Pain and Perseverance The Return Kile Baker May 11th, 2025 Theme Verse: “For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:16 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts. Pain: When you become a Christian, you’ll notice a change in you. When you live a Christian life, you’ll experience a negative change in others. Perseverance: It’s much easier to please an audience of one, than to deal with preferences of many. 5 For we never used flattering speech, as you know, or had greedy motives ​— ​God is our witness ​— ​6 and we didn’t seek glory from people, either from you or from others. 7 Although we could have been a burden as Christ’s apostles, instead we were gentle among you, as a nurse nurtures her own children. 8 We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember our labor and hardship, brothers and sisters. Working night and day so that we would not burden any of you, we preached God’s gospel to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly, righteously, and blamelessly we conducted ourselves with you believers. 11 As you know, like a father with his own children, 12 we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. Pain Point: Suffering through pain will either harden your heart towards God, or soften your heart towards people. Perseverance: Give your life away until it’s not yours anymore. 13 This is why we constantly thank God, because when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you welcomed it not as a human message, but as it truly is, the word of God, which also works effectively in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, since you have also suffered the same things from people of your own country, just as they did from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us. They displease God and are hostile to everyone, 16 by keeping us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. As a result, they are constantly filling up their sins to the limit, and wrath has overtaken them at last. Paint Point: Gospel courage and personal comfort don’t coexist. Perseverance: Ridicule and opposition from others is easier to withstand when you stand on the truth. Key Question: When God examines your heart, what does He expect to see? Courage: Pray for an opportunity to share your faith. Conviction: Value acceptance from God over approval from others. Commitment: Join a summer Bible reading plan with others. Next Week: Encouragement is everything