1 Thess 1 A Model for Every Church

Intro

Conqs for Christ

Read 1 Thess 1:1-5

Transition

The Macedonian king Cassander founded Thessalonica around 315 bc, naming the city after his wife, Thessalonike

Thessalonica functioned as one of the most important cities in the empire, having both a vast harbor and prevalent location along a major trade route

It was situated along the Via Egnatia hwy that connected the east and west of the Roman empire

Connected to the Aegean Sea via its harbor, Thessalonica’s geographical location protected it from adverse weather conditions that occasionally afflicted the wider Mediterranean

It was made a free city in 42 BC by Mark Anthony

Paul would have encountered a variety of religious competitors in Thessalonica, the Jewish community was one of the most serious

He spoke in the synagogue for three sabbath’s and many people followed him

Acts 17:4 ESV

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

It was also rich in pagan religious cults is revealed even by his claim that the majority of his converts had been pagan worshippers

The church in Thessalonica became a model church in the region

The people were a joy to work with, they showed love to the whole region, and were looking for the return of Jesus

Every church can take Thessalonica as a model to follow

Labor of Love vs. 1-3

The first key we see in this model church is that they were a labor of love

Paul expresses his appreciation for the church in his greeting by calling them a labor of love

Paul worked hard while he was there as both a tentmaker and evangelist

They were a joy to work with and Paul has a deep love for them

vs. 1 Unusual Greeting

I usually don’t point out the greeting, but this one is different

It is different in that it is simple

He mentions himself, Silvanus or Silas, and Timothy

Silvanus is another name for Silas

Silas and Timothy were Paul’s two protege’s

He would leave both of them in churches to lead

Notice how he doesn’t mention that he is a servant or apostle

Ephesians 1:1 ESV

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

This is certify his credentials as an apostle

Philippians 1:1 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:

He calls himself a servant to point out his role in the church

He just mentions himself and his compatriots because there was no problems he was addressing in the church

vs. 2 Constantly Praying

Paul tells them that He constantly thanks God for them and mentions them in his prayers

No one doubts that Paul was a praying person but the fact that he mentions that he thanks God for them means they were a labor of love

A good sign that a church is healthy and thriving is that the leadership is praying for the people

I am glad that I can say that is the case of this church

vs. 3 Remembering Your Faith, Hope, & Love

As they are praying for the Thessalonians they remember

The work of Faith they were doing

John 6:29 ESV

Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

They weren’t doing things thru their own resources or under their own power

They were walking by faith, trusting the Lord

They were also doing their work in love

Being a church takes hard work, but when the people are filled with love for Jesus and each other it becomes a labor of love

They were also steadfast in their hope of Jesus

Their faith in Him was immovable

They weren’t looking to anyone else for guidance

All of these made the people of Thessalonica a labor of Love for Paul

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Transformed by The Word & Spirit vs. 4-5a

The second key we see in a model church is that they have been transformed by the Word and the Spirit

The first part of the transformation is that they accepted the love and forgiveness of the Son

Then they were sanctified through the teaching of God’s Word and the work of the Spirit

vs. 4 Loved & Chosen

Paul reminded them that God loved them (beloved) and that He chose them.

The two go together.

When we love someone, we naturally choose them.

Colossians 3:12 ESV

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

The phrase beloved by God was a phrase which the Jews applied only to supremely great men like Moses and Solomon, and to the nation of Israel itself.

Now the greatest privilege of the greatest men of God’s chosen people has been extended to the humblest of the Gentiles.

We must always remember that God chose us, we didn’t choose Him

We were lost in our sin, unable to find God and He sent His son to die in our place

When we respond to the work of the Holy Spirit upon our hearts, then we can be saved from eternal death in hell

vs. 5a Word came in Power

Paul says the Gospel came in Word and power

They responded to the Gospel message

After that they were faithful to teaching of God’s Word and the work of the Holy Spirit

For a church and a Christian to mature in their faith they must have both the Word and the Spirit

Both guide and convict

Too much of one can lead to problems

All Word and you dry up, All Spirit and you blow up, but the Word and Spirit you grow up

We are a church that teaches God’s Word

There is no doubt about that but… you need the Spirit

There are three ways we encourage the Spirit in your life

1. Trust when He is leading you to do something

2. Grow in Spiritual fruit

3. Use the Gifts He has blessed you with

Disciples Filled w/ Joy Vs. 5b-7

The third key we see in a model church is that they are disciples filled with Joy

Paul calls them imitators in the ESV

Paul used this imagery with the Corinthians

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

It means followers and is closely related with being a disciple of

If you are a follower of Jesus you are a disciple because you are following in His footsteps and imitating what he did

The Thessalonians embraced the discipleship with Joy

even though there was great affliciton

vs. 5b We Proved Ourselves

The discipleship was happening because Paul and his boys proved themselves

Paul didn’t come seeking money from the people

He supported himself through tentmaking and support from the Philipians

They worked day and night

What they said came true

vs. 6a Received the Word

vs. 6b In spite of Affliction

This joy and imitation wasn’t without its struggles

Jews and Pagans quickly became jealous of the success of the Christian church

The Jews formed a mob and attacked the house of Jason

This is the city where they were accused of turning the world upside down

2 Corinthians 6:10 ESV

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Witnesses Waiting on Jesus vs. 8-10

The final key we see in a model church is that they are witnessing to the Lost while waiting for Jesus’ return

1/4 of all content of 1 Thessalonians and 2/3 in 2 Thess deals with the coming of Christ

While it preoccupied their thoughts it didn’t prevent them from continuing to step out in faith and witnessing to their world

vs. 8 Faith has Gone Forth

The word of God was going forth out of the church into the surrounding regions

That means people were being trained up and sent out

It also means that the church was stepping out in faith

Paul didn’t have to correct or exhort them, they were already doing it

DL Moody’s Evangelism

DL Moody was a shoe salesman in Chicago who God called to reach the street children

He started by using the YMCA but moved to the largest theater in the city

At the height of DL Moody’s ministry in Chicago he was reaching 10,000 children and families on Sunday nights

People were getting saved and baptised

A delegation of Pastors from the local churches met with Moody to discuss issues they had with him

These families were going to churches on Sunday mornings and disrupting the way they did things

They told him that they didn’t like his method of evangelism

Moody then asked them what evangelism they were doing?

They didn’t have an answer

Moody answered them and said, “I like my way of doing it wrong over your way of not doing it.”

We are so worried about what we don’t know or if it will upset people that we prevent ourselves from doing it

vs. 9 Turned from Idols

True transformation was happing in hearts

People were turning from idols and serving Jesus

This shows us that most of the converts to the church were pagan and not Jewish

Paul started in the synagogue, but most reached were pagan gentiles

They stopped worshipping the Greek Gods which ruled the city and turned to Jesus

vs. 10 Waiting for Christ’s Return

The Thessalonian had a heavy emphasis on the second coming of Christ

We will see later that they were fearful of having missed the rapture

Paul reassures them that Christ hasn’t returned and that he will deliver us from the wrath to come

You might want to remember that phrase “Wrath to come” because it is a Hotly debated issue in the church

We will get into it at the end of this book and really get into it in 2 Thess