001 An Introduction to 1 Thessalonians
1 Thessalonians | The Anatomy of a Healthy Church • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 46:16
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1. The genre of the book is a Pauline epistle.
1. The genre of the book is a Pauline epistle.
An epistle is a letter.
We can choose between general, pauline, and prison epistles.
2. Silas and Timothy had input as they were with Paul at the time of writing.
2. Silas and Timothy had input as they were with Paul at the time of writing.
We see the saturation of investment in people.
Silas was already a church leader who was chosen to accompany Paul on this journey.
Timothy was a young man led to Christ by Paul.
Discipled by his mother and grandmother.
Then discipled and trained by Paul.
3. Planting the church in Thessalonica was not part of Paul’s plan.
3. Planting the church in Thessalonica was not part of Paul’s plan.
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.
And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
A. Paul’s to go to Asia Minor was a good plan but not the right plan.
A. Paul’s to go to Asia Minor was a good plan but not the right plan.
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else’s foundation,
That is a good and noble plan.
That is a God honoring plan.
Asia minor was not part of God’s plan.
B. Paul was ready and willing to follow God’s plan.
B. Paul was ready and willing to follow God’s plan.
So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,
and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.
Paul didn’t wait.
He didn’t ask questions.
Paul just obeyed.
So… setting sail…
C. God’s plan isn’t always what it seems or what we imagine.
C. God’s plan isn’t always what it seems or what we imagine.
And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.
One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.
At face value it seems that Paul went to Macedonia for a ladies prayer meeting and one family to be saved.
It was much more than that!
From Europe the gospel spread to the WORLD!!
Africa
Asia
Latin America
North America
God had a bigger plan than Paul could have imagined.
They ended up in Philipi
The Philippian church was planted.
Then they went on to Thessalonica.
Another church was planted.
Another NT book was written.
The gospel went out across the world from Thessalonica.
Paul would not have known that when he met Lydia and her friends on the riverbank.
4. There is some controversy surrounding Paul’s time in Thessalonica.
4. There is some controversy surrounding Paul’s time in Thessalonica.
There is question around how long Paul was in Thessalonica.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
There is disagreement on what Luke is saying.
A. Arguments for a short stay view.
A. Arguments for a short stay view.
1) Although Luke is not exhaustive in his historical reporting, when he gives chronological notes there should be little reason to doubt them.
3) It seems that eschatology became an issue within a matter of weeks. Further, it was Paul’s normal pattern to go to the synagogue in a city first, then to the Gentiles.
It could be difficult to see the Jews starting a riot against Paul after he had taken up residence for six months to a year, and, in fact, had not bothered the synagogue for most of that time.
B. Arguments for a longer stay.
B. Arguments for a longer stay.
There are four arguments for a longer stay.
1) Paul’s autobiographical note seems to contradict Acts 17:2, for the apostle seems to have an acquaintance with the Thessalonians which would have gone beyond three weeks.
2) The Thessalonians’ understanding of doctrine—even such an insignificant doctrine as eschatology—argues for a longer stay.
3) The make-up of the church as detailed in 1 Thess 9–10 seems to be former pagans—a factor which argues against Luke telling the whole story in Acts 17.
4) Philippians 4:16 must surely be read: “even in Thessalonica you sent me help again and again”—that is, several times.
Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
The more I study the more I think it seems that Paul was there longer.
See what you think when we are finished with this series.
5. Christians in Thessalonica were facing intense persecution.
5. Christians in Thessalonica were facing intense persecution.
Paul and his companions were run out of the city by the Jews.
But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.
And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
6. Paul Uses the timeline of eternity as he writes to the church.
6. Paul Uses the timeline of eternity as he writes to the church.
A. Paul talks about eternity past.
A. Paul talks about eternity past.
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
This is an important truth for us to understand.
Paul is speaking to people who were chosen by God.
Jesus spoke of this truth as well.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
When Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus he gave us some more details.
This is an important detail…
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
We were chosen before the creation of the world.
God’s salvation plan was laid out in eternity past.
Specifically that person you are praying for.
The one you are trying to lead to Christ…
God has laid out a perfect plan for their salvation in eternity past.
Hang in there. A few months or a few years is nothing!
B. Paul talks about eternity present.
B. Paul talks about eternity present.
remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We live in the present.
We are enjoying the benefits of our salvation in the present.
Presently we have work to do.
We presently live in HOPE of eternity future.
Our hope in eternity future impacts our work in eternity present.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,
and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
C. Paul talks about eternity future.
C. Paul talks about eternity future.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.
We work knowing what is coming!
Paul wrote the letter as a warm and encouraging letter to help the church stay faithful through persecution.
Paul wrote the letter as a warm and encouraging letter to help the church stay faithful through persecution.
“Joy” is used 6 times
“Thanksgiving” is used 3 times.
A heavy theme of imitating one another.