Cornerstone Class: 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12

Cornerstone Class Outline for 2/17/19

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Joe or Vicki Kerns

Purchase Mornings with Larry at: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

·         Introduction:

o   I’d like to begin with another quote by Asbury professor Steve Seamands:

“I really think God’s way is for us to be more like sailboats than rowboats. The wind of the Spirit moves us along and our job is to learn how to catch the wind.”

§  So, if we approach the Christian life like it’s a rowboat, we end up doing unnecessary work.

§  But if we approach the Christian life like it’s a sailboat, then the Holy Spirit does the primary work.

§  I’m not sure how this illustration fits in with 2 Thessalonians, but I thought it would be a good and positive way to start off this class.

o   The wonderful and disturbing thing about doing a verse-by-verse study of the Bible is that you cover topics of the faith that might be passed over otherwise.

§  Hell is one of those topics.

§  We’ll discuss it as we study 2 Thessalonians chapter one

o   I’d like to briefly give you three [or 4] views of Hell:

§  Optional: [18^th century theologian and preacher Jonathon Edwards advocated the fire and brimstone view. This is from his sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God:

“That world of misery, that lake of burning brimstone, is extended abroad under you.” “…you must suffer it to all eternity: there will be no end to this exquisite, horrible misery.”]

§  In the book The Case for Faith, Evangelical scholar and philosopher J.P. Moreland is quoted:

“In the Bible, hell is separation or banishment from the most beautiful being in the world—God himself. It is exclusion from anything that matters, from all value, not only from God but also from those who have come to know and love him…. Make no mistake: hell is punishment—but it’s not a punishing. It’s not torture. The punishment of hell is separation from God, bringing shame, anguish, and regret.”

§  The Church of the Nazarene Articles of Faith state the following:

“16. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, that the bodies both of the just and of the unjust shall be raised to life and united with their spirits — “they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

“16.2. We believe that glorious and everlasting life is assured to all who savingly believe in, and obediently follow, Jesus Christ our Lord; and that the finally impenitent shall suffer eternally in hell.”

§  Finally, the following quote is often attributed to Mark Twain: “Heaven for the climate; hell for the companionship.” [Senator Ben Wade, 1885] 

·         With those views of the hereafter in mind, let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 NIV:

“5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering. 6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”

o   In these verses, Paul alternates between God’s blessings for believers and punishment for unbelievers.

§  Verse 5: Blessing—the Thes. Believers “will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God.”

§  Verse 6: Punishment—God will “pay back trouble to” the persecutors

§  Verse 7: Blessing—God will “give relief” to the Thes. Christians and to “us” [probably Paul, Timothy and Silus]

§  Verses 8-9: Punishment—God “will punish those” who don’t know God and who don’t obey the Gospel of Jesus

§  Verse 10: Blessing—God will be glorified in His holy people when Christ returns, and believers will marvel at Him   

·         QUESTIONS on 1:6-10

o   Verses 6 and 7 say that God will pay the persecutors back and give relief to the persecuted. When will this happen, according to verse 7?

o   What will the second coming of Jesus be like?

§  [7b Jesus will be “revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels”]

o   In verse 8, what does it mean to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”?

§  I think it simply means to repent (turn to God) and believe the Good News that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.

o   Verse 9 is describing Hell. Theologians debate over just what Hell is. What do you think it is?

o   [if not answered previously, then ask] Is Hell an eternal torture chamber or conscious separation from God?

o   How do you feel when you think of Hell?

o   Now for an uplifting question. In verse 10, at Jesus’ second coming, what does it mean that Jesus will “be glorified in His holy people…”?

§  Verse 10 could be a reference to the resurrection, our glorification (Rom. 8:30).

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 NIV says:

“51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”

§  This is a description of our full transformation, when we receive our resurrected bodies. Christ will be glorified in us in a complete way.

·         Let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

·         QUESTIONS on 1:11-12

o   In verse 11, Paul prays that God will make the Thessalonians “worthy of his calling.” What spiritual process is Paul referring to?

§  Probably sanctification or spiritual growth

o   In verse 12, how will the name of Jesus be glorified in the Thessalonians?

§  God chooses to be glorified in Christians because of His unmerited favor toward them.

