Lesson Date: December 2, 2012

Focal Scripture Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

AIM: To lead students to discover some evidences of a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, and to examine their lives to see if those evidences are present.

 

Before class: Read the notes on 1 Thessalonians 1 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Prepare some strips of paper with the following phrases written on them (cash register tape works well for this, or print the phrases using a computer and then cut them into strips): “Work of Faith;” “Labor of Love;” “Patience of Hope;” “Election of God;” “Affliction with Joy;” “Served as Examples;” “Spread the Gospel;” “Turned to God from Idols;” “Served the True and Living God;” “Wait for the Son;” and “Delivered from Wrath.”  Also, create a title banner with the words: “Evidences of Genuine Christianity.”  Place this banner on the focal wall of the classroom (or write it on the marker board or chalkboard), and scatter the other phrase strips on the floor around the classroom.

Enlist two class members to role play the introductory activity.  The first is to pretend to be a prisoner standing trial and the other is to pretend to be the court bailiff.  Put a chair at the front of the class facing the students.  Tell the two volunteers to wait in the hall until you call them in.  When called, the “bailiff” is to come in and call the court to order. (“All rise.  Court is now in session for the trial of ___________ on the charge of being a Christian.  You may be seated.”)  He is then to bring the “prisoner” into the classroom and seat him in the chair.  The “prisoner” should hang his head and look guilty.

 

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Call the “bailiff” into the room.  After he calls the court to order and seats the prisoner, tell the class that the prisoner is accused of being a Christian, and you are calling for the class members to present evidence to prove the charge.  Ask: “What evidence can you present to prove that _____________ is a Christian?”  Allow a few moments for them to tell why they think the “prisoner” is a Christian.  Thank the volunteers and send them to their regular seats.  (An alternative to this role playing activity would be to show a picture of a courtroom or ask the students if they have ever been in a courtroom.  Tell them in a criminal trials evidence is presented to try to prove that an accused person committed a certain crime.  Ask: “If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”)

Tell the class that in today’s lesson they will discover some scriptural evidences of genuine Christianity, and examine themselves to see if their lives give evidence of a genuine saving faith in Jesus Christ.

 

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1.     Introduce the New Quarter.

a.     Tell the class this quarter they will study the little New Testament letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

b.     Briefly introduce the book of 1 Thessalonians, using introductory material from the Sunday School Teacher Book or Sunday School Member Quarterly.

c.     Tell the class the theme of this quarter’s study is “Living for the Return of Christ.”

2.     Genuine Christians Work and Wait for the Lord.

a.     Read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2.

b.     Ask: “Based on the way Paul referred to the Thessalonians in verse 1, do you think he believed they were genuinely saved?” (yes).

c.     In verse 2 he said he was thankful for the Thessalonians and that he prayed for them constantly.

d.     Tell the class that the next verses give reasons the Apostle Paul knew the Thessalonians were genuine believers.

e.     Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 1:3-4.

f.      Ask the class to point out phrases on the strips of paper scattered on the floor that are contained in these verses (“Work of Faith;” “Labor of Love;” “Patience of Hope;” and “Election of God”).  Explain the meaning of each phrase:

·       Work of faith means work that is the result of one’s faith in Christ.  Faith that expresses itself in works is an evidence of genuine salvation. 

·       Labor of love means labor prompted by their love for Jesus Christ.  Christians should be eager to serve the Lord, out of love for Him and gratitude for the love He has shown us. 

·       Patience of hope means patience that is marked by hope – hopeful endurance.

·       Election of God refers to God’s sovereign work in saving them.

g.     Post each phrase under the title banner.  The first three of those phrases name an evidence of genuine Christianity.  The last one refers to the source of our salvation.

3.     Genuine Christians can Endure Affliction with Joy.

a.     Ask: “Do you think the Thessalonians trusted Christ as their Savior because Paul was such a great and persuasive preacher?”  Tell the class the answer to that question is found in the next verse.

b.     Ask a volunteer to read 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6.

c.     Note that the gospel came not only through Paul’s words, but it was also evident in the power of God and the conviction brought by the Holy Spirit.

d.     Our words never save anyone, but people are saved when the Holy Spirit brings conviction and assurance (of the truth of the gospel) to the sinner’s heart.

e.     Ask: “What did the Thessalonians know about Paul, Silas, and Timothy?” (they knew what kind of men they were – their lifestyle confirmed the gospel rather than cast doubt on it).

f.      This reminds us of the fact that our lifestyle and conduct are important!

g.     Ask: “Who did the Thessalonians follow?” (Paul and the Lord).

h.     Pick up the strip of paper containing the words “Affliction with Joy” and post it under the title banner.

i.      Another evidence of genuine Christianity is that we can endure affliction with joy.

