Our Resurrection Weekend services begin with our Good Friday Evening Gathering, March 29 at 7:00 pm, and conclude with our regular Sunday activities on Resurrection Sunday Morning, March 31!

1 Thessalonians square

Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

  • Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10.
  • What is the nature of the contrast in verse 6? What is being contrasted?
  • What was the purpose of Timothy’s trip?
  • What was the good news that Timothy brought back to Paul? What are the components of this good news?
  • Compare the above answer with 1:3. What similarities do you see?
  • What is the condition on which Paul’s really living occurs?
  • What does it mean to stand firm as stated in verse 8?
  • How many times has Paul expressed thanksgiving or gratitude for the Thessalonians in this letter so far?
  • Does Paul really mean night and day? Did he ever cease to pray? If so, what does he mean by saying this?
  • What are Paul and his ministry partners praying for?
  • Who is the one completing the lacking parts of the faith of the Thessalonians?

Prayerfully Meditate

  • What is the reason that Paul and his ministry associates were comforted?
  • Why was this comforting news to Paul?
  • How might Paul’s condition of suffering be of importance to the Thessalonians?
  • What does Paul mean by saying that now he really lives?
  • How is the word Live used throughout the book of 1 Thessalonians?
  • How does one stand in the Lord? What would it look like to not stand in the Lord?
  • Why does Paul express thanksgiving according to verse 9?
  • What is the significance of the nature of the prayers of Paul and his peers for the Thessalonians?
  • What would it look like to pray without earnestness?
  • How can faith be lacking?
  • What does it mean to complete what is lacking?