Doing Ministry Together (1 Thess. 1:1)

Paul begins in verse 1 by introducing himself, who is with him and to whom he writing.

Paul had taken Silas with him on his second missionary journey. What we know of Silas is that he was leader in the church back In Jerusalem, which is about 900 miles from Thessalonica, about the driving distance from Minneapolis to Denver. So the two guys have been together for many months, visiting and strengthening the churches together. Not long into trip, they picked up Timothy. Timothy had become a Christian in his home town when Paul had preached the gospel there on his first trip. So when when Paul came back, Timothy had matured in his faith enough to join Paul and Silas.

I point this out for a few reasons. First, it is in the text. Second, I want us to see that Paul was in relationship with other leaders and believers as he advanced the gospel across the world. It is important for us to know that because we might think of Paul as a lone ranger. He was not. He never traveled alone He always went with others as a ministry team.

With the exception of when he was in prison or appeared impatience,

Paul never traveled alone. We know he was in prison a number of times; the one time when he appeared impatient and went at it alone is when he had been waiting for Timothy and Silas to return from Berea and Thessalonica while he had been forced to go further south to Athens because of persecution. Paul appeared to grow impatient waiting and decide go go into Athens alone. Interestingly enough, the one city where a church had not been established was Athens.

The point here is that the advancement of the gospel is to be done in relationship with other believers, together. Jesus set this as the example sending his disciples out two by two. Ecclesiastes 4:9  Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! An honest read through the book of Acts and all of Paul’s letter, it is clear that God’s people worked together to advance the gospel.

Here’s the point: Don’t go at ministry alone. Go with others. One reason we have groups is to advance the gospel, together. A great example of this is campus ministries like Cru and Navigators. If you are a college student and you are not connected yet to one of these, you need to be.

Another example of this our church. It took a team of people and leaders to plant Anchor Point in 2005. It took a team of people to start our Fredenberg location last year. It is currently taking a team of people to do the same in Two Harbors. It takes a team to lead our youth, a team of people to disciple our kids. Being a disciple of Jesus and making disciples is not a solo gig.

The church in Thessalonica would not have been planted without Silas and Timothy. They know the Thessalonians as much as Paul

Paul writes to Christians in Thessalonica.

The story of the gospel reaching the city is Acts 17. We looked at that last week; Many came to faith, but some caused an uproar saying that Paul and Silas had said Jesus is King. Consequently they were torn away from their new friends in Christ. And Thessalonica had become a bit of a hotbed of trouble with respect to the new Christians there. Paul is not writing to his opponents but his fellow loved Christians. The fact the Paul writes this letter tells us that Paul cared for these believers. Though separated from them, they were on his mind enough take time to write to them. Every-time you and take time to send a text, or an email, or FB message or make a phone call to another Christian friend, you are saying hey, you’ve been on my mind. These are all expressions of love and care when we are not physically present with someone we love. Who do you love and care about? Who might need a “letter” from you this week? His desire for them is grace and peace.