SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION:

- What was Paul, the author of the letters to the Thessalonian church, claiming to know in 1 Thessalonians 1:4? Read Ephesians 1:3-6. How do you think these verses in Ephesians relate to what Paul is saying in 1 Thessalonians 1:4?

- Discuss the Of Election section of the Indian Trail Church Confession of Faith. What about this section makes sense to you in light of 1 Thessalonians 1:4-9? What about it raises questions?

- Considering what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 1:5, what would the life of someone who has been chosen by God look like? Can the evidence of the gospel in someone's life be only a verbal confession?

- Why does Paul refer to himself and others in the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 1:6? What did Paul and others chosen by God experience from the world for their faith in Christ? (read John 15:18-20) Do you see evidence of this in your own life? Is your faith going forward (1 Thessalonians 1:8) like Paul praised the Thessalonians for?