An Encouraging Reminder

GETTING STARTED

When I was younger, there were times when I would become discouraged about life. We’ve all been there. What am I doing? Why am I doing it? What’s this all for anyway? Usually, what I needed most was a simple talk with my dad. It’s amazing how just a few insightful words from a loving father can make any son or daughter almost immediately feel back on track. 

  • Think about a time when you got much-needed advice from a parent, coach, or mentor. How did their encouragement make you feel?

READ THE WORD: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (ESV)

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. What did Paul ask the Thessalonians to remember (vs. 9)?
  2. How did Paul describe his relationship with the Thessalonian congregation, and what did he urge them to do (vss. 11-12)?
  3. Why did Paul compare himself to “a father with his children”?
  4. When you stray from or question your own faith walk, where does your encouragement come from?

RESPOND TO GOD

When Paul was in Thessalonica, he formed a strong bond with the early believers there and ministered to them with both his actions and his words. As such, in his letter, Paul reminded the Thessalonian congregation of their intimate and authentic relationship, and he implored them to walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling on their lives. Similarly we, by grace, have shared in this same calling. And this is where  we find our own lasting encouragement and charge “to walk in a manner worthy of God.”

  • Pray that God would use you to exhort, encourage, and charge others in your own circle of influence to walk in a manner worthy of God’s calling on their lives.