As Paul continues to draw attention to the work accomplished while he, Silas, and Timothy were in Thessalonica, he uses the imagery of a mother and father to help the Thessalonians remember the example set for them. Affection and truth are two inseparable characteristics of their ministry.   

Paul set an example for the Thessalonians during his visit. What was it that helped him act appropriately amid resistance and persecution? It was his knowledge of how God was at work.

Paul's language in addressing the Gentile believers in Thessalonica reminds them that they are chosen and loved by God to display God's glory to the world around them. 

During Paul's second missionary journey, he proclaimed the gospel in Thessalonica. After receiving a report from Timothy about their well-being, he wrote to them. He wrote a letter of encouragement reminding them that they are different from the world around them. 

Paul's prayer for Philemon reveals truths about the relationship between a believer and the church. The church is not optional; it is meant to serve as a spiritual potluck where believers guide each other to feast on the richness of Christ.    

What role does prayer have in our daily interaction with others? In this passage, Paul urges Timothy to make prayer a first priority. Using four words to help, he offers an attitude of prayer that will not necessarily change his situation but transform him.   

What prayer does Paul offer on behalf of people he has never met? He desires for them to be characterized by their relationship with Christ and to walk in a manner fitting for those who claim to be followers of Christ.

Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving in 2 Corinthians is a reminder to believers that we are slaves, soldiers, and the scent of Jesus Christ.  

Paul's prayers do not contain the requests that we might expect. When he asks for prayer at the end of Ephesians, it is not for his circumstances to change but for him to proclaim the gospel with boldness. In the opening of his letter, Paul has three petitions on behalf of the Ephesian church. These requests guide us to pray deeply, trusting in what Scripture proclaims about God.  

Paul desires that the church at Philippi grow in a knowledge of God that displays the righteous love God has for his people. He desires them to be a community that seeks to be pure and blameless through the study and practice of God's Word. Is that the prayer you have for your church family?