Paul goes on in this chapter to outline the qualifications for Bishops, Elders, Pastors & Deacons in the church, and the heart of these qualifications is to live blamless life. Such a life is founded on the principle of reverence and submission to God, and grows out into soberness and self-control towards ourselves, others and the world. Blameless living is supposed to be part of the normal Christian life because of the living presence of the Holy Spirit in each of us.

Paul discusses the role of prayer and intercession in facilitating the ministry of the church to the world and the place of submission in ensuring the order that God desires in the home and the church, which eventually flows into society.

Paul's primary goal of writing to his son in the faith Timothy is to stir him up to "remain in Ephesus", which is an apt metaphor for his charge in this chapter to "fight the good warfare". We explore the central themes of this letter in this episode and the practical meaning and strategies for waging the good warfare.

Paul concludes this letter by highlighting the central role of prayer in fulfilling the work of redemption, along with godliness and good works. We explore these themes in some detail in this episode and connect them in the end to the God of peace, who is the author of the work of redemption, and is able to see us through it to the end.

In this chapter, Paul gets to the heart of his reason for writing this second letter by presenting and establishing the order and signs of the Lord's return and refuting the false claims and ideas that had proliferated the church. Looking forward and ahead to the Lord's return is an essential ingredient to a wholesome Christian experience, and God wants us to be equipped with the hope that comes from knowing that He is in control of the most vulnerable moment of history.

At the start of this second letter, Paul reminds the Thessalonians of the meaning of their sufferings for Christ and how it leads to greater measure of glory. His exhortation in this chapter is a timely reminder for in the face life, to live with boldness as sons of God whose lives are earmarked for the glory of God.

Paul wraps up this first letter by providing practical guidelines to backup the earlier charge to live ready for the Lord's return. The normal Christian life is the sanctified life and we explore the practical outworking of this life in this episode.

In these verses, Paul turns to the ultimate hope of our salvation, particularly the hope of the resurrection. We dive into this theme to understand why hope is at the heart of knowing God and walking with Him, and to understand our part is realising the joy and expectation of our hope in Christ.

Writing to a church that has been established in the foundations of faith, hope and love, Paul urges them on to the next steps of maturity, which is to find and lay hold of the will of God. At the heart of the will of God is the reason He saved us and paid for our redemption after we sinned, and it is that we may be separated unto Him for His purpose and good pleasure. This episode concludes with a cry and a prayer that we will give God full room and His full rights in our lives and that our light will so shine in the midst of darkness that He will be glorified in us.

In these two chapters, Paul highlights for us at least six marks of authentic, enduring and fruitful ministry as he had in Thessaloniki. They are: - Faithful stewardship of the Gospel - Strength of character built by a life of devotion - The unmistakable presence of suffering or opposition - A continuous focus on eternity - Concern and care for the faith and love of God's elect - Praying exceedingly and always for God's elect