Week 2 · 1 Thessalonians 2
BELONG Together
Sharing More Than a Sunday
Last week, we began with what God has done for us in Jesus. This week, we ask: How does belonging to Jesus change the way we belong to one another?
The Good News of Jesus gives us a place to belong as we learn to love one another.
You are welcome to explore at your own pace. Read, watch, reflect, and bring your questions. You do not have to have everything figured out to begin.
A word from Jenny
Watch Jenny Zentz share Matthew 28:18-20. As you listen, consider how following Jesus connects us with His mission and with one another.
01 · A gospel we share. A life we share.
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-9
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he did not come to use them or win their praise. He and his companions had been entrusted with the gospel, and they cared about the people who heard it.
In verse 8, Paul describes sharing not only the good news of God but their lives as well. The people had become dear to him.
The gospel we share should shape the life we share.
- What is the difference between inviting someone into life with Jesus and pressuring them?
- Who has made room for you to be known and cared for?
- What is one ordinary way you could share life with someone this week?
02 · Helping one another grow
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Paul describes encouraging, comforting, and urging the believers like a father caring for his children. God calls us into His kingdom; as we follow Him, He often uses other people to encourage us along the way.
We do not earn God's love through our performance. We respond to His grace and help one another take the next faithful step.
We love one another as we are, and we help one another become who God is calling us to be.
- Who has encouraged you when following Jesus felt difficult?
- Where might someone need your encouragement, patience, or presence?
03 · Receiving God's Word together
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Acts 17:10-11
Paul thanked God that the Thessalonians received the message as God's Word. In Berea, people listened eagerly and examined the Scriptures to see whether what Paul said was true.
We come to the Bible with open hearts, ready to listen and be changed. Asking what a passage means in its context can help us understand it faithfully.
We come to Scripture ready to be changed, not simply reassured.
- What might it look like to receive God's Word and examine it carefully?
- Is there a passage you could read and discuss with someone this week?
Where is it written?
Our Covenant story includes Swedish believers known as Mission Friends. Many belonged to the Lutheran church and also gathered in homes to read Scripture, pray, sing, and encourage one another in faith.
P. P. Waldenström, an influential voice among the Mission Friends, asked, "Var står det skrivet?" - "Where is it written?" The question invites us back to Scripture together, listening humbly rather than pulling a verse out of context to win an argument.
04 · Unity without requiring uniformity
Read: Romans 14:1; Philippians 2:3; Colossians 3:14
Believers in Rome held different convictions about food and special days. Paul called them to welcome one another rather than quarrel over disputable matters. Truth matters, and so do the humility and love with which we seek it together.
Our relational covenant puts it this way:
We can walk hand in hand even when we don't see eye to eye.
- When you disagree with someone, what helps you listen with humility?
- How might the words "Help me understand why this matters to you" change a conversation?
What does walking together look like in practice?
Our commitment to walk hand in hand does not mean every question has the same answer, or that the Covenant has no shared convictions. It means we seek to follow Jesus and listen to Scripture with humility and love, even when questions matter deeply to us.
Baptism and dedication. The Evangelical Covenant Church practices both infant baptism and believer baptism, and it also practices infant dedication. Christians and families may have different convictions about when baptism should take place. Baptism and dedication are distinct practices; we invite you to learn more and talk with a pastor about your questions.
Explore the Covenant's resource on infant baptism and dedication
Read the Covenant's paper on baptism
Women and men in ministry. Christians have sometimes read biblical passages about ministry and leadership differently. The Evangelical Covenant Church affirms that God calls and gifts women and men to serve in every ministry and leadership role, including ordained pastoral ministry. This conviction comes from the Covenant's reading of Scripture. If you have questions or come from a different tradition, you are welcome to explore the biblical resources and talk with us.
Read the Covenant's statement on women in ministry
Explore the Covenant's Called and Gifted resources
Read the Covenant's biblical and theological basis for women in ministry
Reflect: How can we remain honest about our convictions, listen well, and treat one another with dignity while we continue to study and grow?
05 · Finding joy in one another
Read: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
Paul has already described the care of a mother and the encouragement of a father. Now he describes the pain of being separated from the believers he loves. Even while apart, he holds them in his thoughts and looks forward to being with them in the presence of Jesus.
Paul's joy reminds us that people matter. We can celebrate one another, carry one another through difficult seasons, and keep moving toward one another in love.
Celebrating someone's life begins with noticing them.
- Who might appreciate a call, an invitation, or a word of encouragement?
- How could you help someone feel noticed without expecting them to share more than they wish?
Go deeper · The Covenant Affirmations
Rock Harbor is part of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Our six Covenant Affirmations describe convictions that shape our shared life, keep us rooted in Scripture and centered on Jesus, and guide us as we follow Him together.
Watch the Covenant Affirmations video, then explore any of the affirmations below. You can take them one at a time, read with a friend, and bring your questions.
Watch the Covenant Affirmations video
1. The centrality of the Word of God
Scripture is God's Word and our authority for faith and life. We listen to it together, seeking not merely information but lives shaped by what God says.
Reflect: Where might God be inviting you to listen more carefully or respond to His Word?
2. The necessity of the new birth
Following Jesus begins with the new life God gives us through faith in Christ. His grace meets us where we are and continues to transform us by His Spirit.
Reflect: How does receiving new life as a gift change the way you think about belonging?
3. A commitment to the whole mission of the Church
Jesus sends His people to share His good news and demonstrate His love in a world that needs both hope and care. Together we participate in God's work in our neighborhoods and beyond.
Reflect: Where could you join what God is doing through words, prayer, practical care, or service?
4. The Church as a fellowship of believers
The church is a community of people who belong to Christ and share life in Him. We gather to worship, encourage, serve, and grow together across differences of background and experience.
Reflect: What does it mean to move beyond attending a gathering into sharing life with others?
5. A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit
We rely on the Holy Spirit to lead, equip, and transform us as we follow Jesus. Prayer reminds us that the life and mission of the church depend on God's work among us.
Reflect: Where do you need to invite the Holy Spirit's guidance or strength today?
6. The reality of freedom in Christ
Our shared faith in Jesus allows us to walk together with humility where faithful Christians understand some matters differently. Freedom in Christ is an invitation to love and serve one another, not permission to stop seeking truth or caring for others.
Reflect: How can freedom in Christ shape the way you respond when another believer disagrees with you?
A shared life with a shared purpose
For further study: Philippians 4:15-16 and 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3
While Paul was in Thessalonica, believers in Philippi sent help. Later, when Paul could not return to the Thessalonians, he sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them. Their stories remind us that care and mission can reach beyond our own gathering.
- What do these passages show about believers caring for one another across distance?
- How can a church family share in God's work beyond its own community?