INTERACTIVE TEACHING/LEARNING GUIDE
Until He Comes – Week 2
Session Title:
Focal Passage:
Wait for the Son
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Central Teaching/Learning Aim:
The learner will be challenged to stay
alert and active while waiting on the Lord’s return.
I.
Hook
A.
Ask members to use their smart phones or iPads to search the web for
headlines that reflect current events. Ask members to read the headlines
out loud one after the other.
Ask – After hearing these headlines are you depressed or hopeful about the
future?
Do you ever wonder when the Lord will return? Do you ever with it would be
today?
Read – (1 Thessalonians 1:10). What does this passage say the believers
in Thessalonica were doing? (Waiting on the return of Jesus.) Does waiting
mean not sitting idly by on a mountaintop?
Next – Share the definition of waiting from Webster’s:
:to stay in a place until an expected event happens, until someone arrives,
until it is your turn to do something, etc., to be ready and available
What were the believers in Thessalonica doing while they were waiting? (1
Thessalonians 1:6-9)





Being a good example of Christ-followers
Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
Suffering for their faith
Spreading the faith through word and deed
Served the living God not idols
State – Today we are going to discuss how to “wait” on Jesus and stay on
the alert.
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B.
Optional Method – Display the Van Gogh painting “The Starry Night.”
Share the following information:
The famous Dutch painter, sadly, tossed away the truth imparted him in his
Christian home and sank into depression and destruction. By the grace of
God, as he later began to embrace the truth again, his life took on hope,
and he gave that hope color.
The best-kept secret of Van Gogh's life is that the truth he was discovering
is seen in the gradual increase of the presence of the color yellow in his
paintings. Yellow evoked (for him) the hope and warmth of the truth of God's
love. In one of his depressive periods, seen in his famous The Starry Night,
one finds a yellow sun and yellow swirling stars, because Van Gogh thought
truth was present only in nature. Tragically, the church, which stands tall in
this painting and should be the house of truth, is about the only item in the
painting showing no traces of yellow.
Now display the painting “The Raising of Lazarus.”
However, by the time he painted The Raising of Lazarus, his life was on the
mend as he began to face the truth about himself. The entire picture is
(blindingly) bathed in yellow. In fact, Van Gogh put his own face on Lazarus
to express his own hope in the Resurrection.
State – How should the hope of the resurrection stir us to action?
State – Today we are going to discuss how to “wait” on Jesus and stay on
the alert.
C.
Optional Method – Movie Clip “Unbroken”
Location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrjJbl7kRrI
Length: 2:34
Synopsis: December 12, 2014
By SARAH PULLIAM BAILEY/RELIGION NEWS SERVICE
New York (RNS) – Angelina Jolie’s highly anticipated film Unbroken
features the true story of an Olympian and World War II veteran who was
able to extend forgiveness to his captors only after he encountered
Christianity.
The problem? The Christianity central to Louis Zamperini’s life is almost
entirely absent from the film.
In an interview conducted by CBN Zamperini told CBN during a televised
interview that after the war he began drinking heavily, trying to forget his
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POW abuse. Constant nightmares also haunted him, including nightly
dreams of strangling his captors. As his life and marriage began to fall apart,
his wife Cynthia became a born-again Christian after attending a crusade
led by evangelist Billy Graham in Los Angeles. In 1949, Zamperini
reluctantly agreed to attend a crusade in hopes of saving his marriage
following continual prodding by his wife and her newfound Christian friends.
Zamperini told CBN he became a born-again Christian after attending the
crusade and hearing Graham share the Gospel, which reminded him of his
continual prayers on the life raft and in the prisoner of war cap when he
made repeated promises to seek and serve God. He said as soon as he
made his decision for Christ he forgave his captors and never had another
nightmare. Later Graham helped Zamperini launch a new career as a
Christian inspirational speaker.
