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Thanksgiving
God’s Will for your lives
October 9, 2016
1 Thessalonians 12 We give thanks to God always for all of you,
constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God
and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God,
that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in
word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the
word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you
became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8
For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in
Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere,
so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report
concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait
for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who
delivers us from the wrath to come.
213 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the
word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word
of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you
believers.
39 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that
we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night
and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in
your faith?
516 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1
1
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001): Standard Bible Society.
Life Group Questions or for Personal Reflection
Your Life Group experience will be enhanced by jotting questions or insights in the notes or questions
If you miss a Sunday you can listen to the message and get the notes in the messages tab at mefc.ca
Beginning: Welcome, Fellowship and Opening Prayer
1. What insight, idea, question or principle from Sunday’s message did you find
most helpful, eye opening or troubling?
2. Have each person in the group identify 3 things they are thankful for.
Studying:
3. Read Acts 17:1-10 and look at the brief stay Paul and his team made in
Thessalonica. What would account for such a robust response as
suggested by 1 Thessalonians compared with such a brief interaction?
4. What is a work of Faith; labor of Love; or steadfastness in Hope? Provide a
general example and possibly a personal example. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
5. How do the Word, Power and the Holy Spirit work together as people become
disciples of Jesus Christ? (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
6. How can a person rejoice, pray and give thanks as a result of those being
mandated from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17? Why are they mandated?
Applying:
7. Reflect on how God has chosen you. How was that evident and how is it still
becoming more evident?
8. Who are some of the role models in Christian faith you seek to imitate?
What traits are you pursuing?
9. How are you being an example of Faith in Christ? Who is watching you?
10. How do you express thankfulness to God rather than generic thankfulness?
Praying:
11. Try offering prayer without asking God for anything only giving thanks. Each
sentence could start with ‘Dear God, thank you for …’
12. Pray for our missionaries of the Month: Dale and Ann Little serving in Japan.
Personally:
13. For the rest of this week start all of your prayers with ‘Dear God, thank you
for…’
Thanksgiving
God’s Will for your lives
October 9, 2016
1 Thessalonians 12 We give thanks to God always for all of you,
constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God
and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of
hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God,
that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in
word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the
word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you
became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.
8
For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in
Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere,
so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report
concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you
turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait
for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who
delivers us from the wrath to come.
213 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the
word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word
of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you
believers.
39 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that
we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night
and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in
your faith?
516 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 2
2
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001): Standard Bible Society.
Life Group Questions or for Personal Reflection
Your Life Group experience will be enhanced by jotting questions or insights in the notes or questions
If you miss a Sunday you can listen to the message and get the notes in the messages tab at mefc.ca
Beginning: Welcome, Fellowship and Opening Prayer
1. What insight, idea, question or principle from Sunday’s message did you find
most helpful, eye opening or troubling?
2. Have each person in the group identify 3 things they are thankful for.
Studying:
3. Read Acts 17:1-10 and look at the brief stay Paul and his team made in
Thessalonica. What would account for such a robust response as
suggested by 1 Thessalonians compared with such a brief interaction?
4. What is a work of Faith; labor of Love; or steadfastness in Hope? Provide a
general example and possibly a personal example. (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
5. How do the Word, Power and the Holy Spirit work together as people become
disciples of Jesus Christ? (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
6. How can a person rejoice, pray and give thanks as a result of those being
mandated from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17? Why are they mandated?
Applying:
7. Reflect on how God has chosen you. How was that evident and how is it still
becoming more evident?
8. Who are some of the role models in Christian faith you seek to imitate?
What traits are you pursuing?
9. How are you being an example of Faith in Christ? Who is watching you?
10. How do you express thankfulness to God rather than generic thankfulness?
Praying:
11. Try offering prayer without asking God for anything only giving thanks. Each
sentence could start with ‘Dear God, thank you for …’
12. Pray for our missionaries of the Month: Dale and Ann Little serving in Japan.
Personally:
13. For the rest of this week start all of your prayers with ‘Dear God, thank you
for…’