·         Application/Conclusion

·         Closing prayer

Cornerstone Class: 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4

Cornerstone Class Outline for 2/10/19

Purchase Mornings with Larry at: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Joe Kerns

·         Introduction:

o   Thanks for bearing with me as I learn how to be a discussion leader. 

§  I’ll be asking more life-application type questions, which don’t have yes/no answers.

·         Previously I’ve asked interpretive questions, which are questions about the actual meaning of scripture. Interpretive questions may be intimidating because oftentimes they have fairly rigid right and wrong answers.

·         Life application questions have more to do with how scripture has affected your life. It has to do with your experiences.

o   Let’s resume in chapter one and camp a little bit on verses 3 and 4.

§  I think these verses can teach us lessons on how hardships and trials can work for the good and result in spiritual growth in our lives.

·         Let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 NIV:

“3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

o   The Thessalonians were a church of baby Christians who were experiencing persecutions and trials.

§  They were also maturing significantly, growing in faith and increasing in love for each other.

o   I think there’s a link between experiencing persecutions and trials and spiritual growth.

§  There’s great potential for spiritual maturity when we experience trials.

§  In America, Christians don’t experience much persecution, but we do experience trials and hardships.

o   James 1: 2-3 NIV says “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

§  James says that trials and the testing of our faith produces perseverance.

§  We are to let perseverance do its work so we will be mature and complete

§  The NIV word perseverance is the same as the KJV word for patience. J. Vernon McGee says that the literal meaning is “standing under.” McGee says, “It means to be placed under. A great many people try to get out from under the problems and difficulties. The person who is patient [persevering] is able to stay under, and he keeps on carrying the load. He doesn’t throw it off; he doesn’t try to get rid of his responsibility.”

·         QUESTION:

o   How have you persevered during your trials?

·         Paul boasted about how the Thessalonian Christians were persevering and maintaining faith during persecutions and trials.

o   Our part is to persevere and maintain faith during trials.

§  As we persevere, the Holy Spirit makes us mature and complete. The transforming work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a miracle.

o   2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NIV says:

“17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

§  Our part is to allow perseverance to run its course. Then the Holy Spirit miraculously transforms us.

·         QUESTION:

o   All of us have experienced trials of some sort. Some have or are experiencing significant hardship. Here’s the question: how have your trials and hardships worked for the good, either in your own life or the lives of others? Also, how have you grown as a result of your trials and hardships?

• Tom shares a trial he persevered through and how he grew in empathy towards others with similar struggles. He also grew in his basic faith in God.

·         Application/Conclusion:

o   Paul begins and ends 2 Thessalonians 1 with a focus on God’s grace

§  We don’t deserve the blessings and favor God has given us

§  We should frequently thank the Lord for His grace toward us

·         Closing prayer

Cornerstone Class: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Cornerstone Class Outline for 2/3/19

·        Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Vicki Kerns

Purchase Mornings with Larry at: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

·         Introduction to 2 Thessalonians:

1.      Hand out 1-page overview

2.      Spend 3-5 minutes giving overview

 

 2 Thessalonians Overview

Note: this overview based largely on the following two sources:

1 and 2 Thessalonians: The NIV Application Commentary by Michael W. Holmes

First & Second Thessalonians—Everyman’s Bible Commentary by Charles C. Ryrie

·         Thessalonica in 49-51 A.D.

o   Largest city in Macedonia: population perhaps 200,000

o   Wealthy commercial center:  along major highway and seaport

o   “Free city” governed by local rulers called politarchs

o   Very polytheistic culture:

§  Greek gods and philosophers

§  Roman emperor worshipped as a deity—emphasized by city leaders to maintain favor with Rome

§  Egyptian gods: Isis and Osiris

§  Cult of Cabirus favored by rulers and aristocracy.

§  Syncretism emphasized: religions were mixed—melting pot of cults

§  Large Jewish community with a synagogue

·         Christianity in Thessalonica:

o   Church established by Paul, Timothy and Silus about 49-51 A.D.

o   Consisted mostly of gentile believers; and some Jewish converts

o   Suffered persecution from the start

§  The Jewish community saw Christianity as a heretical offshoot of Judaism with a false messiah.

§  The Thessalonian gentile rulers saw it as a threat to emperor worship, civic cults and a threat to polytheistic, syncretistic culture.