One of Zamperini’s favorite themes is “forgiveness”, and he has visited
many of the guards from his POW days to let them know that he has
forgiven them. Many of the war criminals who committed the worst atrocities
were held in the Sugamo Prison, in Tokyo. In October 1950, Zamperini went
to Japan, gave his testimony, and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ
through an interpreter (a missionary named Fred Jarvis). The colonel in
charge of the prison encouraged any of the prisoners who recognized
Zamperini to come forward and meet him again. Zamperini threw his arms
around each of them. Once again, he explained the Christian Gospel of
forgiveness to them. The prisoners were somewhat surprised by
Zamperini’s genuine affection for those who had once ill-treated him, and
Zamperini told CBN some gave their lives to Christ.
State – Louis Zamperini made a promise to the Lord on a life raft and he
kept it. Serving Him until he passed away last year at the age of 97.
State – Today we are going to discuss how to “wait” on Jesus and stay on
the alert.
II.
Book
A.
III.
Utilize the discussion guide to examine the Scripture passages.
Look
A.
Distribute the handout “Speaking the Truth with Boldness” and guide
members through it.
State – Waiting on the Lord is a verb. We are to be actively living the
Christian life. Review One-Verse Evangelism with your Life Group. (Utilize
the Power Point.)
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Next – Ask members to write down their story in a paragraph.
IV.
Took
A.
Place members into pairs and have them practice sharing One-Verse
Evangelism and their story.
Challenge members to pray and seek opportunities to share with their
friends and relatives who might be on their Impact list.
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DISCUSSION GUIDE
Teacher Copy
1. What were the Christ-followers in Thessalonica doing according to (1 Thessalonians
1:10)?
[They were waiting on the return of Christ.]
2. What do you think of when you hear the word waiting?
3. Waiting is not sitting idly by. What activities were these believers doing in (vs. 6-9)?
a. Being a good example of Christ-followers
b. Living in the power of the Holy Spirit
c. Enduring suffering
d. Spreading their faith through word and deed
e. Serving the living God and not idols
4. The number one word for 2014 chosen by Forbes was “culture.” How/why do
Christians sit idly by as the culture clashes with our Christian beliefs?
5. Waiting is “staying alert.” What do the following passages teach about staying alert?
a. (Colossians 4:2)
b. (Mark 13:35)
c. (1 Cor. 16:13-14)
d. (1 Peter 5:8)
Be devoted to prayer
Stay prepared to be found faithful
Stand firm, show courage, be strong and love others
Go on the offensive against the devil
6. In your daily walk how much do you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit? (Circle one.)
Each and every day
Sometimes
Rarely
7. How can the Holy Spirit help you stay active for the cause of Christ?
a. (Acts 4:8)
b. (Mark 1:12)
c. (Galatians 5:18)
d. (Galatians 5:24-25)
He can help you speak with boldness
He can guide your steps
He provides grace
He removes fleshly desires
8. Have you ever suffered for your faith? How/when?
9. When is the most recent time you shared a verbal witness or did a good deed in the
name of Jesus?
10. Are you serving God alone or do you place idols above your relationship to Him? If
yes, list the idols.
11. How can you remove these idols and make Jesus the Lord of your life?
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DISCUSSION GUIDE
Student Copy
1. What were the Christ-followers in Thessalonica doing according to (1 Thessalonians
1:10)?
2. What do you think of when you hear the word waiting?
3. Waiting is not sitting idly by. What activities were these believers doing in (vs. 6-9)?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
4. The number one word for 2014 chosen by Forbes was “culture.” How/why do
Christians sit idly by as the culture clashes with our Christian beliefs?
5. Waiting is “staying alert.” What do the following passages teach about staying alert?
a. (Colossians 4:2)
b. (Mark 13:35)
c. (1 Cor. 16:13-14)
d. (1 Peter 5:8)
6. In your daily walk how much do you rely on the power of the Holy Spirit? (Circle one.)
Each and every day
Sometimes
Rarely
7. How can the Holy Spirit help you stay active for the cause of Christ?
a. (Acts 4:8)
b. (Mark 1:12)
c. (Galatians 5:18)
d. (Galatians 5:24-25)
8. Have you ever suffered for your faith? How/when?
9. When is the most recent time you shared a verbal witness or did a good deed in the
name of Jesus?
