1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13As for us, brothers and sisters, having been torn away from you for a short time (in person not in heart), all the more, with much longing, we spared no effort to see your face. For we desired to come to you – certainly I, Paul, did again and again – but Satan prevented us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming if it is not you? For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13Therefore, when we could endure no longer, we resolved to be left in Athens alone, and we sent Timothy our brother and God’s fellow worker in the Gospel of Christ, so as to strengthen you and to encourage you concerning your faith, so that no-one should be disturbed by these troubles. For you yourselves know that we were destined for this; for when we were with you we kept saying to you that we were about to experience trouble, just as indeed it happened, as you know.

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13Because of this, when I myself could endure no longer, I sent to find out about your faith, lest the tempter had somehow tempted you, and our hard work might have been in vain. But now, Timothy having returned to us from you and having brought good news to us of your faith and love and that you always have good memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you … because of this we were encouraged by you, brothers and sisters, in all our trouble and suffering, because of your faith.

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13For now we live if you yourselves stand firm in the Lord. For what thanks we are able to return to God for you in all the joy in which we rejoice before our God because of you, when night and day we are imploring with all earnestness so as to see your face and to supply the things that are lacking in your faith!

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love towards one another and towards everyone, just as we do towards you, so as to establish your blameless heart in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus, with all his holy ones. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13

Was Paul an evangelist or a pastor?

What do think of the pictures of evangelists as fishermen and pastors as shepherds?

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

Labour …

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

Labour …

and long …

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

Labour …

and long …

for lasting …

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

Labour …

and long …

for lasting …

love!

A Chinese parable

1 Thessalonians 2:17 – 3:13There is no clear line between evangelist and pastor: both are called to …

Labour …

and long …

for lasting …

love!