Boonville Alliance Church and Park United Methodist Church

Rev. David Hedeen

The Gospel and the Church – 1 Thessalonians

The Community Gathers…

Psalm 33
1 
Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
    it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
2 
Praise the Lord with the harp;
    make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.
3 
Sing to him a new song;
    play skillfully, and shout for joy.
4 
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
    he is faithful in all he does.
5 
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
    the earth is full of his unfailing love.
6 
By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
    their starry host by the breath of his mouth.
7 
He gathers the waters of the sea into jars[a];
    he puts the deep into storehouses.
8 
Let all the earth fear the Lord;
    let all the people of the world revere him.
9 
For he spoke, and it came to be;
    he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 
The Lord foils the plans of the nations;
    he thwarts the purposes of the peoples.
11 
But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever,
    the purposes of his heart through all generations.

…To hear the Word

2 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 NLT

Paul’s Longing to See the Thessalonians

Timothy’s Good Report about the Church

17 
Dear brothers and sisters, after we were separated from you for a little while (though our hearts never
left you), we tried very hard to come back because of our intense longing to see you again. 18 We wanted
very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us. 19 After all, what
gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we stand before our Lord Jesus
when he returns? It is you! 20 Yes, you are our pride and joy.

3 Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, 2 and we sent Timothy to
visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker[a] in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him

“Becoming Fully Devoted Followers of Christ Jesus”

 Boonville Alliance Church and Park United Methodist Church
Rev. David Hedeen

to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, 3 and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles
you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. 4 Even while we were
with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. 5 That is why,
when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid
that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.
6 
But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that
you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. 7 So
we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters,
[b]
 because you have remained strong in your faith. 8 It gives us new life to know that you are standing
firm in the Lord.
9 
How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and
day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.
11 
May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love
for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a
result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord
Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

…To Renew Commitment

The Gospel and the Church

1. Paul’s Quarantine
 Forced upon him (Acts 17:5-10)

2. Paul’s Frustrations
 Separated from the Thessalonians (v 17)
 Prevented from returning (v 18)
 Frustrated hopes and dreams (v 19)
 A plan of action (3:1-5)

3. Paul’s Hope and Relief

 His encouragement (v 7-10))
 His blessing

4. Paul’s Burdens and Desires (Chapters 2 & 3)

 God’s Word and its proclamation
 God’s love for His people

…To Disperse in Mission

“Becoming Fully Devoted Followers of Christ Jesus”

 Boonville Alliance Church and Park United Methodist Church
Rev. David Hedeen

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the
Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for
you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God
and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all the holy ones. Amen!
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NIV

For further consideration:

Our quarantine, unlike Paul’s, was thrust upon us through no fault of our own. We are in quarantine
ultimately because of sin in the world. We live in a broken and fallen world where sin rules and people
do sinful things. We do not know the hows and whys of the pandemic. What we do know is what we
experience because of it. Please use some of these as discussion starters with your family as you
continue to work through the fallout of a restricted lifestyle. We will be opening church and society
again shortly but want to be the healthiest we can be now and when that happens.

 What are you and your family experiencing during the quarantine and how has it affected you?
 What hopes have been frustrated by the ongoing shut down?
 How have extended family relationships been affected?
 How does receiving good news about those you love encourage your heart and family?

Application Questions

 Why do so many Christians think that attending a church service without getting to know other
believers is sufficient? How can we do better?

 How can we know whether a hindrance is from the Lord or from the enemy? What principles
apply?

 How have you been strengthened and encouraged spiritually by other believers when you were
in a trial? Pass it on!

 When does genuine concern spill over into sinful anxiety?

“Becoming Fully Devoted Followers of Christ Jesus”