Day 19: Immersed in First Thessalonians - Encouragement and Guidance for Thessalonian Believers

Welcome to Day 19 of the Immerse Bible Reading Experience. Today, we delve into First Thessalonians, a vital letter penned by Paul to the new believers in Thessalonica, a city in northern Greece. These early Christians embraced the good news joyfully but were left with several gaps in their understanding of following Jesus. Notably, some stopped working under the belief that Jesus' return was imminent, and others were anguished over loved ones who had died before His return and had lingering doubts and anxieties regarding the details of His second coming. Additionally, the believers were yet to fully transition into their new way of life in Christ, with some still indulging in sexual immorality and questioning Paul's motives. Facing renewed persecution, they needed continued guidance, which Paul provided through his letters. He developed a pattern of teaching through letters and messengers, creating a significant portion of the New Testament. 'First Thessalonians' is the earliest letter from Paul that we have, offering wisdom and encouragement to the believers. Paul emphasizes working hard, living peacefully, and caring for one another while focusing on the great vision of Jesus' glorious return and the hope of the resurrection. The letter is structured with an opening, main body, and closing, summarizing the main themes, offering personal greetings, and extending good wishes. Paul celebrates the Thessalonians' faithfulness, provides instructions to live holy and honorable lives, and urges them to remain clearheaded and alert for Jesus' return. The everyday application of these teachings continues to resonate with believers, urging them to live lives worthy of God's calling and strengthen their faith in times of trouble.

00:00 Introduction to Thessalonians
00:28 Challenges Faced by the Thessalonian Believers
01:53 Paul's Letters and Their Importance
02:18 Structure of Paul's Letters
03:06 Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians
06:12 Paul's Encouragement and Guidance
11:55 Living a Holy Life
13:35 Hope in the Return of Jesus
16:02 Final Instructions and Blessings
17:45 Conclusion and Farewell

Immerse contains the full text of the New Living Translation with brief introductions to each book. Nothing has been added or removed from the Bible text. Click here to look inside.

Welcome to Immerse: Messiah!

Messiah is the first of six volumes in Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. Messiah takes the reader on a unique journey through every book of the New Testament. Each section of Messiah begins with one of the Gospels, and together they combine to provide a life-changing reading experience centered on Jesus.

This fresh arrangement of the books highlights the depth of the New Testament’s fourfold witness to Jesus the Messiah. The Son of God, who fulfills all the longings and promises of the collected Scriptures, can be experienced in Messiah through the rich variety of lenses provided by the books of the new covenant.

QUICK START GUIDE - Download from the One Million More Bibles initiative at https://onemillionmore.bible/one-million-more-resources/
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Messiah instead of your regular chapter-and-verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together for 8 weeks—more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open, honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Poets, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

4 Questions to get your conversations started:

1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

The Immerse Bible Series is the proud winner of the prestigious Bible of the Year award from the ECPA Christian Book Awards. Immerse: The Reading Bible is specially crafted for a distraction-free listening and reading experience, helping you dive in and get immersed in Scripture. You’ll have a great experience using Immerse by yourself. But for an even richer experience, try reading with friends.

Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience is an invitation to a different kind of community interaction with the Bible. Less like a Bible study, more like a book club.

– 8 or 16-week Bible listening plans take you through a large section of the Bible like the New Testament or the Torah
– Meet once a week for a free-flowing discussion about the text
– Wrestle with questions and celebrate ‘aha!’ moments together

Nothing impacts spiritual growth more than spending time in Scripture. Immerse removes many of the barriers that make Bible reading difficult and invites communities to become transformed together through the power of God’s word.

For more great resources for your church or small group, visit https://www.immersebible.com/

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