June 28, 2026

BUILT TO LAST: STAND FIRM

June 28, 2026

Teaching Pastor Charles Billingsley

America is celebrating its 250th birthday! This nation, as Abraham Lincoln declared, was ‘brought forth…a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. It has flourished through the valiant efforts of men and women for over five hundred years of toil and sacrifice for a freedom few countries enjoy! May we who love America fight to preserve the Constitution and our freedom, loving those who come alongside us, to see that our country remains great. Today, we continue in 2 Thessalonians, where we see Paul begin a new church as new believers find liberty in Christ as they reject the idols of their nation. They accepted the gift of salvation, leading others to the Savior. Join us as we remind ourselves to stand firm against those who would seek to lead us from God or lead our country astray.

Focal Passages: 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2.

STAND FIRM in your troubles and tribulations:

  • Read 2 Thess. 1:1-2, 2:15. As we begin, please explain why Paul always addressed his greeting as ‘Grace to you, and peace from God…’. Why did he not sometimes say, ‘Peace and grace from God’? Why, in 2:15, the key verse, is Paul exhorting the church to stand firm? What were they to stand against? Does this apply to believers today?
  • Who was persecuting the church in Thessalonica? Why did the Gentiles join the Judaizers? Did the new Christians continue to observe the old traditions of either group? Why?
  • Read 2 Thess. 1:3-4. What two spiritual fruits did Paul commend them for? Why was it so important that they abounded in these (read 1 Cor. 13:13 and Hebrews 11:6)? If you love others as God would have you to, what will your testimony among all people be?
  • In verse 4, while the Thessalonians are in trouble and tribulation, what does Paul observe? What is the difference between trouble and tribulation? What does he say their endurance proves? Do you exhibit these qualities in times of trouble? Read James 1:2. What is the result of patience? How do trials and tribulations grow your faith?
  • Read Romans 5:3-4. What does tribulation produce? What does perseverance lead to? What does character lead to? Read 2 Thes. 1:6-9. Why is it so important that you don’t take revenge as you go through trials? Are you obeying God when you take revenge into your own hands? Why will God not repay those who trouble you if you decide to do it yourself?

STAND FIRM in your testimony:

  • Read verses 8-9. Where was Paul talking about? Is there any doubt in your mind that hell is a real place? Will real people be there for all eternity, just as believers will be in Heaven forever?
  • Read vv. 10-11. Paul talks for a moment about the end of your life as a believer, that is, the meeting of you and your Savior. He reminds you—and everyone—that we wear an invisible logo with JESUS SAVED ME as you go among people. Is this what others see as you are with them? What are some admonitions you are constantly aware of, at all times? Why, if you have two standards of behavior, inside or outside your home, is that wrong? 
  • Read 2 Thess. 1:11-12 Why does Paul tell the believers how important their testimony is? At your job, what do other workers say about you? Can your coworkers tell you are a Christian? If no one can tell, is there something wrong in your life? What about when you drive? Are you aware of personal hindrances to people liking you? Should you change, or are they fruits of the Spirit?
  • Read 2 Thes. 2:1-2. Paul now begins to remind the Thessalonians of a conversation they had when he was with them (v. 5). These believers were stressed about two questions: “Are we in the Tribulation?” And, “Did the Rapture happen without us?” Do you ever concern yourself with these two end-time happenings? Paul answers “Absolutely not!”
  • Paul continues in the next verses about the end time that will one day come, which has several prerequisites. Once the lawless one is revealed, what will the Lord do?

STAND FIRM on the truth:

  • Read 2 Thes. 2:9-12. Who is the lawless one? What will be some signs of his coming? Who will He do these signs among? Why will they be deceived? Are these happening now?
  • How do you think people will respond when they do not know the truth? What is the only way that one can know the truth of the Scriptures? How much time each day do you spend reading your Bible—not a short devotional like Chicken Soup, or Daily Bread?
  • Read vs. 13. Do you see a weak link in the chain of your salvation, that you will spend unlimited time online, on social media, or on television, but cannot spend half an hour reading and studying the Bible? If children learn by observation, rather than the spoken word, what will the next generation think that reading the Bible involves? If you do not know what your Bible says, how will you obey God’s word? Will you be able to stand firm if you’re not sure which is a rock and which is a pile of sand?

Close:

As we look around us on any given day, we see so much falling away that our hearts burn. Wherever we go, we can doubtless find a friend who is angry at God. Perhaps they are saying things that will stay with the hearer—and may damage that person’s faith. We can find tons of social media with words that, seventy years ago, wouldn’t have been spoken except in bars or some other ‘low’ place. As you sit in a large Sunday School class, do you realize someone may be involved in an affair? Perhaps one has a life no one in the class knows about. How many have an addiction? Our hearts break for the apathetic condition of the souls of the people we love. Why do they not see Jesus Christ as God the Son, who gave His life so they could be saved from their sinful nature and spend eternity with Him? Do they really even want to? If they don’t enjoy Him, love His Word, or talk to Him while they are here, when the troubles and tribulations are so rampant, how are they going to enjoy Him in Heaven? How do people who don’t want to go to church with the hypocrites expect to have friendships with these same people in Heaven? Why do people find it so hard to love the Lord? Ask yourself these questions, and then confess them to the Lord. The peace He will send is worth it.

Sandy Day
June 28, 2026

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