Much of Paul’s advice to the Thessalonians assumes that they suffer social consequences and perhaps even some suffering for their faith. Are there ways in which you find yourself suffering difficult consequences for faithfulness? Or, in our more accepting society do we need to rethink some of Paul’s assurances to meet our own circumstances?
We are appropriately concerned in our time to deepen understanding among religious groups, perhaps especially the understanding between Jews and Christians. How do you interpret Paul’s words about the death of Jesus? How might you reinterpret them for our time and situation?
How do Paul’s self-descriptions in this chapter suggest ways that we can get beyond disputes about exclusive verses’ inclusive language and find language imaginative enough to touch a variety of readers or listeners?
How do Paul’s self-descriptions help us think about leadership in our congregations? How is his apostleship like and unlike the leaders we need today—both ordained and lay?