·         Trinity required exclusive worship

·         All other gods viewed as false by Christians

·         Christian evangelism a threat

·         The epistle of 2 Thessalonians:

o   Written in about 51 A.D. from Corinth, perhaps about 2-3 months after 1 Thessalonians

o   Audience: a church consisting of new believers

o   Author: Paul (with Timothy and Silas)

·         Purpose of the epistle

o   Encouragement in the midst of persecution

o   Correction and teaching about the Day of the Lord

o   Instructions on dealing with disruptive and idle Christians

·         Outline of 2 Thessalonians:

o   Greeting 1:1-2

o   Encouragement in Persecution 1:3-12

o   Correction and Teaching concerning The Day of the Lord, the Second Coming, the Lawless One, Judgment of Unbelievers, Salvation of Believers 2:1-17

o   Prayer requests and encouragement 3:1-5

o   Warnings for the Idle and Disruptive 3:6-15

o   Conclusion 3:16-18

·         Discussion. Let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5 NIV:

“1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

·         QUESTIONS on 1:1-5

o   In verses 1 and 2, do you see evidence for the deity of Christ?

§  God and Jesus bestowing grace and peace

o   What is the grace and peace mentioned in verse 2?

§  Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward us, especially seen in the giving of His Son as an atoning sacrifice.

§  Peace is multifaceted. One type of peace is the peace with God or reconciliation we have with the Father because of Christ’s death and resurrection—we are no longer enemies with God, but are now His friends. Could refer to the felt peace in our heart; or peace with each other, a unity given by God through grace.

o   In verses 3 and 4, why was the faith and love of the Thessalonians growing and increasing?

§  Certainly, their growth happened because they persevered and maintained faith in the face of intense persecution. The testing of our faith produces perseverance. God uses perseverance to make us mature and complete. James 1:2-3 NIV says “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

o   Have you experienced much persecution as a Christian?

o   How have trials in your life resulted in growth in your faith and love?

o   The Thessalonians became stronger Christians because they maintained faith and persevered through suffering. Verse 5 says they “will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God….” Does this mean they earned their worthiness because they responded rightly to suffering?

§  Perhaps verse 5 is saying that their response and growth in suffering is evidence of genuine faith. God judged them worthy at salvation and their exemplary lives prove that God was correct.

·         Let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10

“6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. 8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.”

·         QUESTIONS on 1:6-10

o   Verses 6 and 7 say that, when Jesus returns, God’s gonna pay the persecutors back and give relief to the persecuted. How does that make you feel?

o   In verse 8, what does it mean to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”?

§  I think it simply means to repent (turn to God) and believe the Good News that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead.

o   Verse 9 is describing Hell. Is Hell an eternal torture chamber? What do you think it is?

o   Verse 10 refers to Christ’s second coming. With verse 7b in mind, will Christ’s second coming be quiet and secretive, or loud, bright and obvious?

·         Let’s read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

“11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

·         QUESTIONS on 1:11-12

o   In verse 11, Paul prays that God will make the Thessalonians “worthy of his calling.” What spiritual process is Paul referring to?

§  Probably sanctification or spiritual growth

o   In verse 12, how will the name of Jesus be glorified in the Thessalonians?

§  God does it according to His unmerited favor toward those who believe.

·         Application/Conclusion

o   Paul begins and ends 2 Thessalonians 1 with a focus on God’s grace

§  We don’t deserve the blessings and favor God has given us

§  We should frequently thank the Lord for His grace toward us

·         Closing prayer

Cornerstone Class: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Cornerstone Class Outline for 1/27/19—Tom Nash

·         Announcements, praises and prayer requests—Vicki Kerns

·         2 orders of business: 

Purchase Mornings with Larry at: 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HNQKB1L

1.      We’re finishing up 1 Thessalonians. Is everyone okay with doing 2 Thessalonians next?

2.      Hand out maps of Paul’s second missionary journey to those who didn’t get one:

o   I found this map of Paul’s second missionary journey on the Blue Letter Bible website. You can find maps like this in the backs of your Bibles, but I liked this one because of the nice descriptions of his journey below the map.

o   I’d like to spend a couple of minutes going through this as a review to give us some context to 1 Thessalonians.

o   Paul started in Antioch and travelled through Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey)

o   He crosses the Aegean Sea into Macedonia, eventually ending up in Thessalonica.

