The Bible passage shown above this can be appropriately discussed under the heading "The sufferings of Christ". When you study this Bible passage from that perspective, you will not cover everything of course, but the advantage is that you will have a more focussed discussion.

However, to do justice to other elements in this passage as well, the outline has been divided as follows:
First some general remarks about this passage (possibly to the advantage of the introducer).

Then follows an outline about the theme: "The sufferings of Christ" for the discussion.

If the introducer has dealt with the Bible passage as a whole, you can focus your discussion on this theme.

A. Some general remarks⤒🔗

1. The historical background of this Bible passage is as follows: after establishing the church in Thessalonica, Paul, Silas and Timothy are forced to leave the city because of the opposition of unregenerate Jews. They go to Berea, where they are not left in peace either. Then Paul goes on ahead. to Athens and requests Silas and Timothy to follow him soon. At Corinth they team up again. After that the apostle tried more than once to return to Macedonia.
   Satan however, prevented him from doing this. When another attempt, for whatever reason, was not successful either, and they only got as far as Athens, Silas and Paul decided to remain there together. Timothy visited the congregation of Thessalonica by himself and upon his return to Paul and Silas was able to report good things about the brotherhood. In this passage Paul expresses his joy ab out this good report that their fellow worker Timothy could bring back from Thessalonica.¹
2. The connection between this passage and the previous one can be shown to be as follows: in chapter 1 Paul wrote that it is thanks to God that church life is good in Thessalonica. In chapter 2:1-13 the apostle refers to how the congregation had come into being: it was not through Paul roping the people in, but only because, as servant of Christ, he had brought the Word of Christ and admonished the people to live according to that. It is with thanks to God that the Church came into being, and exists. In the section under discussion (chapter 2:13-3:13), Paul emphasises that the Church's continued existence is also God's work. His Word works in the congregation. Because of that the church can stand firm even under difficult circumstances. Also for the future, the church must expect its strength from Him in whom it has its origin, its existence and its continuation until the present. Thanks be to God! (summarising the opening words of this section: 2:13).
3. In verse 13 of chapter 2 you should think back to the previous outline (re 2:1-12). Then it becomes clear why Paul makes the distinction here between: "not as the word of men" but "the word of God".

Verses 15 and 16 of chapter 2 can be compared to Acts 17:5-9 and 13-14. Many Jews lived in the capital and trading(!) city of Thessalonica.
They were fanatically envious of the people who gathered around Paul (Acts 17:5). The Jews had already made life difficult for Paul on several earlier occasions. Even the first congregations in. Judea had been persecuted by their compatriots. See Acts 8:1.

The end of verse 16 needs to be understood in this way: the Jews are capable of much and have the power to fiercely persecute the churches, but the fact that they do this, is proof that God's wrath is poured out on them in full measure. God forsakes them. God allows them to fill up the measure of their sins. And that is the worst manifestation of His wrath. When He does not chastise His people with judgments, but lets them go ahead on the road which they are unwilling to forsake, anyway. In His longsuffering the Lord often does not give us the chance to fill up the measure of our sins. But if we ultimately do not want to change, He will let us be. Then the end result will not be good!

In 2:18 mention is made of Satan who prevented Paul from coming to Thessalonica. Satan means `adversary'. If Paul, in the service of the Gospel, wants` to go to Thessalonica and is not forbidden by the Holy Spirit, but through all kinds of circumstances is prevented from going there, then Paul feels that this is not just co-incidence or bad luck, but that Satan's hand is in all this. In this case we do not know what means Satan used. Perhaps Paul refers to the fact that the Jewish opposition against him in Thessalonica was still so strong that he could not safely appear there.

2:19-20: Paul is proud of his brothers in Thessalonica. Ministers and elders must rejoice in the Bood things in the congregation. That is also part of being dedicated to your office. Do you also give reason for joy to the officebearers within the congregation?

B. The sufferings of Christ (outline for the discussion)←⤒🔗

The Lord Jesus says:

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his master'. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to ,you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. John 15:18-21

The Master was hard-pressed on earth, even crucified. The same fate awaits His followers. To follow Christ often means hardship.
The disciple must then deny himself and, following Christ, take up the cross (which the world prepares for us).

