Living in the Last Days: A Study of Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians.
Feeling overwhelmed by life right now? You’re not alone. When everything feels uncertain, we often worry about what’s next. But what if it’s possible to regain perspective and live with purpose? Are living in the last days? How do we live in the Last Days? How do we make a difference in uncertain times. Let’s dig into Paul’s letters to the Church at Thessalonica and learn to live by faith, stand firm, make a difference, and face the future with courage instead of fear.
More and More – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Are we living in the last days? Yes. And every day we are one day closer to Jesus’ return. So how do we live in the last days? We persevere and endure faithfully as we place our hope in our faithful God. We have a hope today because of how God has promised it will all be made right one day.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
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DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- What was a HIGH and a LOW from the past week?
- What is something you are looking forward to in the near future?
READ: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
- OBSERVATIONS: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
- How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4.
- What was Paul thankful about the Thessalonian believers?
- How can our faith and love increase more and more?
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
- What does this tell us about God?
- What does this tell us about the coming judgement of God when He returns?
Read 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
- What was Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians in verse 11-12?
- What do these mean to you and all believers to be “worthy of his calling”?
- What do these mean to you and all believers to “Fulfill every good purpose”?
- What do these mean to you and all believers to have “Every act prompted by faith”?
- How can Jesus be glorified in us?
- What does this passage tell me about who God is?
- What is this passage calling us to do?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this passage and this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we’ve learned. What’s your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
2 Thessalonians 1:12 “We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
PRAYER: Encourage your group to pray this prayer often in 2026 & use to close your group time.
A 2026 Prayer for MORE: Ephesians 3:14-21
“Heavenly Father, Help me to engage with you MORE. Work in me to make me MORE like you. Use me to help MORE people know you. Make my story about your glory! Amen.”
Scripture References:
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 4:12; Hebrews 9:27-28; Romans 3:25-27
