Session 13 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
listen for how Paul described his and his fellow missionaries’ lifestyle.
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle
and does not live according to the tradition received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us:
We were not idle among you;
8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge;
instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day,
so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support,
but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
locate the word idle in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7.
Explain that an idle life is unruly and undisciplined.
in verses 7-9
Paul and his coworkers did not want to say one thing to the believers
and then live a different way.
They wanted to set an example.
They also wanted the believers to imitate the model that was lived out in front of them.
Point out that Paul challenged the church family
to put their knowledge of obedient living,
based on his and the missionaries’ example, into action.
Note that the directive to imitate (v. 9)
was a calling to follow the example of another.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy had given an example of what consistent labor looked like,
and yet there were some within the fellowship that were simply unwilling to work.