TRUTH IN THESSALONIANS

(Sermon Series)

WHEN PERSECUTION STRIKES

2 Thessalonians Chapter One

 by Rev. Richard Jones

THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF PRAISE

2 Thessalonians 1:1-4

1  Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3  We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.   4  Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-12

9  For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10  as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11  Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12  and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF PROMISE

2 Thessalonians 1:5-10

5  This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— 6  since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7  and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8  in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9  They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10  when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

1 Peter 1:6-7

6  In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 24:37-39

37  For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38  For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39  and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Ezekiel 33:11

11  Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?

THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF PRAYER

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

11  To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12  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.

Ephesians 4:1-3

1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Ephesians 2:10

10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.