Introduction
Under communist control, Romania had few churches and fewer Bibles. Brother Andrew, a man who smuggled Bibles into restricted countries, brought some Bibles, but had no contacts in the churches who could receive them. Sunday morning when he asked the hotel clerk for directions to a church, he received no encouragement. "We don't have many of those, you know. Besides, you couldn't understand the language." Brother Andrew replied, "Didn't you know? Christians speak a kind of universal language. It's called agape." When the clerk quizzically said he'd never heard of it, Andrew added, "Too bad. It's the most beautiful language in the world." When he finally got in touch with Christians, they could not speak any of Andrew's languages, and he could speak none of theirs. Instead, they opened their Bibles and pointed at Scripture references which the other would look up in his own language translation and reply with another reference. In this way, Andrew and these Christians had an encouraging and refreshing time of fellowship. Of course, Andrew's willingness to risk everything to be there and bring Bibles, his smile, and his warmth were also clear evidences of his deep love - a love which was reciprocated by the believers he met. When he returned to the hotel that night, the clerk called to him that he'd looked up agape in the dictionary and found there was no language called that - it was just the Greek word for love. "That's it," Andrew replied. "I was speaking in it all afternoon." Do you speak agape? Learn how as you study Paul's example of love which Satan couldn't stop in 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20.
Observation
Pray
The God who knows all things wants to help you understand His Word. Pray and ask Him to open your eyes and heart to understand and live what you learn from this study.
Read Focus Verses
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20 and notice Paul's tenderness in these verses.
Context
1 Thessalonians 3:1-10 provides more context for understanding these verses and following the story of his ministry to these believers which Paul has been recalling since the beginning of this book.
How Long?
For how long is Paul separated from these believers?
Separated
In what way is Paul separated from these believers according to verse 17?
Present
In what way is Paul not separated from these believers according to verse 17?
Response
What was Paul's response to this separation?
Why?
If Paul so deeply wanted to visit this church again, why hadn't he?
Who?
Who was hindering Paul from returning to Thessalonica?
Set Back
Did Paul give up after the first setback?
Three Descriptions
What three descriptions does Paul give in verse 19 to express how he thinks about these believers?
Whose Presence
Whose presence is mentioned in verse 19?
Coming
Who is coming?
Another Description
Which description of these believers is added in verse 20?
Your Own Words
How would you restate these verses if you were putting them in your own words to explain them to someone?
Keyword - Desire
Marking the word desire in this passage will highlight the central point of Paul's expression of his deep love for these believers.
Great Desire
Mark the word desire in this passage.
Keyword - Hindered
The word hindered serves as a keyword in this passage because it is the climax of the part of the story of Paul's ministry to these believers which is shared in these verses, and it gives rise to his explanation of how much he loves them.
Marking
Mark the word hindered in this passage.
Interpretation
A Special Time
Paul speaks of being separated from the Thessalonian believers in today's passage. Read the account of his time in Thessalonica in Acts 17:1-10.
Brief Story
Briefly tell the story of Paul's time in Thessalonica and why he had to leave.
Not in Heart
Though Paul is physically separated from this church, his love still binds them together in thought and affection. He says a similar thing to the Colossian church which he had never met in Colossians 2:5.
Praying Exceedingly
The strength of Paul's desire to see these believers again is touching. 1 Thessalonians 3:9-11 shows us what effort he put into this desire.
Longing to See You
In Romans 1:9-13 we see another church Paul longed to visit yet had been unable to see.
Who?
Paul says that Satan hindered his return to the Thessalonians. Perhaps you wonder, was Satan thwarting God's plan? If we study Scripture, we see that Satan does not have power to change God's plan. When he tested Job and tempted Peter he had to ask God's permission. God assures us that His purpose cannot be overturned. God sometimes does allow Satan to persecute His people, though, to strengthen their faith and reliance on God, and to accomplish His purposes. So if God wanted Paul in Thessalonica just then, Satan would have been powerless to stop him, but with God's permission he was hindering Paul and aggravating him. Why might Satan not have wanted Paul to return to this city?
Why?
We see that ultimately, God did not allow Paul to return to Thessalonica at this time. Paul was a faithful servant of God. He desired to see these believers in Thessalonica again so that he could encourage their faith and spread the gospel. Why did God not fulfill this desire of Paul's (in what was Paul's foreseeable future)?
Multiplication
You read earlier from the next chapter that Paul sent Timothy in his place to encourage and check on these believers. How did Satan hindering Paul's return actually multiply the work of the ministry instead of limiting it? (Hint: you can see what Paul was doing at this time by tracing the next bit of his journey in Acts 17-18.)
Reworded
Often people wonder, 'Why doesn't God give His people things they desperately want?' How does this passage shed light on that, and how might you reword this question and then answer it with insight from this story?
Persistence
When Paul realized that he was being hindered from returning to Thessalonica, he kept trying and then sent Timothy in his place. See how Luke 18:1-8 might help us understand this.
Try, Try Again
Is it okay for a Christian to keep praying or trying for something that they have so far been hindered or refused? Explain your answer biblically.
Joy and Crown
Paul describes his love toward the Philippians believers similarly in Philippians 4:1
Hope
Why do these believers bring hope to the apostle Paul?
Joy
Why does Paul refer to these believers as his joy?
Crown
What does Paul mean when he calls these believers his crown of rejoicing?
Glory
Why does Paul call these believers his glory?
Christ's Coming
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we understand more of what today's passage means when it refers to the coming of Jesus Christ.
Rewarder
Revelation 22:12-13 gives us insight into today's passage.
Reward
Compare that with 1 Corinthians 3:7-15.
In His Presence
Based on these passages, why will these believers be a crown of rejoicing when Paul stands in Christ's presence when He appears?
Unhindered
Satan tried to hinder the relationship between Paul and these believers. Was he successful? How do you know?
Love
If you've studied the book up to this point, you have seen the immensity of Paul's love for these believers and his tenderness toward them. Even if you've only studied today's passage, you still have a feel for the depths of this true Christian love. How would you describe that love?
Application
Separated
Is there someone from whom you're separated by miles that you love? How can you communicate that love to them effectively today?
Hindered
Do you have plans that seem like they would accomplish godly goals, but which have been hindered? How are you going to move forward based on what you've learned from this passage?
Reward
Are you winning and encouraging souls for Jesus Christ who will be a hope and joy and crown of rejoicing for you at Christ's appearing? How does this passage motivate you to act on that today?
Wrapup
Closing
We hope this study has helped you consider the kind of love Christians should have for each other which Satan cannot stop.
Feedback
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