Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3 | Sabbath: March 8, 2025
Memory Verse: 2 Thessalonians 3:14, 15
2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Weekly Proverb: Proverbs 31:9
Proverbs 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Introduction: Even the most outstanding people have flaws. Even the most outstanding churches have flaws. So it is with this church. Definition: Recompense means to repay or to reward.

1. We all want to grow. Growth is good. Paul thanks God for the growth of the Thessalonian church. Were they growing in membership, or finances, or a building? 2 Thessalonians 1:3.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
2. Charity is something thought of in times of distress, or as something given to the poor. Is charity restricted by time, place, situation, or need? What does this church think charity is? v 3.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
3. How did Paul and his helpers use the Thessalonian church? v 4.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Answer: When he says that “we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God,” he is saying that they boast of them to other churches. They were boasting of their patience and faith, even though they were experiencing persecutions and tribulations.
4. Can salvation be seen and experienced in this life? What honor did this church achieve? What future reward? v 4-5.
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
2 Thessalonians 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
5. Who can expect judgement? Who will be recompensed? v 6.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;
6. This church is praised by Paul. In the near future, what can this church expect to see? What can their tormentors expect? v 7-12.
2 Thessalonians 1:7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,
2 Thessalonians 1:8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 Thessalonians 1:9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
2 Thessalonians 1:10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Thessalonians 1:12 That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
7. No church is flawless. The Thessalonian church had a few flaws. How does Paul say these disorderly brothers should be handled? How should they behave? Who is their example? 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 7.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
2 Thessalonians 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
8. Traveling is not free. Did the apostle and his companions have the funds to travel and live among the Thessalonians? Did the local church provide? How were their expenses paid? v 8.
2 Thessalonians 3:8 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:
9. Could he have asked the church to provide for him? Why didn’t he? What did the local church learn? v 9.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us.
10. Should we take advantage of another’s charity? How serious is this to the apostle? v 10.
2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.
11. What is a busybody? v 11.
2 Thessalonians 3:11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Answer: A busybody involves himself in the affairs of others; a gossiper, a blabbermouth, a snoop.
12. What should these lazy busybodies be doing? v 12.
2 Thessalonians 3:12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
13. Could this be the reason he wrote this letter to their church? Again, how does the apostle instruct us to handle these men? v 14, 15.
2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
2 Thessalonians 3:15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Conclusion: This was an excellent church. Commendable. Salvation is in their future. This does not mean that everyone in that church will be in the kingdom. Salvation is personal. Galatians 6:8.

Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.