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 2 Thessalonians 2:14-15.
• How does this passage connect to the main idea of the book? (Live in light of Jesus return?)
• Verse 14 looks back to vs 13 when it states, “It was for this he called you.” For what were the Thessalonians called?
• What does the term “called” imply? What conclusions can we draw about this term from the preceding verses (11-13?)
• What is the end result of being called through the gospel?
• On What basis are the Thessalonians commanded to stand firm? What does the “So them” statement tell us about this command?
• When Paul tells the Thessalonians to “hold to the traditions” and then states that there are written traditions and spoken traditions, does this mean that there are spoken traditions that we should hold to alongside written scripture?
• What scripture references help us gain clarity on why written scripture is sufficient for us today?
• Do these verses seem to indicate a personal or collective responsibility in remaining steadfast in the truth? Support your case.

Prayerfully Meditate

• How would understanding their calling and ultimately gaining the glory of Christ stabilize the faith of the Thessalonians in the face of rumors that the day of the Lord has come?
• How would this understanding of being called and ultimately gaining the glory of Christ motivate growth in sanctification and endurance in persecution for the Thessalonians? For you personally?
• How would the Thessalonians stand firm and hold fast to what they had been taught? How would you know they were being successful in this?
• How would this commitment to stand firm and hold fast to the truth help the Thessalonians detect error and false teaching?
• List some synonyms or definitions for the commands “Stand firm” and “Hold” What images do these words bring to mind?
• List some cross-references that deal with standing firm or holding fast.
• Summarize the passage in 21 words or less.