ELNORA’S BIBLE STUDY WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS, 1Thessalonians 1, Saturday, January 10, 2026

Context for Chapter 1

The first chapter of 1 Thessalonians is mostly praise for these believers, from the apostle Paul. Paul is clearly delighted to hear that they have grown in their faith and begun to spread the gospel. Chapter two will continue reminding the Thessalonians about their prior experiences with Paul, and it includes more of his praise for their excellent efforts. Later chapters will address the questions lingering in the minds of these passionate Christians. Of particular interest, among these, are concerns related to the return of Christ. Paul will also address some areas where the church needs to improve, spiritually.

A Source: https://www.bibleref.com/1-Thessalonians/1/1-Thessalonians-chapter-1.html

1. Living the New Life, Part 1, Verses 1-10, GROUP DISCUSSION

¹ Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. 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. ⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵ because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. ⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ⁷ And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. ⁸ The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

SECTION QUESTIONS: To be Added

 

Confessions for 1Thessalonians, Chapter 1

 Paul, Silas^[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. ² We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. (1Thessalonians 1:1-2)

Heavenly Father, how grateful I am to have the inspired Scriptures as a mirror through which I am enabled to see the things I need to do to honour Your name. I pray that I may remain firm in the faith, grow in love, and rejoice in the blessed hope that I have in Christ. Thank You for the privilege of prayer and for the wonderful witness of Paul’s powerful praying. I pray that my intercessions and prayers may be guided by You, as I look for that glorious day when Christ comes for His Church. May we all be sanctified entirely, spirit, soul, and body, and be made complete and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whose name I pray, AMEN.

 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. ⁴ For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, (1Thessalonians 1:3-4)

Heavenly Father, how I praise and thank You for the wonderful truth that I was chosen in Christ from before the foundation of the world, to be one of Your elect. Thank You that everyone born of woman, has the opportunity to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. I praise You, that You do not exclude anyone who truly turns to You for salvation, that it is not Your will that anyone should be lost, and that Your Holy Spirit continues to convict man of sin, righteousness, and judgement. May we who have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, be ready and willing to be a good testimony to all with whom we come in contact so that others may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. In Jesus' name, AMEN.

⁶ You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. (1Thessalonians 1:6, 10)

Loving Father, I long to walk in spirit and truth in the power of Your Holy Spirit, so that I decrease in my own importance and Christ increases in my life, to become all in all. May the joy of the Lord be my strength in all the difficulties and trials of life, so that Christ is seen in me and others may be drawn to Him through my witness. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great and precious promises. Thank You that I have been saved by grace through faith in Christ, from the wrath to come and that one day I will be with Him in heaven. Thank You that I am not appointed to wrath, but that Christ took the full force of Your fury against my sin on the Cross of Calvary. May I never forget what it cost my Saviour to be Your sacrificial Lamb and my sin-substitute. He alone is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving. In His name I pray, AMEN.

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/1-Thessalonians/1