The Gospel and How It Changes Lives

Introduction

What if you really believed. What if you really believed that Jesus was the Son of God, that you and every other person was a sinner. What if you really believed that God justly condemned sinners to hell for rejecting His rightful authority and salvation in His Son. What if you really believed that there was a way to be saved through Jesus Christ who died in our place and rose again to offer us eternal life. What if you really believed that the gospel was not just your words but that it was accompanied with the power of God through His Spirit to convict others of its truth. What if you really believed that how you lived impacted how others would perceive God and the gospel. If you really believed those things, what would your life look like. It’s an uncomfortable question, isn’t it? But it is important. Each of those truths above is taught in 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 and the question of how it should impact a life is answered clearly. People who really believe those things will live in such a way that their life makes the gospel make sense. They will be passionate witnesses for Jesus Christ so that whole regions of the world hear about Him. Are you ready to be challenged by the gospel?

Observation

Pray

Before studying this passage, ask God to help you understand it and give you strength and boldness to change your life based on what you see in it.

Read Focus Verses

Read 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 and notice what it says about the gospel and the impact the gospel has on the people who believe it.

Context

Read these verses in the context of the chapter by reading 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and notice the personal tone and focus on God.

What Stands Out?

What stands out to you primarily from today’s text?

Keyword – Gospel

Though the word gospel only appears in this passage once, it is the theme of all 6 verses. By highlighting the word, you will make sure it stands out to you each time you read or reference this passage in the future.

Marking

Mark the work gospel in 1 Thessalonians 1:5.

How?

How did the gospel come to the believers of Thessalonia according to verse 5?

Receiving

Under what circumstances did they receive the gospel according to verse 6?

Anyway

Despite the persecution for their new faith, what response marked these new Christians in verse 6?

Examples

According to verses 7-8, to whom was the way these people believed the gospel with joy an example?

From

What did the Thessalonian Christians turn from when they believed the gospel?

To

To whom did the Thessalonian Christians turn when they believed the gospel?

Waiting

For whom and what are Christians waiting according to verse 10?

Delivered

From what are Christians delivered by Jesus’ death and resurrection?

Interpretation

Gospel

The beginning of this passage speaks of the gospel, and the end of the passage explains it, but take a moment to look at the word itself.

What is the Gospel?

1 Corinthians 15:1-5 is very similar to verse 10 in today’s passage and tells us what the gospel is.

Necessity

Read Romans 3:23 to get a better understanding of why the gospel is necessary.

Sin’s Wages

Romans 6:23 tells us what it means that we are each sinners and why Christ had to die as part of the gospel.

In Your Words

In your own words, what is the gospel and why is it necessary?

The Spirit and Power

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 is very similar to 1 Thessalonians 1:5 in the way that it describes how the gospel changes the lives of those who are saved.

Significance

What does it mean that the gospel isn’t just words to someone hearing the gospel with faith but comes with power by the Holy Spirit and full assurance and confidence?

Whose Word?

The gospel comes with power because it is not the words of men. Notice what 1 Thessalonians 2:13 says.

The Gospel

Whose word is the gospel?

Modern Idols

Some people must turn from serving physical idols carved from wood or stone. Others must turn from serving invisible idols like image, money, sports, or lust. Anything to which we give more attention than we give to God is an idol in our life. This short video draws a simple contrast which might help you identify whatever idols you struggle with.

Living and True

Why are living and true the two things highlighted about the God of the Bible whom Christians turn to?

Wrath to Come

Colossians 3:6 answers some of our questions about the wrath to come mentioned in today’s passage.

Whose and Why?

Whose wrath is it that we must be saved from, and why is He angry?

Executor

In Revelation 19:11-16 we see who will execute God’s wrath.

Salvation

A few chapters after today’s passage we see the only thing which can save us from God’s wrath is the same thing mentioned in today’s passage – salvation through Jesus Christ.

Judge and Savior

How is it that Jesus Christ is both the one who will judge and execute wrath and also the one who saves us from His wrath?

Waiting for Jesus

Instead of living in fear of the wrath to come, Christians live in expectation of Christ’s coming again according to verse 10. Later in the book, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, waiting for Jesus is explained in more detail.

Foundations

The truth of the message Paul was teaching was undergirded by the way he lived among them. If you study the rest of this book, you’ll get a good glimpse of what this looked like. Read 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 for a sample.

Living the Message

In your experience, how much does a person’s life impact whether you believe what they say?

Following

After they had believed the message, these new Christians followed Paul’s example. That is a biblical pattern we see throughout Scripture. Notice that it is actually commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:1.

In What Ways

In what ways is a Christian to follow the example of other Christians who have gone before them according to 1 Corinthians 11:1?

Leading

No sooner did these people believe but they became examples to others according to verses 7-8. How did the example of these Thessalonian believers impact the readiness of others to believe the gospel?

Word and Deed

It wasn’t just the change in lifestyle that caught the world’s attention. Notice that verse 8 says the gospel was sounded out from them throughout the regions around them. If we look at Matthew 28:18-20 we will see that this is one of the most basic evidences of true Christian life.

A Story

We see this in specific lives in the story told in John 1:35-51 when Andrew finds Jesus and goes to bring his brother to him. Then, the next day, Jesus calls Philip who goes to find his friend Nathanael to bring him to Jesus, too.

Summary

How would you summarize this passage making sure to include: - what they believed - why they believed - how that was evident in their lives

Application

The Gospel

How is your relationship with the gospel? Have you accepted it as the Word of God assured that it is true? Have you turned away from your sin completely and turned to the Lord Jesus Christ who died in your place and rose again to save you from God’s wrath and give you the hope of heaven at His return? Write what you’re thinking.

Changed Life

If you have believed the gospel and turned from sin to the Savior, are the evidences of true salvation obvious in your life? Have you begun to follow the example of others who are following Jesus Christ? Are you a witness to others through both your life and your words of the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does your testimony and way of life make it easier for others to accept the gospel? Write what you’re thinking

Challenged

How do you need to respond to this passage?

Wrapup

Closing

We hope this study has helped you understand the gospel and its impact on a person’s life, and that it has challenged you to consider your own life.

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