Living in the Last Days: A Study of Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians
Feeling overwhelmed by life right now? You’re not alone. When everything feels uncertain, we often worry about what’s next. But what if it’s possible to regain perspective and live with purpose? Are living in the last days? How do we live in the Last Days? How do we make a difference in uncertain times. Let’s dig into Paul’s letters to the Church at Thessalonica and learn to live by faith, stand firm, make a difference, and face the future with courage instead of fear.
The Last Days – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17
Are we living in the last days? Yes. And every day we are one day closer to Jesus’ return. So how do we live in the last days? When we have questions about how the end times will play out, we could get disturbed, deceived or distracted, but waiting well means we stand firm, hold fast, and live out our faith as we seek to reach others with the Gospel.
LIVE OAK CONNECTION POINT:
Next week and the Sunday after (March 15 and 22) are Family Sundays and there will be 10:00a and 11:20a services only on those days.
DISCUSSION/REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
- You have to sing karaoke…what song do you pick?
- What was a fear you had as a child that you outgrew or got over?
- What are the possible reactions we could have to talk of end times?
- READ: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-17.
Spend some time SOAPing this passage. You can either spend time SOAPing individually and documenting for a several minutes and then spend time sharing with each -OR- SOAP in real time with each other. Either way make as many observations as you can.
OBSERVATIONS: What are the things that stand out to you about this passage?
How would you summarize this passage in one sentence?
What does this passage tell me about who God is?
What things does this passage tell us about events concerning the Day of the Lord and End Times?
- READ: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17. What do you see in this passage about how God calls us to live and who God calls us to be?
- The Apostle Peter also wrote some letters with teachings pertaining End Times. Read each of these 2 passages and answer the following 2 questions:
- READ: 1 Peter 4:7-11.
1) God’s Promises to us: What is God promising He will do?
2) God’s Commands to us: What is God is telling us to do?
- READ. 2 Peter 3:1-15.
1) God’s Promises to us: What is God promising He will do?
2) God’s Commands to us: What is God is telling us to do?
- What else stood out from this week’s sermon?
- Have each person finish this sentence: “Because Jesus is coming back soon, I will…”
- In what ways can this community/small group encourage one another to remain stand firm in faith?
- APPLICATION: What is your big takeaway from this passage and this week’s sermon? Be specific.
NEXT STEPS:
Everyone has a next step to apply what we’ve learned. What’s your next step? Be specific.
MEMORY VERSE: *Challenge yourself or your group to commit this verse to memory:
2 Peter 3:8-9 “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
PRAYER:
Encourage your group to pray this prayer often in 2026 & use to close your group time.
A 2026 Prayer for MORE: Ephesians 3:14-21
“Heavenly Father, Help me to engage with you MORE. Work in me to make me MORE like you. Use me to help MORE people know you. Make my story about your glory! Amen.”
Scripture References:
2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11; Matthew 24:36-44; Matthew 24:14; 1 Peter 4:7-12; 2 Peter 3:1-15; Revelation 22:20-21; Romans 13:11-14