[Q1. Living to Please God]

Q1. (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2) What is the difference between (1) conducting our lives by rules and (2) conducting our lives trying to please our God?

When we conduct out lives by rules be are restricted and bound by the law - as in the Old Testament. We also fail miserably as did the Israelites. We may start out well, our intentions honourable, but we are weak and fail when doing things in our own strength. When we condutct our lives in a manner pleasing God, we operate on a totally different level. We are filled and motivated by our love for the Lord and His for us. Love is all powerful and comes not from ourselves but from the Lord, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to do things and be the people of God - to be a holy people, things that we cannot do ourselves no matter how sincere nor how hard we try. There is nothing, absolutley nothing stronger than love.

When I thought about this question applying to my life, I realise that if I operate in "rule keeping mode" (which is a habit so easy to fall into as it is a secular way of operating) that any evangelism I try will crash and fall. Maybe that is why so many unbelievers think of Christianity as "thou shalt not's" because too many of us believers operate still in the "rule keeping" mode!

On whose authority does Paul bring these commands?

By the authority of Jesus Christ!

[Q4. Itinerant Ministry]

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 3:10-11; Romans 1:11)

What is the value of visits of special speakers to a congregation?

What can they impart that your regular pastor can't?

Why is a ministry of itinerant preaching so difficult - and important?

From experience I have found that there is so much depth in the Word of God. Just when you think you fully understand a certain scripture, you later find out that there is so much more to those specific verses. So special speakers to a congregation can explain other insights to the Word that perhaps our regular pastor had not yet come across or had not yet had the opportunity to expand on. It is good to get an alternative view of the truth. As believers we need constant growth in our knowledge of God’s Word, this will enable us to apply doctrines we have learnt to our daily life, and equip our faith to meet any of life’s problems we may face. The ministry of itinerant preaching is difficult as the speaker does not know the maturity in God’s Word of their audience. It is, of course, important for reasons mentioned that other aspects of the Word are preached resulting in a more well-rounded faith.

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 3:10-11; Romans 1:11) What is the value of visits of special speakers to a congregation?

The first thing which came to mind is that it is a gift to the pastor...a break for Him/her, fellowship with one who shares the same role and it's joys and problems as well as encouragement. For the congregation, it's an opportunity to be enlarged...to be lifted out of the same little "pond" and to hear what is going on the "outside". Its easy for churches to become ingrown, and stagnant. The special speaker can breathe flesh life and perspective into minds perhaps closed to other than what concerns them.

What can they impart that your regular pastor can’t?

A visiting speaker can bring greetings from other places...a reminder that we are the body of Christ which exists all around the world, not just in our little corner. They may have fresh insight, having had different experiences from our pastor. They may get away with saying "a hard thing" since they are leaving, which the Pastor may have been reluctant to share...a correction, for example.

Why is a ministry of itinerant preaching so difficult – and important?

Unless an itinerant preacher has a home base, one may struggle financially and become discouraged and weary of the travel...always on the go. New faces at every gathering with no one knowing them, may cause them to feel lonely and alone. But they are important...apostles help to keep the body of Christ unified and identifying with one another on a larger scale, and they bring stories of triumph and victory in other places which encourage and enrich the local church.

Q4. (1 Thessalonians 3:10-11; Romans 1:11) What is the value of visits of special speakers to a congregation? What can they impart that your regular pastor can’t? Why is a ministry of itinerant preaching so difficult – and important?

Special speakers bring something new to the congregation. (Described as a "breath of fresh air" in this study) Most speakers come to share about ministry outside of the local church and in other areas of the world and it is very encouraging and inspiring to hear what God is doing in the world and how many are coming to faith. Sometimes it can be convicting if we have become lukewarm in how we minister in our own area. It's always good to hear and see and have a passion renewed in us.

Our pastors have concerns for the local church and the local community. They are shepherding in their own way with the specific needs that need to be addressed where they are at. An itinerant preacher is bringing news from other areas and can impart what God is doing outside of our local areas. We get a refreshing bigger picture from those who are traveling. I think that the itinerant preachers benefit from our pastors too as they share about their ministry and they most certainly benefit from our prayers and financial help. I love that we can see the church as a whole in unity supporting and in fellowship with each other. It's an amazing day when we can communicate so easily from all over the world. And please remember to pray for those who can not share their plight with us because of persecution and restricted communication and travel! They have the greatest needs!!!

Itinerant preaching is hard because of the travel. They are often going from place to place and are away from their families. I know the missionaries that I pray for are always asking for prayers for their families while they are away from them. I know too, they often have financial needs either for themselves or for their ministries and I know they aren't always met with generosity to support the vision of reaching others for Christ through specific means in other countries. I also know that often traveling missionaries run into all kinds of red tape while flying in and out of countries or in seeking visa's etc. to settle for a time into specific areas for ministry. They are at the least in much need of our prayers.

Thank you so much for your clear and easy to follow answers, evidence of the Bible passage well understood. Thank you.

[Q1. Rewards for Christian Service]

Q1. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20) How can we justify a desire for rewards for our labor in light of God’s free gift of salvation and our love for him?

I hadn't thought of the need to justify what God has promised. He's a good God, who loves to give, probably more than we want to receive. That He wants to reward His children is so typical of a loving parent...who wants to see joy and surprise on the faces of His children.

What does Christ reward?

He rewards anything we have allowed the Holy Spirit to do through us, as small as giving a cup of cold water in His name, to as large as dying a martyr's death, for which there is a special crown reserved. But as we then lay our crowns at His feet, all is for His Honor and Glory.

What doesn’t he reward?

He doesn't reward works of the flesh, our bright ideas, service to make oneself look/feel important....anything He has not accomplished through us is "wood, hay and stubble", which will burn up when tested "by fire"...

Why should showing accountability to our Master bring us pleasure?

He redeemed and bought me with His blood, and I am no longer my own, but His. That I am accountable to Him is a pleasure, found only in a love relationship.

How does it motivate us?

When I wake up I ask Him to order my steps (they are already ordered, as He has planned my day, but saying it that way reminds me to be walking in the steps which He desires for me to walk....to be attentive to listen and watch for Him. I'm motivated to follow closely because He alone knows the way where we're going each day. I've tried my own way in the past and it didn't turn out well....so because He knows what is best for me, loves me dearly, and is all wise, I want to follow only where He leads. I don't want to get to Heaven and discover that my life was pointless.....My desire is to have some "sheaves of wheat" to lay at His feet, which are the result of yielding to the promptings of His Holy Spirit.

May the Holy Spirit inspire you, encourage you and give you the resilience and desire to complete your book, as I am sure it will bless many people. Thank you for your answer to the question above too. I am new at this, and am still trying to catch up and am several lessons behind at the moment. but will get there eventually!