10. Are you serving God alone or do you place idols above your relationship to Him? If
yes, list the idols.
11. How can you remove these idols and make Jesus the Lord of your life?
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SPEAKING THE TRUTH WITH BOLDNESS
Christ story – (Romans 6:23)
Your story –
Share your story -
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THEE WORD FOR THE WEEK
Speak with Boldness
I Thessalonians 2:1-4
Monday – Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2; Acts 14:5; Acts 16:19-24
 Where had Paul been before he came to Thessalonica?
 What kind of treatment had he received in those places?
 Did Paul “give in” to what the authorities wanted in those places or did he stand
up for what he believed?
Tuesday – Read Acts 17:1-9
 After traveling to those places Paul came to Thessalonica. What did Paul do
when he first got there?
 Did it take courage to speak as he did?
 Who, if anyone, was persuaded by what Paul had to say about Jesus?
 Who had Paul stayed with in Thessalonica?
 What happened to him?
Wednesday – Read 1Thessalonians 2:3-4
 What does Paul say about what he had to say to the Thessalonians?
 Who is his authority?
Thursday – Read Titus 1:1-3; Proverbs17:3
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
In reading these passages in relation to 1Thessalonians 2:3-4 what does
scripture say about where we are to look for our authority?
What do these passages say about whom we should worry about pleasing by
what we do and say?
Friday – Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
 Using Paul’s example, why should we speak with boldness about our belief in
Christ?
 Could it possibly “cost” us something to do that?
 Have you ever been faced with the situation in which it would cost you if you
spoke up for your belief in Christ?
 What did you do? Would you do anything differently if you had it to do over
again?
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EXEGETICAL ~ THEOLOGICAL ~ PEDAGOGICAL
NOTE: The bold in each point represents the subject of the unit – what the author was taking
about, while the bold underline represents the complement – the author was saying about
what he was talking about. Together the subject and complement provide the proposition or big
ideas of each unit.
(Exegetical: What it meant for the Thessalonian believers back THEN)
THE REASON PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS HAD NO NEED
TO SAY ANYTHING [NO NEED TO PREACH THE GOSPEL]
(a statement of hyperbole)
IN MACEDONIA, ACHAIA, AND EVERYWHERE ELSE THE THESSALONIANS’ FAITH
TOWARD GOD HAD GONE OUT,
AS A RESULT OF THEIR BECOMING IMITATORS OF PAUL, HIS COMPANIONS, AND THE
LORD BY RECEIVING THE WORD
[THE GOSPEL PAUL HAD PREACHED] . . . WAS BECAUSE THEY
[THE NEW BELIEVERS IN MACEDONIA, ACHAIA, AND OTHER PLACES] WERE
REPORTING TO PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS THE KIND OF WELCOME THEY
THEMSELVES [PAUL AND HIS COMPANIONS]
HAD EXPERIENCED FROM THE THESSALONIANS AND HOW THE THESSALONIANS
HAD TURNED TO GOD FROM IDOLS IN ORDER TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD
AND IN ORDER TO WAIT FOR
HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, WHOM HE RAISED FROM THE DEAD, JESUS, THE ONE WHO
DELIVERS FROM THE COMING WRATH,
(1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
I. The reason Paul and his companions knew that God had chosen the Thessalonian
believers . . . was because the Thessalonian believers had become imitators [cp. 1
Corinthians 4:16; 11:1] of Paul, his companions, and the Lord by receiving the word
[the gospel – see Acts 17:2-3] in much affliction [see Acts 17:5-9] [and yet] with the joy
of the Holy Spirit, (1:6).
Note: “In verses 5-10 the apostle outlines in three clear stages the progress of the gospel in
Thessalonica. First, ‘our gospel came to you’ (5). Secondly, ‘you welcomed [received] the
message’ (6). Thirdly, ‘the Lord’s message rang out from you’ (8). This sequence is God’s
continuing purpose throughout the world” (John Stott, The Gospel and the End of Time: The
Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 32).
