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Stand Firm Week Two: Standing With Endurance

Stand Firm Week Two: Standing With Endurance

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Review Context

The first church                Paul is pushed out of Philippi                      Those in Macedonia

  1. Paul’s concern: They are dealing with persecution.
  • A phrase Paul uses– stand firm – In 1 and 2 Thessalonians as well.
  • Kinds of persecution – social -physical – financial, relational, the temptation to give up all together or come up with a more socially acceptable version people will tolerate.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 (NIV) 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.

2 Thessalonians 2:13–15 (NIV) 13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

 

  1. Paul’s command –teaching Stand firm in what? –The teaching he has given
  • There were those who were dividing the church –distorting the truth internally and those persecuting the church externally.
  • Some of the things we see today internally –Red letters versus the Apostles writings
  • The scripture where Jesus speaks is more inspired than those of Paul or the other Apostles.
  • Some say we have the same inspiration as the disciples have so we can have progressive revelation as Spirit filled Christians
  • A statement – in essentials unity, in non-essentials freedom, in all things love

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NIV) 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 4:2 (NIV) 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:8 (NIV) 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:26–27 (NIV) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 (NIV) 14 Take special note of anyone who does not obey our instruction in this letter. Do not associate with them, in order that they may feel ashamed.

Consistent in the New Testament

Jude 3 (NIV) 3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Galatians 1:6–8 (NIV)
The New Testament revelation about scripture

2 Timothy 3:14–17 (NIV) 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Ephesians 2:19–20 (NIV)                               2 Peter 1:20–21 (NIV)                   2 Peter 3:15–16 (NIV)

The early church leaders believed the Apostles teachings were the basis for truth – the word of God – Examples

Clement of Alexandria (150-215) –“From my infancy I had been taught to reverence every letter of the Greek Bible.”

Cyprian (200-258) –. “The names given for the Scriptures testify to them: • Divine scriptures • Precepts of the Gospel • Divine commands • Sacred scriptures • Scriptures from heaven • Precepts of the Divine Law • Wells of divine fullness • Voices of the Lord.”

  1. Why were the writings in the New Testament held as scripture?
  • Remember Jesus affirms the Old Testament scripture and sets up the Apostles for the New Testament standard.

John 14:23–27 (NIV)    John 20:20–23 (NIV)

 

 

  1. What the disciples believed they were to pass on authoritative teaching

Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

 

  1. What the disciples of the Disciples/Apostles thought about their writings
  • Paul affirms this in his writings to the early church (See Galatians 1:6-8. Jude 3)

Acts 2:42 (NIV) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The bottom line

Ephesians 4:1–6 (NIV)                                     Hebrews 2:1–4 (NIV

  1. The evidence of a Christ Follower

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 (NIV) 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Ephesians 2:8–10 (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

  1. The result of a group following Christ –
  • A stability that keeps us consistent in our message and reaches lost people through the message – ringing out.

1 Thessalonians 1:4–8 (NIV)

 

For Small Group Discussion

Opening Question: What’s your preferred way to hear the latest news about your family and friends?

Main Point: Paul was nervous that the Thessalonians might waver in their faith, and he wrote to encourage the believers to stand firm.

Main Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:12-3:13

Head Questions

  • What specifically was Paul afraid had happened to the church in Thessalonica?
  • In your experience, what are some factors that often cause people to lose faith in God and drift away from the church?

Heart Questions

  • We are called to stand firm in our faith, in all circumstances, even when God doesn’t answer prayers how we expect. When are you tempted to expect a formulaic response (a+b=c) from God?
  • How do you stand firm when you don’t understand “the why”? (Why would God allow this? Why isn’t God stopping it? Etc.)

Hands Questions

  • How would you pass the truths that you stand firm on, to the next generation? How would you do that with different age groups?
  • What challenges you to stand firm in your world sphere?

Additional Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Corinthians 16:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; Philippians 1:27

To watch Jim and the Sermon Team on The Overtime Podcast, go to: https://bit.ly/RLOvertime