C. THE CONDUCT OF THE . 2:13-16 1. Their Reception of the Word. 2:13 2. Their Response to the Word. 2:14 3. The Rejection of the Word. 2:15-16 1. Their Reception of the Word. 2:13 This is the 2nd thanksgiving of 3. (1:2-5; 2:13; 3:9-13) 1. The first thanksgiving (1:2-5) was caused by - Remembrance as they thought of their Exemplary Work. 2. The second thanksgiving (2:13) was caused by - Reasoning as they thought of the Entrance of the Word. V.13 a) Effective - Working Word I. Paul gives thanks to God that they: 1. Received the Word of God. 2. Realized the Word was from God. 3. Recognized and believed by faith Rom.10:17, faith causes the Word of God to have its effective work among believers. II. The Word if Welcomed by faith 1. Establishes a Way even in the Wilderness 2. Enables Work even where there is Weakness 3. Equips to Walk Worthy even where there is Weariness. 2. Their Response to the Word. 2:14 V.14 b) Exemplary - Withstanding in Witness I. The Church of Thessalonica became imitators of the first Church in Jerusalem, they both suffered from their countrymen, they had entered into the lives of persecuted godly Christians. 2.Tim.3:12 II. The Jews here is referring to the Jewish leadership. Matt. 16:21; 20:18-19; 23:29; 26:3-4, 59; 27:1-2, 41-43; 3. The Rejection of the Word. 2:15-16 V.15 c) Executions - Whipping and Wreckage I. The Jews caused Jesus to be whipped and killed, killed the prophets and continued the persecution upon the Church. II. Because of these persecutions they do not please God, not even man they pleased. V.16 d) Escalating - Wickedness and Wrath I. Because of these persecutions and resisting the grace of God, the cup of their sins is full and the full wrath of God has come on them. II. This wrath can either be the judgment of God seen through His rejection, or it could be the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., or the great tribulation.