2 Thessalonians 13-20 | An Advancing Kingdom

1 Thessalonians 2: 13-20 | An Advancing Kingdom

Setting:

• The Kingdom of God is presented in both the OT and NT as a Kingdom that advances.

The kingdom, dominion, and greatness of the kingdoms under all of heaven will be given to the people, the holy ones of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will serve and obey him.’ — Daniel 7:27 (CSB)

On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea, in summer and winter alike. On that day the Lord will become King over the whole earth ​— ​the Lord alone, and his name alone. — Zechariah 14:8-9 (CSB)

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near! ” — Matthew 3:1-2 (CSB)

Now Jesus began to go all over Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. — Matthew 4:23 (CSB)

“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. — Matthew 6:9 (CSB)

1. The .

“from us”

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. — 2 Corinthians 5:20 (CSB)

“of God”

All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (CSB)

“in you”

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. — Philippians 2:13-18 (CSB)

• The Kingdom of God is a relay race “imitators”.

“Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. — John 14:12-14 (CSB)

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. — 2 Timothy 2:2 (CSB)

2. The . (Acts 17: 1-5)

• Persecution and suffering are a throughout the NT.

We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed. We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be displayed in our body. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’s sake, so that Jesus’s life may also be displayed in our mortal flesh. — 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 (CSB)

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. — 1 Peter 2:21 (CSB)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. “You are blessed when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every kind of evil against you because of me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. — Matthew 5:10-12 (CSB)

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, — 1 Peter 3:18 (CSB)

• God will right all .

Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him,“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? ” “Who are you, Lord? ” Saul said. “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” — Acts 9:1-6 (CSB) 

When they heard these things, they were enraged and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven. He saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. He said, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God! ”

They yelled at the top of their voices, covered their ears, and together rushed against him. They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit! ” He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them! ” And after saying this, he fell asleep. — Acts 7:54-60 (CSB) 

Then I saw him open the sixth seal. A violent earthquake occurred; the sun turned black like sackcloth made of hair; the entire moon became like blood; the stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a high wind; the sky was split apart like a scroll being rolled up; and every mountain and island was moved from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the generals, the rich, the powerful, and every slave and free person hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come! And who is able to stand? ” — Revelation 6:12-17 (CSB)

We can only begin to understand the gravity of the grace and mercy of the Gospel when it is viewed through the lens of the reality of the wrath of God.

3. The .

• Jesus’s ministry was in the “face to face”.
• Jesus’s Kingdom is a kingdom of .

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are Christ’s letter, delivered by us, not written with ink but with the Spirit of the living God ​— ​not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. — 2 Corinthians 3:2-3 (CSB)

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. — Revelation 7:9 (CSB)

GROW GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. How does the pattern that Paul lays out to the church in Thessalonica impact you today?

2. Have you experienced persecution or opposition to your faith in Christ, and how did this impact you?

3. Read the Parable to the Sower. How do the different soils apply to this theme of persecution?

4. How has the reality of the Kingdom of God being people impacted your life?