Summary: This is part 1 of 3 messages concerning the Steadfastness of believers in the light of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and here Paul shows his concern for the Thessalonians.

“A Concerned Apostle”

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5

I. A CONCERNED Apostle. (vv. 1-5) 2 Corinthians 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 2:17

1. The PERSON sent. (vv. 1-2a) Timothy Acts 17:14-15; 18:5; Philippians 2:19-20

2. The PURPOSE for which Timothy was sent. (vv. 2b-3a) Romans 16:21

a. To ESTABLISH them. (v. 2b-i) Acts 14:22-23; 16:5; Ephesians 6:22

b. To ENCOURAGE them in their faith. (v. 2b-ii) 1 Corinthians 14:3; 2 Corinthians 7:6; Colossians 2:2; 4:8

c. To exhort them to faithfulness inspite of EXTERNAL afflictions (v. 3a) Romans 5:3; Acts 21:13; 1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 2 Thessalonians 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:8

3. The PROBLEM of persecution. (vv. 3b-5) Revelation 2:10, 13; Acts 14:22

a. They were SET-APART for this. (v. 3b) Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 4:12-14; 2 Timothy 3:11-12

b. They would SUFFER persecution. (v. 4) Matthew 10:16-18; 24:9-10; Luke 21:12-13; John 15:18-21; 16:1-3

c. They were to remain STEADFAST inspite of the enemy’s tactics. (v. 5) 1 Peter 2:21; 2 Corinthians 2:11; 1 Chronicles 21:1; Luke 22:31-32; Ephesians 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; 1 Peter 5:8-9; Revelation 12:9-11; James 4:7-8