Walking while we wait.
Notes
Transcript
Today we begin a 9 week journey through the book of 2 Thes. where Paul is writing to the Church and encourages them to mature in various ways. Today we are going to look at the 1:1-2 and see the book’s themes and hear it’s melody as it challenges us to walk while we wait.
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The city of Thessalonica was founded in 316 BC by one of Alexander the Great’s Generals named Cassander. Cassander named the city after his wife, Thessalonica.
The city became a cultural center because of it’s location on commercial sea routes and it’s location on the Egnation Way, which was an international highway that ran through Macedonia.
In 146 BC Thessalonica was made the capital of Macedonia for around 100,000 people.
Paul arrived in in Thessalonica in 49 AD during his second missionary journey.
When Paul arrived there the city it was steeped in emperor worship but greek cults like that of Dionysius were prevalent as well.
Sexual perversion was all over the city. Men were expected to have an active sex life with slaves, prostitutes, and lovers and bi-sexuality was more common in this area of Macedonia.
Acts 17 is where we see the Church established.
Paul has written 1 Thes and at some point, weeks or months later the Church responded which caused this second letter to be written.
From/To:
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Church of the Thes. - People not location
People are Christians.
Gospel - Identity
Wish:
2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
From God OUR Father and the Lord Jesus Christ
They all have commonality in Faith.
So why was Paul compelled to write this to these fellow believers?
He was compelled because maturity matters and they hadn’t arrived yet.
1. They needed more encouragement. (1:3-12, 2:13-17, 3:1-5, 3:16-17)
Persecutions which have increased
2. They needed more instruction. (2:1-12, 3:13-15)
A false teaching letter saying the DOL has already happened
3. They needed more warning. (3:6-12)
A problem of increased idleness
When we look at this book we see something that is true for our lives as well,
The need for Christian maturity is lifelong and universal.
What if the world was populated by 5 year olds? It would be catastrophic. Everything would collapse. Maturity is needed in order for life to continue on. Sadly many Christians reach a certain point in their walk and think that they have come far enough and most of the time it is at the development stage of a 5 year old.
Feed themselves the basics
Understand simple concepts
Have basic working knowledge to not get into too much trouble.
This should not be the case though. We should recognize that we are never fully mature but should always be maturing. There are always areas of sin in our lives that need to be dealt with, areas we need to grow in, areas that look like a five year old and not a 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 year old.
So this text prods us today to do a life inspection and ask, what second letter would I need today?
Response Card
Encouragement:
People in my life
Prayer requested
Trust in God’s providence
Priorities rearranged
Instruction:
Bible Reading
Bible Study
Challenge to grown in an area
Mentorship
Warning/Change:
Sin
Wisdom
Action
Accountability
When we look at this card we see areas to mature in so we can walk while we wait just as the Church in Thes. was called to do.