A. The reason Paul and his companions knew that God had chosen [1:4] the
Thessalonian believers . . . was because the Thessalonian believers had become
imitators of Paul, his companions, and the Lord, (1:6a).
B. The means in which the Thessalonian believers had become imitators of Paul, his
companions, and the Lord . . . was by receiving the word [see 1:5a] (1:6b).
Note: “To ‘welcome [receive] the message’ includes this [imitating the apostles and Jesus].
It is no mere intellectual acquiescence in the truth of the gospel; it is a complete
transformation of behavior through a close following of Christ and his apostles.
“As Dr. Leon Morris has put it, ‘the imitators in their turn were imitated.’ For those who
take Christ and his apostles as their model inevitably themselves become a model to
others.
“Four new relationships seem to be implied – the opposition of the world, the joy of the
Holy Spirit, the imitation of the Lord and his apostles, and being a model to the rest of the
church” (Stott, 36).
Shogren notes the difficulty of identifying the relationship between “becoming imitators”
(a participle) and “receiving/welcoming” (an indicative). I have chosen to take the participle
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as one of means. Shogren favors attendant circumstance (Gary S. Shogren, Exegetical
Commentary on the New Testament: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 66). He reads, “and you
received,” whereas I read, “the means . . . was by receiving.”
C. The context in which the Thessalonian believers received the word . . . was in
much affliction [see Acts 17:5-9] (1:6c).
D. The attitude in which the Thessalonian believers received the word in much
affliction . . . with joy from the Holy Spirit, (1:6d).
Note: “This pattern of outward opposition and inward joy has often been repeated in the
long history of the church [Jn. 16:33]” (Stott, 35).
“’From the Spirit’ is best taken as a genitive of source” (Shogren, 67).
II. The result of the Thessalonian believers becoming imitators of Paul, his
companions, and the Lord . . . was that the Thessalonian believers became an
example for all those who were believing in Macedonia and Achaia, (1:7).
III. The reason the Thessalonian believers had become an example to all those believing
. . . was because the word of the Lord had sounded forth from them not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place their faith toward God had gone out
so that Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to preach the
gospel in those places (1:8).
Note: The influence of the Thessalonians was felt not only locally, in their city, but also
nationally, in Macedonia in the north and Achaia in the south [of Greece], and internationally, in
every place where a recounting of their faith had been told.
“The Greek word . . . which occurs nowhere else in the New Testament . . . is derived from
Ēkhō, an echo or noise. . . . Chrysostom thought that Paul was likening the preaching of the
gospel to ‘the sound of a loud trumpet.’ The verb is also used of ‘a great thunder.’ . . . Whether
Paul is thinking of thunder or trumpets, the gospel proclaimed by the Thessalonians made a
loud noise, which seemed to reverberate through the hills and valleys of Greece” (Stott, 37).
A. The reason the Thessalonian believers had become an example to all those
believing . . . was because the word of the Lord had sounded forth from them,
(1:8a).
B. The place in which the word of the Lord had sounded forth from the Thessalonian
believers . . . was not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place the
Thessalonians’ faith toward God had gone out, (1:8b).
Note: “Even if Paul’s ‘everywhere’ is hyperbole, he is certainly saying that the
Thessalonians’ faith was becoming known far beyond Greece, maybe west by land to
Rome and east by sea to Ephesus” (Stott, 37).
“Something extraordinary is going on in Thessalonica: a new society is coming into
being, with new values and standards, characterized by faith, love and hope” (Stott, 38).
This was, after all, the result of the preaching of those who had “turned the world upside
down” (Acts 17:6).
C. The result of the Thessalonian believers sounding out word of the Lord in
Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else their faith toward God had gone out . . .
was that Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to preach
the gospel in those places], (1:8c).
