A1 Scripture
B1 But now Timothy came from you to us and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good memories of us, greatly desiring to see us, just as we do you. Therefore, brothers, by your faith we were comforted about you in all our affliction and distress. For now we live, if you remain steadfast in the Lord. For what thanks can we again give to God for you, for all the joy that we enjoy in the presence of our God because of you. Day and night praying over and over that we might see your face and might perfect what is lacking in your faith. (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, WEL).
B2 But now when Timothy came to us from you, and brought good news to us of your faith and your love, and that you have good remembrance of us always, longing to see us, as we also long to see you— because of this we were encouraged, brothers, in regard to you in all our affliction and distress by your faith. For now we live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For whatever thanksgiving can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we are rejoicing because of you in the presence of our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and to perfect what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, EMTV)
A2 Outline
B1 Timothy's report
C1 Came
C2 Good news
D1 Their faith
D2 Their love
D3 Paul and the preachers were not forgotten
D3 Wanting to see Paul and the preachers
B2 Paul and the preachers' response--comforted
B3 A condition--remain steadfast in the Lord
B4 Thanks to God
B5 Our joy
B6 Our prayers
C1 To see them
C2 To increase their faith
A3 Notes
B1 1 Thessalonians 3:6
C1 The word "good news" is euaggelizō.
D1 It means good news
D2 It is the same word as is translated "gospel."
E1 And it happened that on one of the days [while] he was teaching the people in the temple [courts] and proclaiming the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes approached together with the elders (Luke 20:1, LEB).
E2 And I saw another angel flying directly overhead1, having an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who reside on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and language and people, (Revelation 14:6 LEB)
D3 The good news here refers to the good news that Timothy brought to Paul and the preachers in Athens.
E1 You can tell that Paul is excited.
E2 One of Paul's main concerns is that the new believers continue in the Gospel, doctrine, and living the Christian life.
E3 Our text references their faith and love.
F1 Faith in this sense is the Christian faith which includes
G1 Doctrine
G2 The Christian life
F2 Love here is the love for
G1 God
G2 Brethren
G3 Paul and the preachers
D4 Cross references
E1 [Like] cold water14 upon a weary soul,15 [so too is] good news from a distant place. (Proverbs 25:25 LEB)
E2 But now, [because]3 Timothy has come to us from you and has brought good news to us of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us4, desiring to see us just as also we [desire to see] you, (1 Thessalonians 3:6 LEB)
D5 Regarding fellowship
E1 Our first fellowship is with God--Matthew 18:20
E2 Then each other
F1 Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His name. (Malachi 3:16, NKJV)
F2 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:3, NKJV)
F3 BEHOLD, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1, NKJV)
B2 1 Thessalonians 3:7
C1 It is a wonderful thing when news of someone's faithfulness to Christ brings encouragement to other believers.
C2 Things about encouragement
D1 "From people--"And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus." (Acts 4:36, EMTV)
D2 From the Holy Spirit--"Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified, and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." (Acts 9:31, EMTV).
D3 Christian leaders--"Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, encouraged and strengthened the brothers with many words." (Acts 15:32, EMTV).
D4 All of us to each other--"...but encourage yourselves every day, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13, EMTV).
C3 Affliction and distress
D1 Real Christians experience because they live and preach Christ
D2 Affliction
E1 Examples (See E3 below)
E2 Christ taught--These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but take courage, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33, EMTV).
E3 Paul and the preachers at Thessalonica. (Acts 17:5-9)
E4 The word affliction is thlipsis
F1 Literally means "pressure," that is, pushing down or squeezing something
F2 Used more for physical abuse than emotional abuse
D3 Distress
E1 The Greek word is anagkē
E2 It means constraint, that is, something that hold us back or preventing us from doing something
E3 It can be applied to emotional abuse, anguish, emotional pain whether from physical illness, disability, or even torture.
E4 Christians can expect these things because the natural person hates God, hates God's ways (lifestyle), and hates His rule and rules, so they fight against His representatives.
D4 How God helps us in affliction and distress
E1 His love. These hard things Christians face do not separate us from God. (Romans 8:35)
E2 His strength. We would falter and shrink under most afflictions but God strengthens us. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)
E3 His deliverance. This doesn't always happen but does happen often. Even if we die, we go to heaven. (2 Corinthians 1:8-10)
E4 His example. The Lord Jesus suffered as well as us to the point of death. (John 15:18-20)
E5 His promises. He does promise to help. (Matthew 5:10)
E6 His training. God uses these things to strengthen our faith, weed out bad habits, and build character. (James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:7, Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 12:9)
B3 1 Thessalonians 3:8
C1 If
D1 Here stands as a condition.
D2 A condition for what? Life!
D3 The Bible clearly teaches that we can fall from faith even into apostasy.
D4 The blessings of God will come from our being steadfast.
D5 This can only happen with God's strength and Holy Spirit.
D6 We cannot do this on our own.
D7 This is not a work to "keep" our salvation, for we already have it.
D8 It does refer to, in its plain, normal sense, that if we want God's blessings our attitude must be to want to do God's will, ask in prayer, and believe in His help.
C2 Stand fast
D1 The Greek word is steko
D2 It means to persevere, to hand in there, to stand firm, to remain true regardless of what happens. We don't have a fair weather faith but a living faith.
D3 Some verses
E1 "Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he shall be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14 4 EMTV). [The word in bold is this word; the non-bold word is different.]
E2 "Be watchful, stand fast in the faith, be courageous, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16 13 EMTV)
E3 "Therefore, my beloved and longed for brothers, my joy and crown, in this way stand fast in the Lord, beloved." (Philippians 4 1 EMTV)
D4 To stand fast is to continue in the same Gospel, same doctrine, and same lifestyle as taught by the Lord Jesus and the Apostles.
E1 These things do not change in time.
E2 They do not evolve.
E3 It is the same in every country and culture.
E4 Murder, for example, is wrong according to the Bible.
E5 It makes no difference where or when.
E6 The style of clothes is different in various cultures and time, which is OK.
B4 1 Thessalonians 3:9
C1 Thanksgiving
D1 The Greek word is eucharistia
D2 The word means giving thanks, thanksgiving. If I thank someone for something, I "eucharistia" them
D3 * things about thankfulness
E1 Jesus practiced it (John 11:41).
E2 Is a form/way of worship (Psalm 50:14, Hebrews 12:28).
E3 A grievous sin (Romans 1:21, 2 Timothy 3:2).
E4 Should be a common trait (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
E5 When we worry, we should pray for help and be thankful (Philippians 4:6).
C2 Joy
D1 The Greek word is chara
D2 It means joy, delight.
D3 Paul is stating that because of the faithful steadfastness of the Thessalonians, he is so very happy, ecstatic even, and offers thanksgiving to God.
D4 Are we like Paul?
B5 1 Thessalonians 3:10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and to perfect what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3 10 EMTV)
C1 Praying to see them. It was important to Paul to see this for himself, to teach them more, and to enjoy their faithfulness to Jesus Christ. It is also important for the Thessalonians to have fellowship, to share the great things that God has helped them with, and to share what they have learned by studying God's doctrine.
C2 Perfect, that is, to find out if there were any deviations from what Paul had taught them and correct it.
C4 Lacking This refers to questions that have arisen regarding the things they have been taught.
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