Words of Encouragement: A Guide to 1 Thessalonians
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About this ebook
First Thessalonians was written to a people bombarded with sensual images and pleasures from the world. Paul's advice to these people, so young in their faith, contains profound truth that is just as relevant today as it was back then. In a world that is attacking minds with the same sexually explicit messages, Thessalonians couldn't be more pertinent. Now, Words of Encouragement brings these words of wisdom in a form that teenage girls will find irresistible. The study brings Thessalonians to life with contemporary language, stories, discussion questions, and journaling opportunities to coincide with Scripture itself. This study is attractive not only because of its colorful dialogue and format, but because of its incredibly affordable price as well.
Susie Shellenberger
Susie Shellenberger travels as a fulltime speaker forty weeks or weekends every year. She has written fifty-two books, and lives in Bethany, Oklahoma with her two mini Schnauzers Obie and Amos. Susie is a former youth pastor, high school teacher, and editor. She loves Sharpies in every color, burnt hotdogs, and praying at OKC Thunder basketball games.
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Words of Encouragement - Susie Shellenberger
Words of Encouragement
A GUIDE TO
line1 THESSALONIANS
Words of Encouragement
A GUIDE TO
line1 THESSALONIANS
SUSIE SHELLENBERGER
Copyright © 2005 Susie Shellenberger
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotation in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published by Nelson Impact, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214.
Scripture quotations noted NCV are from the Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations noted NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations noted TLB are from Holy Bible, The Living Bible, copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton, Ill. Used by permission.
ISBN: 1-4185-0539-0
Printed in the United States of America.
05 06 07 08 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: FIRST THINGS FIRST
1 YOU’VE BEEN CHOSEN BY GOD!
2 LOVIN’ MY FRIENDS
3 YOU GO, GIRL!
4 LIVING PURE
5 LOVE, LOVE, AND MORE LOVE!
6 OUTTA-THIS-WORLD TRAVELER
7 TEAM EFFORT
WRAPPING IT UP
Introduction:
First Things First
JANNA—OVER HERE!
MONICA WAVED TO HER FRIEND AS SHE SAW HER ENTER the coffee shop. Janna looked frustrated as she slid into the booth and ordered a cappuccino. What’s up with you today?
Ugh! I’m just so tired and worn out today,
Janna said.
So tell me what’s going on,
Monica said. Monica and Janna had been friends for a few years and lately they’d been meeting regularly once a week for coffee. During their time together, they enjoyed sharing prayer requests and discussing what they were learning in Bible study.
Monica, I’m just so tired of being tempted all the time. Every day just seems like a battle.
I totally understand. Every time I turn on my computer, I’m flooded with all these sexual e-mails and messages—stuff I never even asked for! I delete them, but it’s a hassle.
Not only that, but it seems every time I watch TV or movies, I end up seeing stuff that shouldn’t be inside my brain, you know? And then all these girls at school are talking about how far they’ve been with their boyfriends and asking me why I’m not doing the same thing.
I know! It’s so frustrating.
I want to live a holy life, Monica. I want to please God in all I do and say and think. But . . . it’s like I need a greater power to be able to do that. I need . . . a supernatural power or something!
CAN YOU IDENTIFY WITH JANNA AND MONICA? IF YOU’VE EVER EXPERIENCED the battle of trying to live a pure life in an unholy world, you have the right book in your hand at the right time. The apostle Paul gives great insight, teaching, and answers through his first letter to the Thessalonians. They felt the same pressures you feel. As you soar through the pages of this study, you’ll learn how to apply 1 Thessalonians to your life with relevancy! And the cool part? There’s no pressure to hurry and finish this study in a specific time frame. In fact, it’s broken down into small chunks—called Scoops
—so you can easily do a little at a time. Think of this book as a multilayered ice-cream cone. You wouldn’t want to eat the entire thing at once. Simply enjoy a little at a time . . . scoop by scoop.
1 THESSALONIANS
Il_00-01.WordsofEncouragement_0009_001 Where is it? In the New Testament. After Colossians and right before 2 Thessalonians.
Il_00-01.WordsofEncouragement_0009_001 Who wrote it? The apostle Paul.
Il_00-01.WordsofEncouragement_0009_001 Why should you be interested? This letter was written to people who were bombarded with sensual images and sexual pressures. They were doing their best to fight temptation, but they were also inundated with the fear of failing. They desperately wanted to follow Christ, but they were just having a hard time. Sound like something you can relate to?
Il_00-01.WordsofEncouragement_0009_001 To whom was the letter written? The church in Thessalonica. These people were fairly new in their faith. They’d been Christians for two or three years. They needed encouragement and practical advice about how to live godly lives in the midst of an evil society. Repeat: Sound like something you can relate to?
Il_00-01.WordsofEncouragement_0009_001 One more thing: The