IV. The reason Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to preach
the gospel] in Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else the Thessalonians’ faith
toward God had gone out . . . was because they [the new believers in Macedonia,
Achaia, and other places] were reporting to Paul and his companions the kind of
welcome they themselves [Paul and his companions] had experienced from the
Thessalonians and how the Thessalonians had turned to God from idols in order to
serve the living and true God and in order to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He
raised from the dead, Jesus, the one who delivers from the coming wrath, (1:9-10).
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Note: “Paul then goes on . . . to give a three-part analysis of Christian conversion, which is
arguably the fullest account of it in the New Testament. It indicates that conversion involves (1)
a decisive break with idols, (2) an active service of God, and (3) a patient waiting for Christ.
These three steps are summed up in the verbs ’you turned . . . to serve . . . and to wait . . .’”
(Stott, 38).
“The verb translated ‘turn’ (epistrepho) became an almost technical term for conversion,
which is a turn from sin to Christ, from darkness to light and from idols to God. Luke in particular
uses it repeatedly in Acts. It would be difficult to exaggerate how radical is the change of
allegiance which is implied by the turn from idols to the living and true God. For idols are dead;
God is living. Idols are false; God is true. God is invisible and intangible, beyond the reach of
sight and touch. Idols are creatures, the work of human hands; God is the Creator of the
universe and of all humankind. . . . The Thessalonians could themselves see Mount Olympus,
about fifty miles south of their city, where the Greek gods were supposed to live” (Stott, 39).
Stott comments that whether the idols one serves are superstitious (like the god’s of pagan
Thessalonica or the animism of traditional religions) or sophisticated (like the “God-substitutes”
of a person, or money, power, sex, food, alcohol, work, technology, etc.), when a new believer
responds in faith to the gospel message, the power of the idol is broken and a new loyalty to
serve Christ Jesus compels them to live with a new set of beliefs, values, actions, and attitudes.
A. The reason Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to
preach the gospel] in Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else the Thessalonians’
faith toward God had gone out . . . was because they [the new believers in
Macedonia, Achaia, and other places] were reporting to Paul and his companions
the kind of welcome they themselves [Paul and his companions] had experienced
from the Thessalonians, (1:9a).
Note: “The ‘welcome we had’ may be paraphrased as “we received a welcome.’ Paul
interprets the team’s ‘welcome’ in Thessalonica in the light of gospel tradition. He
echoes the Markan [6:10-11] tradition of Jesus’ charge to the disciples, which is
expanded in Matthew 10:11-14.
B. The reason Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to
preach the gospel] in Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else the Thessalonians’
faith toward God had gone out . . . was because they [the new believers in
Macedonia, Achaia, and other places] were reporting to Paul and his companions
how the Thessalonians had turned to God from idols, (1:9b).
Note: "The language of separation occurs with regularity in the Thessalonian
correspondence (1 Thes. 1:9; 4:5, 7, 12, 13; 5:5f.; 2 Thes. 1:7f.; 2:11f.; 3:6, 14f.) and
serves in a negative way to mark the boundary between those who belong to the
Christian community and those who do not, thereby encouraging the new Christian
identity. Similarly, the language of belonging is also prominent in the Thessalonian
correspondence (1 Thes. 1:4; 2:12; 5:5; 2 Thes. 1:11-12; 2:6 [sic], 13-15; 3:16)" (Dr.
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on 1 Thessalonians, 12).
C. The reason Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to
preach the gospel] in Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else the Thessalonians’
faith toward God had gone out . . . was because they [the new believers in
Macedonia, Achaia, and other places] were reporting to Paul and his companions
how the Thessalonians had turned to God from idols in order to serve the living
and true God, (1:9c).
D. The reason Paul and his companions had no need to say anything [no need to
preach the gospel] in Macedonia, Achaia, and everywhere else the Thessalonians’
faith toward God had gone out . . . was because they [the new believers in
Macedonia, Achaia, and other places] were reporting to Paul and his companions
how the Thessalonians had turned to God from idols in order to wait for His Son
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from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, the one who delivers from
the coming wrath, (1:10).
