth sets us free and it saves
us. When people refuse the truth, the only alternative is that they will
perish. May we always be known as lovers of the truth!
Verse 11 by itself seems harsh and even unfair, but we always need to
read the surrounding verses for clarity. Why does God send them a
strong delusion? (v. 10)
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God is not trying to purposely deceive people so they can be condemned.
We know from 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9 that God doesn't want any to
perish, but that all would come to repentance. God only sends this strong
delusion after they have willfully hardened their heart to the truth.
The word delusion literally means "to cause to wander off the path." It has
the idea of something that causes someone to hold a wrong view and thus
be mistaken, misled or deceived.
According to verse 12, what condemns a person?
____________________________________________________________
We are saved by faith and condemned because of our lack of faith.
Instead of loving the truth, what did these people love in verse 12?
____________________________________________________________
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What we believe has a direct impact on how we behave! Because these

people do not believe the truth, the result is that they took pleasure in
unrighteousness. We see a very similar example of this in Romans 1.
Read Romans 1:28-32.
How did these people treat God?
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What did God do?
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What was the result in their actions?
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What was God's decree against them?
____________________________________________________________
What was the people's response?
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This is a sad commentary on the human condition. Apart from Christ, we
go our own way. Every person has a choice about what they will believe.
We know from 1 Thessalonians 1:9, that the Thessalonians used to be idol
worshippers, but when they heard the truth, they chose to believe it. It
seems from Scripture, if people willfully, continually reject the truth, there
comes a point where God gives them over to that deception. May we
continually proclaim the truth so that, like the Thessalonians, some will
choose to believe and be saved.

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Day 8: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

Read chapter 2 again.
We now see a change in the book. Paul has been speaking about the
unsaved who follow after the man of lawlessness and the judgment that
awaits them. The word "But" shows a contrast and Paul is now going to
turn his attention back to the Thessalonians.
What does verse 13 say Paul is giving thanks for?
____________________________________________________________
To be honest, this was a hard verse for me, because I have always been
taught that God does not pick some to be saved and others to be
condemned. But the more I read Scripture, I do see God choosing some
for salvation, as this verse does. We must always be careful not to let our
preconceived ideas influence what we understand Scripture to teach.
I found The Believers Bible Commentary helpful in pointing out that
Scripture does teach that God chooses some for salvation, but nowhere
does it teach that God chooses some to be condemned. Men are
condemned by their own choice to reject Christ.
Some people see only Gods election, and they believe that man has no
choice in the matter. Others emphasize mans part, and neglect Gods
sovereign choice. The truth lies in both extremes. Election and man's free
will are both taught in Scripture, and it is best to believe and teach both,
even if we cant understand how both can be true. Someone once told me
that the Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man
and doesn't explain either! They are two parallel truths that are taught in
Scripture and it is difficult for our finite minds to put them together.
Even as the Bible teaches that some are chosen, what else do we
learn about God in 1 Timothy 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9?
____________________________________________________________
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So while we see God choosing some, we also see his desire that all would
be saved. Both are simultaneously true. I fall back on the justice and the
mercy of God. No one will be in heaven that deserves to be there, and no
one will be in hell that doesn't deserve to be there. Even if I may not
completely understand it, what I do know is that it is our responsibility to be
bearers of the Light and tell as many people as possible about Him.
What two aspects of salvation does Paul highlight in verse 13?
____________________________________________________________
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First, the Spirit sanctifies, or sets apart. How does he do this? Read
John 16:7-11.
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In order for salvation to occur, the Holy Spirit must convict a person of their
sin, God's righteousness and the judgment to follow if they do not believe.
We also see man's part in this verse as well. Each person has a choice if
they will believe the truth that has been revealed to them. Here, Paul is
thanking God for the Spirit's work in their heart and their response of faith.
Verse 14 says that God called them. How did he do this?
____________________________________________________________
A call is simply an invitation. The invitation is open to all and it is
proclaimed through the gospel.
What is the end result in verse 14?
____________________________________________________________
How do we obtain the glory of God? Look up the following verses for some
clues.
John 17:20-23 (Jesus' prayer for the disciples and all believers)
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Romans 8:16-23
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2 Corinthians 3:18
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2 Corinthians 4:16-18
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1 Peter 1:6-9
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1 Peter 4:14
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2 Peter 1:3-4
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So we see that the glory of God is not only something we will experience in
the future, as thrilling as that will be, but it is also for the here and now! Did
you catch how closely our suffering is related to our experiencing God's
glory? Every time we experience the glory of God, it is through an
encounter with Jesus. So don't think you have to get to heaven to obtain
God's glory. As we suffer with him, are unified with him, and are changed
into his image, we reveal the glory of Christ to the world. What an
awesome privilege. I think the lyrics of this song by Sara Groves express it
perfectly!
You are the sun shining down on everyone
Light of the world giving light to everything I see
Beauty so brilliant I can hardly take it in
And everywhere you are is warmth and light
And I am the moon with no light of my own
Still you have made me to shine
And as I glow in this cold dark night
I know I can't be a light unless I turn my face to you

