November 20 | Paul Comforts the Thessalonians

Today’s Reading:

Read 2 Thessalonians

Let’s talk about fear. What’s something that frightens you? Allow your family to discuss things that they might be afraid of. Spend some time talking about why things scare us. Sometimes if we can unpack the “why” of a situation, it helps us to not be scared anymore! Sometimes our fears can be based on things we may not have understood.

Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians helped to explain things to the church that they were afraid of. Most of their fears came from teachers who were actually not teaching the right things! Paul was encouraged that even though the church at Thessalonica was still facing challenges, the Christ followers were continuing to endure. (Remember that word from yesterday?) However, new teachers had started teaching the Christ followers new things that were not true! These new teachings were centered around when Jesus would return. Some even suggested that Jesus had already returned and that he had left the church at Thessalonica behind. The church was fearful about that possibility. Paul’s letter to the church helped to explain the truth and that explanation brought comfort to the people.

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians was that the “Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father. Who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

Application/Prayer:

Ask God to encourage you in the same way He encouraged the church at Thessalonica. If there is something you are afraid of, spend some time in prayer asking God to help you trust in Him and not be afraid. Thank Him for being with you- even when you are afraid! (Psalm 56:3)

November Memory Verse:

“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”

Isaiah 40:8

Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:

Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.