Note: “They were also awaiting the return of God's Son ‘out of the heavens.’ This is the
only place in 1 and 2 Thessalonians where Paul called Jesus God's Son. Their action was
the evidence of their hope (v. 3). Jesus' resurrection is indisputable proof of His deity and
the prerequisite to His return.
“The outpouring of God's wrath occurs at many times in history. One of these
judgments is the Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 7:14) that will come upon the whole earth in
the future (Rev. 3:10). Another is the great white throne judgment at the end of the
Millennium (Rev. 20:11-15).
“If this was the only reference to "the wrath to come" in this epistle, we might conclude
that Paul was probably referring to the outpouring of God's wrath on unbelievers generally.
There is no specific reference to a particular judgment here. However, later he spent
considerable space writing about the outpouring of God's wrath in the Tribulation (4:13-18;
5:1-11). Therefore it seems to me that this is the first reference to that outpouring of wrath
in the epistle (cf. 2:16; 5:9). The biblical revelation about the relationship of church saints to
the wrath of God strongly implies a pretribulation rapture of the church” (Constable, 12-13).
“It is immediately noteworthy that ‘serving’ and ‘waiting’ go together in the experience of
converted people. Indeed, this is at first sight surprising, since ‘serving’ is active, while
‘waiting’ is passive. In Christian terms ‘serving’ is getting busy for Christ on earth, while
‘waiting’ is looking for Christ to come from heaven. Yet these two are not incompatible. On
the contrary, each balances the other. On the one had, however hard we work and serve,
there are limits to what we can accomplish. We can only improve society; we cannot
perfect it. We shall never build a utopia on earth. For that we have to wait for Christ to
come. Only then will he secure the final triumph of God’s reign of justice and peace” (Stott,
41-42).
A significant argument in this epistle to the Thessalonians was that Jesus Christ had not
yet returned. The must still wait for His appearing . . . to catch them up into His presence. In
the meantime, they were to serve Him as they imitated Him and his apostles.
“No church can spread the gospel with any degree of integrity, let alone credibility,
unless it has been visibly changed by the gospel it preaches. We need to look like what we
are talking about. It is not enough to receive the gospel and pass it on; we must embody it
in our common life of faith, love, joy, peach, righteousness and hope” (Stott, 44).
(Theological: What it means for God’s people ALWAYS)
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE THAT BELIEVERS SOUND FORTH,
IMITATING CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES . . .
EXEMPLIFIES TO OTHERS 1) WELCOMING THE GOSPEL MESSENGER,
2) TURNING FROM IDOLS, 3) SERVING THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD,
AND 4) WAITING FOR GOD’S SON, JESUS, FROM HEAVEN,
(1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
I. Receiving the gospel message with joy from the Spirit, though in the context of
persecution . . . leads to believers imitating the apostles and Christ Himself, (1:6).
II. Imitating the apostles and Christ Himself . . . leads to believers becoming examples
for others, (1:7).
III. Believers who exemplify the apostles and Christ Himself to others . . . sound forth
the gospel locally, nationally, and internationally, (1:8).
IV. The gospel message that believers sound forth . . . exemplifies 1) welcoming the
gospel messenger, 2) turning from idols, 3) serving the living and true God, and 4)
waiting for God’s Son, Jesus, from heaven, (1:9-10).
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(Pedagogical: What it means for us Now)
EXEMPLIFY THE GOSPEL AS YOU WAIT FOR JESUS TO RETURN.
I. You have received the gospel message with joy from the Spirit in spite of any persecution,
(1:6b).
II. You have begun to imitate Christ and the apostles [persevering in spite of persecution],
(1:6a).
III. You have become examples to others, sounding forth the gospel locally, nationally, and
internationally, (1:7-8).
IV. The gospel message you exemplify and sound forth compels others . . .
A. . . . to welcome the gospel messenger, (1:9a),
B. . . . to turn from idols, (1:9b),
C. . . . to serve the living and true God, (1:9c).
. . . to wait for God’s Son, Jesus, to rescue you from Heaven, (1:10).
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