June 16, 2023 – 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Lesson Date: June 16, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

AIM: To lead students to discover differences between genuine followers of Jesus Christ and people who are merely religious, and to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith.

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Differences” on the board.  Get enough copies of the “Christ or Religion?” handout for your anticipated attendance.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct everyone’s attention to the word “Differences” written on the board.  Ask: “Have you ever played one of those games where you have to spot the differences between two very similar-looking pictures?” (they probably have).

Tell the class that if they were shown two very different-looking pictures it would be easy to spot the differences.  Tell them if they were shown a picture of an apple and a picture of a banana, they could easily tell the difference, because of each fruit’s color and shape. 

Ask: “What makes the games where you must spot the differences challenging?” (the pictures look almost the same and the differences are subtle and almost hidden).

Explain the following:

• In Matthew 13, Jesus told the familiar parable of the wheat and the tares.
• In the parable, Jesus taught that religious fakes would intermix with genuine Christians in the church.
• He said at the end of the age He will separate the people who are merely religious from the truly born-again believers.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson is Christ or Religion?  Tell them we will discover some differences between genuine Christians and people who are merely religious.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the class that we are studying the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Marks of Godly Ministry; we discovered five marks of genuine, godly ministry, and used those marks to evaluate ourselves, our class, and our church).
   • Using the Map, remind the students that Paul visited Thessalonica on his Second Missionary Journey, and wrote this letter soon afterward from Corinth.
2. Genuine Christians.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
   • Ask: “Why was Paul thankful?” (the Thessalonians received the Word of God which he preached to them).
   • Ask: “According to the last half of verse 13, how did they receive it?” (as the Word of God, not merely the words of men).
   • Ask: “What do non-believers think of the Bible?” (they think it is just a man-made collection of religious writings; they don’t believe it is true and authoritative).
   • Tell the students that one thing that makes genuine believers different from people who are merely religious is that Christians receive the Bible as the Word of God.
   • Note from the last phrase of verse 13 that the Bible works effectively in those who believe, because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17).
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 2:14.
   • Ask: “According to the first half of that verse, what had the believers in Thessalonica become?” (followers or imitators of the original churches in Judea).
   • Tell the class that genuine Christians follow the example of other believers.
   • Ask: “What else does that verse say happened to them?” (they suffered persecution from their own countrymen for their faith).
   • Explain that Jews in Judea who did not believe in Jesus persecuted the churches there, and the same thing happened to the new believers in Thessalonica.
   • Tell the students that another difference between religious people and genuine believers is that Christians often suffer persecution for their faith.
   • Tell the class 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
   • Summarize: Genuine Christians receive the Bible as the Word of God, follow the example of other believers, and often suffer persecution for their faith.
3. Religious People.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 2:15.
   • Ask: “Who is this verse describing?” (the Jews, who were very religious).
   • Tell the class this verse identifies three characteristics of people who are religious but not truly saved.
   • Ask: “What’s the first thing this verse says about the religious Jews?” (they killed Jesus and their prophets and persecuted Paul and other believers).
   • Tell the students that people who are religious but not genuine Christians oppose Christ and His messengers.
   • Ask: “What’s the next thing this verse says about them?” (they don’t please God).
   • Remind the class that Hebrews 11:6a says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him;” this means those who don’t have faith in Jesus Christ cannot please God.
   • Tell the class that people who are religious by not saved do not please God.
   • Ask: “What’s the last thing that verse says about religious people?” (they are contrary or hostile to all men).
   • Tell the students that people who are religious by not saved are hostile toward everyone.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 2:16.
   • Ask: “What does the first half of this verse say about unsaved religious people?” (they try to stop people from preaching the Gospel to others who need to be saved).
   • Explain that this is why it is okay to mention God in public, but when we speak of Jesus people want to shut us up.
   • Tell the class that unsaved religious people oppose the spread of the Gospel.
   • Ask: “What does the rest of that verse say about them?” (the wrath of God “is come upon them to the uttermost”).
   • Explain that while the Bible says Christians are saved “to the uttermost” (Heb. 7:25), the wrath of God rests upon unbelievers “to the uttermost.”
   • Tell the students that people who are religious but not saved are under God’s wrath.
   • Summarize: People who are religious but not genuine Christians oppose Christ and His messengers, do not please God, are hostile toward everyone, oppose the spread of the Gospel, and are under God’s wrath.
4. Genuine Christians, Part Two.
   • Tell the class that the remainder of the chapter tells us more about genuine Christians.
   • Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-18.
   • Remind the class that Paul and his companions were only in Thessalonica for three weeks before the unbelieving Jews ran them out of town.
   • Ask: “What was their great desire?” (to see the Thessalonian believers again).
   • Tell the students that genuine Christians desire fellowship with other believers.
   • Stress the fact that if someone claims to be a Christian, but has no interest in attending church or having fellowship with other believers, that person’s salvation is suspect.
   • Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20.
   • Ask: “What brought Paul and his companions great joy?” (the Thessalonians’ faith).
   • Stress the fact that as believers we are part of God’s family, and we are impacted by the faithfulness or lack of faithfulness of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
   • Tell the class that genuine Christians rejoice when other believers are faithful.
   • Summarize: Genuine Christians desire fellowship with other believers and rejoice when other believers are faithful.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that the title of today’s lesson is Christ or Religion?  Tell them today we have discovered some of the differences between genuine Christians and people who are only religious. 

Give everyone a copy of the “Christ or Religion?” handout.  Review the lesson by reading the two lists on the handout.

Remind the students that through the parable of the wheat and tares, Jesus taught that there would be religious fakes intermixed with the believers in the church.  Tell them that means some of the people we worship with on Sundays and Wednesdays are genuine believers, but unfortunately, others are merely religious.

Ask: “Do you know any people whose lives match the genuine Christians list?” (yes).  Ask: “Do you know any people whose lives match the merely religious list?” (they probably do).

Ask: “Here’s the key question: which list looks more like YOU?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Tell them to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith.  Encourage any who have realized today that they are not true believers to turn away from their sin and place their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.  Tell those who are certain of their salvation to pray for others who might be tares among the wheat.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Philippians 1:6, which says, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  Tell them that verse assures us that once Christ saves us, He will continue to grow and mature us in the faith until He takes us home to heaven.