Paul's Letters to the Thessalonian Christians: A Guide to Small Group Bible Study

By Bruce Reed Pullen

Jesus came preaching the message, “Repent,” that is, “Turn from what you are doing to doing what is right, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.” Paul had a similar message. During his ministry his message was consistent: when you are related to God through faith, you have certain responsibilities. Letters from Paul tells us about Paul, the message he proclaimed, and his advice for living a "life pleasing to God."
“If our ancient predecessors in the Christian faith had arranged the New Testament writings according to their dates of composition, 1 Thessalonians would stand at the beginning in place of the Gospel of Matthew. At least by the reckoning of most New Testament scholars, Paul wrote the letter we know as 1 Thessalonians around 51 A.D., which makes it the earliest Christian writing and, indeed, the earliest evidence we possess for the existence of Christianity.
“Despite the historic significance of 1 Thessalonians, however, it has been a neglected gem among the letters of Paul. . . .This very lack of familiarity makes 1 Thessalonians an ideal place to begin discovering, or perhaps rediscovering, the letters of Paul.” Beverly Roberts Gaventa.
Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church opens with a simple salutation, “From Paul, Silas, and Timothy” (1:1). This simple greeting, different from his other letters which cite his authority as an apostle, certainly suggests he felt a special closeness with the Thessalonian Christians. The inclusion of Silas and Timothy in the greeting indicates these three friends are a team, sharing their ministry just as today, even in the smallest congregation or study group, teams are formed and leadership is shared.
“Grace to you and peace (1:1)” was Paul’s signature greeting. He combined “Grace” which is derived from the Greek and “Peace” from the Hebrew as a way of greeting this diverse congregation. In one way or another, this signature greeting of grace and peace occurs in each of Paul's letters. Grace points to God, who, in Jesus, is the source of love in our lives. Peace indicates the quality of life that grows out of grace. Both are basic to the Christian lifestyle. Paul begins his letters with a subtle witness, “Grace and peace to you!” He also often uses the phrase as a benediction closing his letters.
After first traveling to Athens, then Corinth, Paul becomes concerned about the congregation he had left behind, so he sends Timothy back to encourage them and to then report back how they are doing. Overjoyed with what Timothy reports, Paul writes a letter praising, encouraging, and challenging them. He urges them to continue working, rejoicing, and growing in their love for Jesus and for one another for as they do, they are witnesses to others.
“We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1:2-3).”
If I have learned anything during my journey on planet earth, it is people need one another. I am independent by nature, but I know the presence of other people is essential in my life — caring people, helpful people, interesting people, friendly people, thoughtful people. These folks make the journey easier. God touches our lives through the people we meet along the way. Chances are you probably are a Christian because someone was a witness to you of the love of Jesus.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bruce Reed Pullen
• Release date: May 25, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311298584

Bruce Reed Pullen

Dr. Bruce Pullen holds degrees from Rutgers University, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Princeton Theological Seminary. and Palmer Theological Seminary. He has served parishes in Hopewell, New Jersey; Burlington, Iowa; Alton, Illinois; Westfield, Massachusetts; Williamstown, Massachusetts; New London, New Hampshire; Wyben, Massachusetts; and Warrenville, Illinois. Dr. Pullen was born in Princeton, New Jersey and ordained nearby in 1970. Judith and Bruce Pullen have been married for over fifty years. The Pullens now live in Elgin, Illinois. Dr. Pullen's hobbies include: travel, photography; classical music; and model railroading. He first joined Rotary International in the 1960's. One of its goals is to eradicate polio.

Book preview

1Paul’s Letters to the Thessalonian Christians

A Guide to Small Group Bible Study or Personal Reflection

Dr. Bruce Reed Pullen

Paul’s Letters to the Thessalonian Christians

By Bruce Reed Pullen

Copyright 2017 Bruce Reed Pullen

Smashwords Edition

ISBN (eBook): 9781311298584

This eBook is licensed to you for your personal enjoyment only. It should not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with others in a Bible study group, please ask them to purchase their own copy. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please go to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. The author thanks you for your support.

Sections of this document may be quoted in a review.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations contained here are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, and 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Permission is given by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scriptures marked as CEV are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright by the American Bible Society.

You may choose to use a study Bible to supplement your study. Recommended are the Life Application Study Bible in the New Living Bible Translation for its extensive resources and more contemporary language; the Discipleship Study Bible in the New Revised Standard Version for its accurate translation and notes on our responsibilities in response to the Good News; and the Harper Collins Study Bible (NRSV) for its detailed scholarly notes on the meaning and background of the scriptures.

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Contents

Author – Dr. Bruce Reed Pullen

Introduction

Preface - Thessalonians

First Thessalonians

1. Give Thanks

2. Tell Your Story

3. Encourage Others

4. Please God

5. Be Prepared

Second Thessalonians

6. Be Patient

7. Stand Firm

8. Pray

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Author

Bruce Reed Pullen is a graduate of Rutgers University (B.A.), Colgate Rochester Divinity School (B.D.), Princeton Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and Palmer Theological Seminary (D. Min.). He has served as senior pastor in churches in Hopewell, New Jersey; Burlington, Iowa; Alton, Illinois; and Westfield, Massachusetts, and as an interim pastor in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and New London, New Hampshire. Bruce, and his wife, Judy, are retired and live in Elgin, Illinois. He is the author of:

Discovering Celtic Christianity

Discovering Baptist Beginnings in Britain

Small Group Bible Studies

Discovering the Prophets in the Old Testament

Discovering the Prophets in the Old Testament – Leader’s Edition

Discovering Justice in the Old Testament

Discovering Justice in the Old Testament – Leader’s Edition

Paul’s Letters to the Philippian Christians

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Introduction - Advice from Paul

Jesus came preaching the message, Repent, that is, Turn from what you are doing to doing what is right, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. Paul had a similar message. During his ministry his message was consistent: when you are related to God through faith, you have certain responsibilities. Join me now as we learn more about Paul and the advice he gave.

Perhaps you are at a point in your life when you want to dig deeper into the Bible. You probably have read at least one of the gospels and possibly the Acts of the Apostles. During your devotional periods you may even have read the rest of the New Testament and possibly some or all of the Old Testament. In this brief book you are invited to dig deeper into Paul’s letters to the Thessalonian Christian community and their emphasis on new life in Jesus Christ.

This guide may also be used in a group Bible study. While you may assume a particular passage impacts your life only in a certain way, in a group you will be challenged by your friends to consider it from various points of view. If you are not already participating in a group study and discussion of the scriptures, you may want to form a group in your home or church or place of work or study.

This book provides the basis for personal reflection and group discussion of Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. Since it is an eBook, you may wish to take notes