2 Thessalonians 1-3
This Sunday in The Gospel Project®
for Kids, our journey takes us to the church that Paul planted in
Thessalonica. The Bible says that the Day of the Lord will be a time of
judgment for evildoers (Malachi 4:1) and a time of salvation and
deliverance for believers (Romans 11:26). The Day of the Lord will come
quickly (Zephaniah 1:14). So imagine getting word that the Day of the
Lord had already come. This is what happened to the church at
Thessalonica. Some were convinced that they had missed Jesus’ second
coming, and they stopped working.
Paul
wrote to the Thessalonian church to address this misunderstanding and
to encourage the believers in their faith. Paul reminded the believers
that no one knows when Jesus will return. Only God Himself knows.
Believers must continue to work hard—doing God’s work and providing for
themselves and their families—until the moment Jesus comes. Paul even
commanded the believers to stay away from people who lived
irresponsibly.
Like
many early Christians, the believers at Thessalonica faced persecution
for their faith. Paul encouraged them not to fall away. He told them to
stand strong in what they believed about Jesus. He encouraged them to
“not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13). Life was probably
difficult for the new believers, and Paul assured them that God would
reward those who are faithful to Him and punish those who are against
Him. (2 Thessalonians 1:5-7)
Paul
prayed that the gospel would spread quickly, and he asked the church to
pray as well. He prayed that in the midst of confusion and persecution,
the Lord would give them peace. No one knows when Jesus will return
except God Himself. Believers can stand firm through persecution and
live in peace because on the great and glorious Day of the Lord,
unbelievers will be punished for their sin and those who trust in Jesus
will be saved.
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