4.     Genuine Christians are Examples to Others and Spread the Gospel.

a.     Tell the class that two more evidences of genuine Christianity can be found in 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8.  Read those verses.

b.     Ask the class to point out the phrases on the floor that are named in those verses (“Served as Examples” and “Spread the Gospel”).

c.     Post these strips on the wall under the title banner.

d.     Tell the class that genuine Christians should be examples to everyone of how believers ought to behave.

e.     Ask: “Can people see how to live for Christ by watching you?” 

f.      True believers should also spread the gospel.

g.     Ask the class to brainstorm ways Christians can share the gospel.  One good way is to enroll lost people in Sunday School.

h.     Tell the class that genuine Christians living in such a way that they set good examples for others, and they also spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to others.

5.     Changes Resulting from Genuine Conversion.

a.     Tell the class that 1 Thessalonians 1:9 describes changes others could see in the lives of the Thessalonian believers.  These changes were further proof that they were genuine Christians.

b.     Ask a volunteer to read that verse.

c.     Ask the class to look at the phrases remaining on the floor and name the ones found in verse 9 (“Turned to God from Idols” and “Served the True and Living God”).

d.     Post those strips beside the first two (see example below).

e.     As you post those two strips, explain the connection between these phrases and those in verse 3:

·       When God does a work of faith in a sinner’s life, that sinner will turn away from idols to worship God.

·       When a new convert recognizes the love Christ has bestowed upon him, he will want to labor and serve the Lord.

f.      Tell the class that genuine salvation causes change.  Everyone who has come to true faith in Jesus Christ has turned away from “idols” such as self, pride, and sin.  It is impossible to turn to Christ without also turning away from those false gods.

g.     Stress the fact that genuine Christianity brings change to the life.  In other words, if your life hasn’t ever changed, then you haven’t truly been saved.

6.     The Future of the Genuine Christian.

a.     Read 1 Thessalonians 1:10.

b.     Tell the class that the last two phrases on the floor are found in that verse (“Wait for the Son” and “Delivered from Wrath”).

c.     These last two are related to the third and fourth phrases already posted.  Explain the following:

·       The genuine Christian demonstrates patience marked by hope in that he or she waits for the return of Jesus Christ.  Tell the class that the return of Christ is the central theme of both 1 & 2 Thessalonians.  In fact, they will find it mentioned in every chapter of both Thessalonian letters.

·       As a result of our election of God, we have been delivered from the wrath that God directs and will direct toward lost persons (1 Thess. 5:9).

d.     Put these last two strips on the wall beside the third and fourth strips.  The completed display on the wall (or board) should look like this:

Evidences of Genuine Christianity

Work of Faith – Turned to God from Idols

Labor of Love – Served the True and Living God

Patience of Hope – Wait for the Son from Heaven

Election of God – Delivered from Wrath to Come

Affliction with Joy

Served as Examples

Spread the Gospel

 

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Read the lesson aim to the class, and then read over all the evidences of genuine Christianity discovered in this lesson.  Tell the class that this lesson is a useless mental exercise unless they apply the things they’ve learned to their lives.  Ask everyone to examine themselves right now to see if the evidences listed on the wall are present in their lives.  Remind them of the “trial” held at the beginning of the class and ask: “If you were on trial for being a Christian, and the things listed on the wall were the standard against which your life was judged, how would you measure up?”

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Encourage any who need to be saved to confess their sins and trust Jesus Christ right now.  Encourage those who are Christians but are living in disobedience in some area to confess that as sin and recommit themselves to the Lord.  Lead a closing prayer.

 

CONCLUSION: Encourage everyone to memorize 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 this week.  Ask them to read the Daily Bible Readings each day and answer the questions in their Sunday School quarterly.