What strikes you about how Daniel responded in the face of his seemingly overwhelming circumstances? How do you think you would act in that situation?
In light of the growing challenges we face with respect to our political climate, economy, the state of Christianity in America, state of the local church, challenging marriages, etc., what is the appropriate response of Christians? How do we behave in a world that seems to be falling apart?
Verse 1-2: If your church’s budget were cut in half, which things would you get rid of first?
If you cut it in half again, which things would you keep?
If you cut it in half one more time, which things would you keep?
How much could you strip away and still be a successful church?
If you got all that budget back after a year’s time, how do you think you’d spend your money differently?
Verse 3-5: How could Paul tell the Thessalonians that God is faithful and would establish and guard them against the evil one if he knew they were being persecuted? What is God choosing to guard and protect?
Verse 6: Have you ever met someone who “retired” from being active in the church? Why does this happen?
Paul not only warns against idleness, but he commands the Thessalonians to keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness. Why would he give such a warning? The last time he gave a warning like this, he was talking about sexually immoral, idol-worshipping, bad-mouthing, greedy, drunks.
“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” 1 Corinthians 5:11
Verse 7-10: We ought to always care for one another as church brothers and sisters. But when does a church brother/sister become a burden? When Paul asks the Thessalonians to imitate him, what is he asking them to imitate?
Watch the video about Locus of Control from Khan Academy. Do you agree that have an internal/external locus of control affects how people respond in different situations? Do you think that a lack of focus on just a few things can cause us to be helplessly unable to make sound decisions?
Read Jeremiah 29:4-9. The Israelites who were taken captive in Israel had a strong incentive to give up on life due to their circumstances. But God commanded them to establish themselves, establish a culture and a life, and to stay focused on the one true God.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 29:4-9 ESV
It’s easy to have excuses for why we don’t take an active role in serving God through serving others, but what would God have us do? Does God want us to separate ourselves from the world or get involved in it?
Verse 11-12: What’s the difference between being busy at work and being a busy body? How do you avoid being a busy body? In what way does God want us to be productive? What are some counter-productive habits/practices of Christians?
Verse 13-15: Do you have any fellow brothers who have grown weary of doing good? Are there people you need to admonish/build-up who have fallen into complacency? How do we avoid falling into the same trap?
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Here are 1,399 sermons on 2 Thessalonians 3.
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