2-23-2014
"Was It All In Vain?"
1 Thessalonians 2. 17 - 3. 5

1.     TORN ________(V. 17)

·        Paul & his partners are “torn away”

·        ANXIOUS ANTICIPATION-

-         Are they still trusting in _______ ?

-         Have the trials made them ______-up?

2.     FRUSTRATED EFFORTS & UNANSWERED QUESTIONS  (V. 18-20)

·        “We made every effort to _______ you…

·        The rewards of ministry and missions are not financial…they are _______, who come to faith in Christ, and remain faithful. 

3.     PLAN B- ___________- the ENCOURAGER

·        Paul could not go…“Satan stopped us” …

·        “We sent Timothy…to strengthen and ___________ you in your faith…”

4.     THE UNSETTLING ___________

·        PERSECUTION IN PAUL’S DAY

·        IN OUR DAY

-         The world wants Church’s support and our money…but not our message

-         Time constraints & affordable ____________

-         what will our children learn?

5.     ________OF GREAT & ETERNAL LOSS

·        Paul is afraid that those who came to faith in Jesus might have turned away…because of these unsettling trials.

·        SOMETIMES THERE IS THE QUESTION- Was the effort in ______?

6.     ______ CAN YOU LIVE OUT YOUR CHRISTIANITY IN A CHANGING CULTURE such as we live in?    

A.     (#1) Realize That The Changing Culture is there:

B.     (#2)- Teach your children to become _______- Make this one of your primary goals of life.

C.    (#3)- Be a __________ to others

D.    #4-  Remember that our labors in the Lord are __________ in vain.