STUDY QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS
By Micah Odor
1. Are you a pessimist, an optimist, or a bit of both?
2. What excites you about the future? What are you looking forward to—and what are you dreading?
Ask two people to read aloud 1 Thessalonians 2:17—3:13 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then, as a group, quickly restate the passage in your own words.
3. “Endurance” is a major theme in this passage. How do you see Paul demonstrating endurance?
• How do you see the church in Thessalonica demonstrating endurance?
4. Paul explicitly talked about both trials and temptations in this passage. Look again at verses 3-5; what trials was the church facing? What temptations?
5. Look at the relationship demonstrated in verses 8-10. Do you feel this way about anyone else?
• Do you know anyone who feels this way about you?
6. In verse 3, Paul told the Thessalonian church that they were “destined for” trials. Do you think this was a statement about that specific church or is it a universal statement about the Christian life? Why?
7. In what area of your life are you demonstrating endurance right now?
8. Where in your life are you “unsettled by these trials”?
• What will you do to stand firm this week?
9. Imagine repeating Paul’s prayer in verses 11-13 about someone. Who could you pray this for? How would you tell them?
10. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on 1 Thessalonians 4:16—5:18. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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