§  Paul spent at least 3 weeks in Thessalonica teaching about the Messia

§  Some Jews believed, as well as a large number of Gentiles and prominent women

§  Essentially, the Jews and city officials chased Paul out of town

§  Also, this describes the harsh environment that the new Thessalonian believers had to live in. We know they were a persecuted church, which is why much of 1 Thessalonians is full of encouragement from Paul.

o   From Berea, Paul traveled to Athens, then Corinth

o   In Corinth he wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in about 51 AD

o   By the way, 1 and 2 Thessalonians were Paul’s first canonical letters

o   I think by seeing Paul’s travels on a map, it gives us some context that helps us to better understand the details of scripture.

·         Introduction:

o   I recently heard this quote from Asbury seminary professor Steve Seamands:

§  “Ministry is finding out what Jesus is doing—and piggy backing.”

o   It’s so easy to focus on myself and whether or not I’m doing a good job.

o   My prayer shouldn’t be so much, “Lord, help me to be a better discussion leader.”

o   Rather, I should pray, “Lord, help me to understand what you are doing, and help me to follow your agenda.”

o   I think that takes some of the load off of us when we understand that the ministry belongs to Jesus. I’m simply following His lead.

·         Discussion. Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 NIV:

“12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

o   At first reading, these final verses seem kind of non-connected, as if Paul is just cramming in a bunch of exhortations before saying farewell. However, these verses do have a structure to the seeming disorder. A Bible commentator [Michael W. Holmes] organizes verses 12-22 into four sections:

1.      Verses 12-13 focus on our attitudes toward our church leaders

§  Congregational Responsibilities Toward Leaders (5:12-13)

2.      Verses 14-15 deal with how the church should manage those with “spiritual problems and needs.”

§  Congregational Responsibilities Toward Individuals (5:14-15)

3.      Verses 16-18 focus on how we can nurture our relationship with God

§  Congregational Responsibilities Toward God (5:16-18)

4.      Verses 19-22 are five commands about our response to the workings of the Holy Spirit

§  Congregational Responsibilities Toward the Spirit (5:19-22)

o   Then Paul concludes the epistle in 5:23-28 with a prayer of blessings for the Thessalonians (vv. 23-24), prayer request for Paul and his companions (v.25), final instructions (vv. 26-27), and a benediction (v. 28).

·         Questions on 1 Thes. 5:12-28 NIV:

o   In verses 12-13, what types of church leaders does Paul have in mind?

o   What things can we do to support church leaders?

o   In verse 14, how do we warn idle and disruptive people? 

o   In verse 14 we’re told to be “patient with everyone.” How do we do this?

o   Verse 15 tells us not to “pay back wrong for wrong.” Does that mean we are to let people walk all over us?

o   Verse 16 tells us to “Rejoice always.” Does that mean we are to be happy all the time? What does it mean?

o   How do we “pray continually” in v. 17?

o   Does v. 18 mean that we are to thank God for all the bad things that happen to us?

o   What are some ways in which we can quench the Spirit?

o   If someone gives you a word of edification, how do you test it for truth?

o   Verse 23 mentions the body, soul and spirit. Does this mean that human beings consist of three parts? If so, what’s the difference between the soul and the spirit?

o   It was common “in both Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures” to greet friends and family with a kiss. Are there circumstances in our modern American culture where a holy kiss would be appropriate?

·         Application/Conclusion:

o   We’ve just covered 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 NIV. Paul uses a lot of imperatives, or commands, in these verses. There’s a sense in which the application is obvious when God commands us to do something.

§  It’s like the Nike slogan: “Just do it.”

o   We are to obey His commands. On the other hand, we can’t obey God using our own strength. 2 Cor. 12:9 NIV says, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

§  It seems to me as we recognize our weakness before God, that is when we find strength to obey Him.

o   I’d like to read 1 John 5:3-5 NIV: “3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

§  Christians are born again, Spirit empowered believers in Jesus. We have supernatural strength from God, therefore we can obey Him.

o   Of all Paul’s imperatives, which one applies the most to you?

·         Closing prayer