1 Thessalonians - Week 2

June 30, 2024

Message Notes

Main Scriptures

Personal Reflections

What is my response?

What steps do I feel called to take?

Trust God - Work Hard
Paul addressed a pattern he saw in the Thessalonians in BOTH Letters…written a couple years apart.
(When multiple letters of Scripture repeat the same message, we should pay extra attention)

1 Thessalonians 2:9 - 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.

“labor + toil”   -    “worked”   -   “night and day

Why would Paul point this out? To combat what he saw :
Idleness - Laziness - Apathy

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 - Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were NOT IDLE when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. 9 It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate. 10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.

What was Paul’s Side Hustle / “Trade”? (Acts 18:1-3 Tent making)

He gave the same teaching to Ephesian elders in Acts 20:33-35
Paul wasn’t saying they shouldn’t be paid…
(1 Cor. 9:8-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18; Luke 10:5-7 )
…but seeing their pattern of Idleness, he wanted to model hard work.

In what area of your life is Scripture challenging you to
Trust God and Work Hard?