What are the things that Paul (and his other co-authors) is (are) thankful for?

What do you think Paul means by the phrase “work of faith”?  (1:3)

What do you think that Paul refers to the Thessalonians’ faith as a “labor of love”?  (1:3)

What do you think Paul means when he says that the Thessalonians have been chosen by God?  (1:4)  Why is Paul so confident that the believers in Thessalonica have been chosen by God?  (1:5)

What does it mean for the gospel to come to someone “in word”?  (1:5)

What does it mean for the gospel to come to someone “in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction”?  (1:5)

Paul says that even though the Thessalonians received the word of God in much affliction, they still managed to do so with great joy.  (1:6)  How do you think they were able to accomplish this?  How can we strive for joy, even in the midst of suffering, in our lives as Christians?

Paul says that the Thessalonians had imitated him, and that they had become an example for other believers elsewhere to imitate.  (1:5-7)   How would you describe the role of discipling relationships in the church?  Why is it important for Christians to have other believers that they look to, and imitate?  Why is it important for Christians to have other believers that they are setting an example for?

1:7-8 seems to indicate that word was spreading about the faith of the Thessalonians.  Why do you think that was the case?  How might that be relevant for us today?  (Particularly in a culture that increasingly wants Christians to keep their faith to themselves.) 

Paul says that the Thessalonians have turned away from idols, and turned toward God.  (1:9)  How are these two ideas (repentance, turning away from sin; faith, turning to God) connected?

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