Jesus says:

Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. Mark 8:34b

The truth of Jesus' words was proved very early in the history of the church. Already at Pentecost there is the mocking laugh, "They are full of new wine." Soon after that Peter and John are in prison; Stephen is stoned to death. The blood of martyrs starts to flow. Many have to flee Jerusalem. Later the Jews make life extremely difficult for Paul on the mission fields. Meanwhile the Gentiles also often provoke riots. Even when Christians are not actually persecuted, it certainly, does not bring them honour or respect to be a Christian. They must take up their cross and deny themselves. Sometimes even unto death.

This is all quite normal for the church, for "the sufferings of Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:5-7) come upon her. The servants will not escape the suffering of the Master. From the beginning, the apostles informed converts what was in store for them. Paul also dealt with it openly in Thessalonica (see 1 Thessalonians 3:4).

And that opposition came to Thessalonica. Not only did the Jews hound Paul out of the city, but shortly afterwards the heathen inhabitants also turned against their converted fellow -citizens. These `young' Christians were no longer prosperous in the city (2:14, 3:3).

The power at work behind this opposition was Satan. He drives the Christians into a corner to tempt them and to try to make them waver. Where God works in your life, Satan begins his opposition (3:3 & 5). He wants to make God's work fruitless.

The only way to counter the temptation that suffering brings is: to remain steadfast in faith, to persevere with the Word of God, not doubting, holding fast to God's promises and commands. In 3:2 Paul names `faith' as the means of remaining unshakeable, and in 3:6 he mentions remembering his preaching. That is the means by which the Church is able to remain standing.

If the Church does that and retains its simple trust in the Word, then suffering will not bring fear. The Church will learn to deny itself to hold onto Jesus alone. The Church will learn to take up its cross and so follow Jesus. The outcome is: the Church is tested and becomes more steadfast in its faith. The Church learns to stand strong. The devil wants it to waver, but through patiently bearing the sufferings, it becomes a steadfast church, a church which "stands fast in the Lord" (3:8).

Because the Church can only remain standing through faith in the Word of God, all honour and thanks are due to God Himself when the Church perseveres. If the Church remains steadfast it proves that the Word of God continues to "work (effectively) in you who believe." (2:13) Paul cannot thank God deeply enough for the perseverance of the congregation in its suffering (3:9). The apostle realises that he must also ask God for the strength to take up that cross in the future and to bear the hatred of this world (3:12-13).

Satan often causes the church on earth to be despised and dishonoured.
His aim is to make us forsake God's congregation and deny our faith. If in such circumstances a church still remains steadfast, then the end result of Satan's contriving is: double honour and praise to God, Who preserved His `church-under-the-cross', by His Word. Christ's defeat of Satan becomes visible in the Church, which stands in the shadow of the cross. And which does not waver.

After you have absorbed the above outline, ask yourself whether the church of today lives under the cross. Think of your many fellow-brothers and sisters in communist, or mainly Roman Catholic countries. Concentration camps, discrimination, persecution, forced attendance at godless state schools, unequal rights at law, insult, dishonour, etc.: see that heavy cross of which Christ says to our fellow brothers in many other countries, "If anyone desires to come after Me ... take up his cross and follow Me." Do you sympathise with the fate of the churches in those countries, as much as you can? Paul was often intensely concerned about others (3:5). Is that intense sympathy also present with us, in the more quiet western world?

But the sufferings of Christ will probably come upon the faithful believers in the western world as well. Whoever takes the complete Scriptures seriously may be ridiculed as being old-fashioned or even stupid. If you serve the Lord Jesus honestly in the factory, office, or at school, etc. and are not ashamed of Him, don't you get ignored or rejected? Or people may simply scorn you. Can you put up with that? Many succumb to ridicule or pressure from others, not liking being different. They waver. They forget that the servant can never be more than the Master.

Because you are not of the world, therefore the world hates you." Speak about it with one another, discuss from where these sufferings of Christ come at you in your surroundings, or at work, or perhaps where you are trying to avoid it. The Lord also wants to make your church a steadfast church. A church which does not temporise. So that we may be "blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints" (3:13).