May we be reflectors of his glory today!

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Day 9: 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17

Read chapter 2 again.
In verse 15, what thought does "So then" refer back to?
____________________________________________________________
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What admonition does Paul give in verse 15?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
When we think of traditions, we normally think of a way of doing things that
has been passed down. But here, the word has more the idea of things
that they were taught from the beginning. Paul does not want the
persecution and trials to make them question or doubt what he originally
taught them. They were to stand firm and hold fast to it.
As in chapter 1, Paul closes with a prayer. Look at Paul's prayer in
chapter 1, verses 11-12. What similarities do you see with his prayer
here in chapter 2?
____________________________________________________________
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In verse 16, what does Paul remind us about God?
____________________________________________________________
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How do we experience God's comfort and hope?
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Are you discouraged or feeling hopeless? Do you need to be

comforted? God says that comes by focusing on his grace. No
matter what you are going through, take a minute and write down all
the ways God has shown his grace to you, both physically and
spiritually. Take some time to focus on what God has done for you. It
will comfort you and give you hope! "If God is for us, who can be
against us?" (Romans 8:31)
____________________________________________________________
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What does Paul ask God to do for them?
____________________________________________________________
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What to you think is the theme for chapter 2?
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Chapter 3

Day 10: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Read chapter 3.
In verses 1-2, what is Paul's prayer request?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Sometimes we are not sure how to pray for pastors or missionaries. This is
a great thing to pray for. Pray that God's Word would go out unhindered
and that those who hear the Word would honor it by believing it!
What contrast does Paul make in verses 2 and 3?
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
What reason is given that some men are wicked and evil?
____________________________________________________________
Because God is faithful, what will he do?
____________________________________________________________
In 1 Thessalonians 3:13, 2 Thessalonians 2:17 and in 2 Thessalonians 3:3,
Paul says that God will establish them. To establish means, "to cause
someone to be stronger and more unchanging in attitude and belief." Paul
says because God is faithful, He will establish us.
We have already seen that God can establish us through good works and
words. According to these verses, what are some other ways God might
establish us?
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
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Colossians 2:6-8
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1 Thessalonians 3:2
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1 Peter 5:10
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Read Matthew 13:19-22 regarding the parable of the sower. How does
the evil one try to prevent people from being established?
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Notice that both God and the evil one want to use tribulation and
persecution in our lives for their own purposes. In 1 Peter 5:10, God
means to use our suffering to confirm and strengthen us. In Matthew, the
enemy wants to use these same things to make us fall away. It is our
choice how we will respond. No matter how painful, God always means it
for our good. It doesn't mean it will be fun or pleasurable, but it will be for
our spiritual good, producing the "fruit of righteousness for those who have
been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11).
In verse 5, what does Paul pray that God will focus their attention on?
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How would focusing on the steadfastness of Christ help us to remain
firm and steadfast? Read Hebrews 12:2-3.
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Jesus is our example and encouragement. Because of his great love for
us, he endured hostility from sinful men. As we remember his unwavering
love for us, our love for him will grow, and we too will remain steadfast!
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Day 11: 1 Thessalonians 3:6-12

