Discussion Questions
Verse 1 • "They came to Thessalonica..." That's Greece and it's part of a saga of increasing conflict. Paul, together with Silas, Timothy and Luke, had just left Philippi where they baptize Lydia but also are thrown in prison because of their run-in with the slave girl. This is the occurrence of the great prison break, the one with earthquakes and angels, where the jailer accepts the message of Jesus. Verse 16:40 says that after they leave prison, they go to Lydia's house where the church is gathered. They receive encouragement and go to Berea. Where do you receive encouragement, and does that encouragement provoke you into action for the sake of the cross of Christ?
Verse 2 •"As is his custom..." Paul is a Jewish rabbi. Like many of us who find a church to attend while vacationing or traveling, Paul naturally finds the neighborhood synagogue. That's just who he is, and we need to be reminded that his efforts are not to benefit some new religion, but to preach the fulfillment of Jewish scripture through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Are the customs we keep as a family centered on the message of Jesus?
Verse 3 • "explaining and proving..." Paul is not silent. He opens his mouth and speaks the Truth, some people listen and respond, and that's why mobs are formed (v. 5). Evangelism means we speak even when it's risky and uncomfortable. All of Paul's actions (his "good deeds") are centered and only byproducts to this one activity: see to it that others hear about Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected. How are we taking the example of Paul and applying it in a vocalized witness? What might be the texts Paul uses to reason with them? Perhaps Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53.
Verse 5 • "Jason's house..." Paul mentions Jason in Rom. 16:21. Some think he is one of 72 disciples appointed by Jesus in Luke 10 to go out and evangelize, but this is legend, as is his association with Tarsus. We do know from our passage that he doesn't avoid persecution. Do we ever avoid being put on the spot for the sake of the Gospel? Think of a time when you avoided being put on the spot for the sake of the Gospel and identify the reason(s). Next, think of ways you can prayerfully prepare to overcome that hindrance (even if it means drafting a script for what you’d say in the event of _________).
Verse 6 • "caused trouble all over the world..." The statement is directly related to the apostle's ability, through the providence of God, to convert souls into the kingdom. Have you ever wondered if the Christian message is so diluted in the culture's milieu that we don't "cause trouble" anymore? What do we do about it this day, this week, this Advent?