1 & 2 THESSALONIANS STUDY 5

Helping Christians to grow – guidelines for follow-up 1Thess. 2:17-3:13

Introduction

Nurture groups certainly didn’t start with present-day evangelism! Paul made sure that new believers weren’t left out on a limb. In this section of his letter we discover how he made sure that the Thessalonian Christians had every opportunity to grow in their faith.

First of all, what would you say are the most important things we’re trying to achieve in ‘follow-up’ or ‘nurture’ groups?

A number of statements in 2:17-20 indicate that Paul viewed follow-up as a top priority. So let’s make that the first concept to study this week.

1. Follow-up is important (2:17-20)

The background to v. 17 is Acts 17:10 and the days that followed.

a. What sense of urgency and priority do you get from v. 17,18a?

(Incidentally, the Greek for the words ‘torn away’, gives us our English word ‘orphaned’ i.e. Paul felt bereaved by this experience.) Why did Paul feel like that? How do our attitudes match up to his?

b. What does v. 18b indicate about Satan and his ability to hinder God’s work?

Build up a picture of Satan and his power from the following references. Note, too, the implication of his names.

1 Thess. 3:5; 2 Thess 3:3; 1 Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2; 1 Pet. 5:8.

What does follow-up have to do with ‘standing up to Satan’? 1 Pet. 5:9 gives a clue.

c. What compelled Paul to write vs. 19,20, and what is their connection with his desire to follow them up?

Now we come to the nitty gritty of nurturing, and Paul notes things to emphasise:

2. Points to work on (3:1-5)

a. How capable should a follow-up or nurture group leader be? Take a look at Timothy’s qualifications (v.2a). Phil. 2:19-22 and 1 Cor. 4:17 have more qualities.

So if God is calling us to nurture others, what is required of us?

b. What sort of follow-up programme do we find in these verses? Look at vs. 5a and 2b. v.5a seems logically to come first.

i. ‘To FIND OUT about your faith’ (v.5a) seems to have been a top priority. Why should this be so, i.e. why is it important to check up on what people really believe? Jesus talked about the different kinds of faith (some spurious) among those who make professions: see Mark 4:16-20.

In Mission ’89, for example, many made professions, but some fail to go on. Why? So in a nurture group how would you go about trying to verify their faith?

ii. Timothy was also required to STRENGTHEN them in their faith (v. 2). How do you think he went about it? If you had to draw up a programme for Oakhall Church’s nurture or discovery groups what specifics would you concentrate on to strengthen the new Christians? What aids are available to help in this?

iii. V. 2 also refers to ENCOURAGING them in their faith. This word gives the idea literally of being called alongside to help. It’s the verb from which we get the noun ‘Paraclete’, a name for the Holy Spirit who helps us. In what areas may new believers today need to be encouraged? What is that going to demand of us?

iv. Vs. 3,4 spell out one of the reasons why new Christians need to be strengthened and encouraged. To what extent is that relevant today?

3. The rest of the chapter (vs. 6-13) tells us of Timothy’s success and Paul’s reaction.

a. What do these verses suggest about one’s on-going responsibility for those we are privileged to lead to Christ? (vs. 6-10)

b. What does Paul’s prayer (vs. 10-13) indicate about areas where we all need to continue to grow? What does this suggest about the continuing need to nurture?