Read chapter 3.
Paul now switches gears a bit and returns to a topic he had briefly
addressed in his first letter to this church. What command does Paul
give?
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Idleness is not typically what we would consider one of the "big sins" in the
church, but Paul says it is such a bad thing that we should keep away from
people who are lazy! There are a few times in Scripture that we are told to
avoid other believers.
Look up the following verses and note what other types of Christians
we are to avoid.
Matthew 18:15-17
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1 Corinthians 5:11
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Titus 3:10
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2 Thessalonians 3:14
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Compared to the unrepentant sinner or the sins listed in some of
these verses, idleness doesn't seem so bad does it? Why do you
think that God sees idleness as such a serious issue in the life of a
Christian?
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So let's look at the other side. Look up the following verses and note
what good things result from working hard.
Ephesians 4:28
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1 Timothy 6:17-18
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Titus 3:14
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What theme do you see mentioned in these verses?
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A lazy person who does not work is not able to help meet the needs of
others. For the benefit of the body of Christ, it is important that each
member work hard so we can contribute and help those in need.
What two reasons does Paul give for why he worked when he was
among them from verses 7-9?
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In verse 11, what other characteristic seems to often accompany
idleness?
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To get a better picture of what a busybody looks like, read 1 Timothy
5:13.
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I hope you are getting a clearer picture of why idleness is so damaging to
the body of Christ. Not only is the idle person not able to be a blessing to
others by meeting physical needs, but since they have so much time on
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their hands, they often spend it in gossip and causing divisions in the Body.
Because of this Paul says, if they have been warned and not responded,
they should be avoided.
What command does Paul give to the idle person?
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By doing their work quietly, they will not be given to gossip and by earning
their own living they will not be burden to anyone and will be able to help
others in need.
According to 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12, what will be the positive result
of this?
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Ask God to help you work hard for the glory of His name in whatever you
do today!

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Day 12: 1 Thessalonians 3:13-18

Read chapter 3.
In contrast to the idle person, Paul encourages them not to become weary
in doing good. Weary here doesn't just mean tired. It means "to lose ones
motivation to accomplish some valid goalto become discouraged, to lose
heart, to give up."
There are many reasons Christians lose heart and become discouraged. It
could be not seeing the results we had hoped for or people not responding
to the message. Sometimes we may be hurt by those we have poured our
lives into. Sometimes it is just discouraging and we start to believe the lie
that we would be better off doing something else. But what does God's
Word promise us if we keep on?
Read the two verses and note what God tells us about our work for
Him.
1 Corinthians 15:18
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Galatians 6:9
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So press on, my friend! Don't give up! Even though you may not be able
to see it now, believe God's Word that your labor for the Lord is not in vain,
and eventually there will be a harvest. And that harvest is not always in the
people we are trying to minister to. I have found that often the harvest is in
me! God uses my service to the Lord to mold and shape me into the image
of his Son. We don't get to pick what the harvest will look like, but God
does promise there will be one!
We looked briefly at verse 14 before, but what is the reason that Paul
gives for avoiding the disobedient brother?
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The purpose is that this brother will become ashamed of his actions and
repent (change his mind) about his disobedience.
How does Paul tell us to view this person in verse 15?
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Often when we see another believer living in disobedience and sin, it is
tempting to think of them as an enemy. They are maligning the name of
Christ, being a poor testimony, and it may feel like since they are causing
more harm than good, that they are the enemy. Paul reminds us that this is
not true. They are still part of our family, and the end goal is not just
avoidance to cause them harm, but to restore them as an obedient member
of the family of God.
In verse 16, what is the wonderful promise Paul gives us through
Christ?
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The reason this peace is available is because Jesus is the Lord of peace
and He is always with us. Too often we don't experience peace because
we perceive our problems to be too big and our God to be too small! As I
write this, I am waiting on some biopsy results. There is the temptation to
worry about my cancer coming back, but in the three weeks I have had to
wait to have the biopsy done and to receive the results, I have had peace
and what a wonderful thing it is! I know that whatever the results, God will
be more than enough to get me through it. He is faithful, good, wise, and
loving and He knows exactly what to use to conform me into His image and
bring Him glory. When the Lord Jesus is the object of our affections and
attention, he promises us His peace that is available at all times and in
every way.
God's Word tells us how we can realize this peace. What are some
practical things we can do that will result in us experiencing peace during
hard times?

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Isaiah 26:3
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Philippians 4:6-7
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Romans 8:5-6
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2 Peter 1:2
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We become like what we focus on. If we focus on the pressure and the
stress, we will be filled with stress. If we focus on the Lord of peace, we
will be filled with His peace! What struggle or disappointment are you
facing? Run to Jesus who freely offers you peace in the midst of a stressfilled world.
The constant companion to peace is grace. Certainly we would not be able
to experience the Lord's peace if he had not poured out his grace upon us.
Paul reminds us that God's grace is with us too. It is sufficient for every
circumstance and available at all times. May we be people who live in and
experience the grace and peace of God that is readily available to us!
What is the theme of chapter 3?
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What do you think is the theme of the whole book?
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