I THESSALONIANS 1 Lesson # 1
OUR CHURCH’S IMAGE
I. Greetings:
II. Introduction:
Note: Our study this year is on the books of Thessalonians. These books were written by the Apostle Paul to a specific group: a church, the church at Thessalonica. We will study a portion of Scripture written to teach, encourage, etc. a group, a church. Since they were an actual church in Macedonia (above Greece) and we are an actual church in California, perhaps we can learn special lessons for our church through this study.
Note: I Thessalonians was written around A.D. 51 by St. Paul from Corinth (south of Thessalonica). Paul was sent away by the Thessalonians because violent persecution had broken out and they feared for Paul’s safety. He had sent Timothy to get news of them. Timothy returned with news of the high regard the Thessalonians had for Paul. Though he had preached only on 3 successive Sabbaths, Paul had made a great impact and taught the Thessalonians much. Many were not only converted, but remained true to the faith. Paul wrote to this model, though young, church commending them for standing firm to the truths they had been taught, and to urge them to live their lives by those truths.
III. Formal Salutation: I Thessalonians 1:1
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 1:1.
Q Who is writing the letter, is Paul alone doing so?
An = No, it comes from the “ministry team” of Paul, Silvanus and Timothy.
Q How is the Thessalonian church described at the end of verse 1? What are they in?
An = They are “in” God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The word “church” is literally in Greek (the language the letters of Paul were originally written in) “gathering” or “assembly”. So the church of Thessalonica is not a general gathering but a group specifically “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.
If we are to be pleasing to the Lord, we need to be “in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Q How is a church “in God the Father…” and when is it not?
An = We are “in” God the Father and the Lord Jesus when we worship God as our Father, our authority and protector and when we worship Jesus Christ as Lord. When someone says they belong to a certain family or that they are “in” such a family, then there should be a family resemblance, certain family traits should characterize that individual. We should be like our Father (the Hayr Mer begins, with “our Father”) and under our Heavenly Father’s authority and, of course, His protection, favor and love. A church that is “in” Christ, should see and operate with Him as Lord. People should learn about and understand Jesus just being around us.
Note: Paul greets them with a warm and positive greeting at the end of verse 1: “Grace and Peace”. Paul really likes these people.
IV. Paul’s Attitude Towards Them: I Thessalonians 1:2-4.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 1:2-4.
Q What two things does Paul say he does in connection with this church?
An = He thanks God for them, and he prays for them. Is it not a wonderful thing when a parent thanks God for their children and prays for them? Is it not a wonderful thing when a Pastor is thankful to God for his parishioners and prays for them? Paul and his ministry team are like spiritual parents to this church. They are very thankful for these people and lift them up in prayer to God.
Note: This is how many Sunday School teachers, or Dorcas Guild leaders, or Bible Study teachers feel towards their classes. They are thankful and prayerful. This is the mark of good leaders. You may have seen parents that only criticize or are unhappy with their children, this is not healthy. Correction, rebuke yes, but a basic thankfulness for our children is so essential. This is the same for good spiritual leaders, good Sunday School teachers, good pastors.
Q What three things do Paul and his ministry team remember about the Thessalonians in verse 3?
An = Their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope. Notice that their faith, love and hope are not just faith, love and hope in general but “in” the Lord Jesus Christ and the presence of God our Father.
Q Is it good for a pastor, Sunday School teacher, youth leader, or parent to praise their students, parishioners, or children? Why?
An = There is a need for a healthy boost to positive self-image and the encouragement to do further good or further godliness that such speaking produces.
Q What does verse 4 mean when it says they are chosen or elected?
An = They are different from all other “groups”, they are chosen, and chosen by Almighty God! Perhaps, churches do not have the proper concept of themselves when they do not realize they are “chosen”: they are special. They are “beloved” or loved by God Himself. A child is much more secure, a spouse has so much higher esteem, just by knowing that they are loved.
Q Why are some churches seemingly chosen and loved by God according to verse 3?
An = Perhaps Paul is trying to say that the qualities of hope, faith and love, that are so clearly in these people’s, lives are the natural extension of being the “chosen ones”.
RQ How does a church grow into a model or healthy church?
Note: All growth begins by being honest. If we are honest about our not feeling very chosen, and we wonder why our leaders do not thank God for us, or if we worry that our faith in God, our love of God, and our hope in God is weak, then we can grow.
Paul will now address how the Thessalonians got to where they were….
V. Good Leadership, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel and the Thessalonians: I Thess. 1:5-10.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 1:5.
Q How did the Gospel come to these people? How did their church come into being?
An = Not just through words only, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, with deep conviction. Paul reminds them that their acceptance of the gospel was brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit, with such intense conviction that it was an act of God.
Note: There is something else…. It was preached to them by men of integrity.
Q How important is it that the teachers, preachers, pastors, etc. are men of character, honesty and honor?
An = It is best to keep to positive and not negative examples. It is good to think about wonderful and great Sunday School teachers, pastors, Christian leaders who led us to Christ, and taught us.
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 1:6-8.
Q How did the Thessalonians respond to the Gospel?
An = They became imitators of Paul, Silvanus, Timothy and the Lord. They received with joy in the Holy Spirit the Word of the Gospel despite persecution. They became examples for the other churches of Macedonia and Achaia. (These are two neighboring states. Macedonia is north of Achaia or what we call Greece.) People beyond their region heard about their faith and that made it easy for Paul and company to spread the gospel.
Q Is it a good thing to imitate moral and honest leaders, pastors, or parents?
An = Good parents, pastors, leaders often help us see the Lord clearer. The good human examples (though not perfect) help bring alive the beauty of what God’s character is like.
Note: Just as they received the gospel with power and conviction in the Holy Spirit, so they received by the Holy Spirit joy in persecution. Paul is saying that something supernatural had been taking place among them. The creation of this church was not the work of fancy church growth planning, but was a work of God’s Holy Spirit.
Q Does the Holy Spirit still come with powerful conviction and have the ability to bring joy despite persecution or hard times?
An = Here it is good to review our own testimony, or what we have experienced of God’s miraculous Holy Spirit at work in our lives.
Q Is the reputation of our church like that of the Thessalonians? What is our church’s reputation? What do people say about us?
An = It is good to remember the good, and when we see the weak parts of our reputation it is a positive thing to want a better reputation. Paul, I believe, would encourage that desire.
Q Can a church become an example of God’s grace to others by their belief?
An = Can we review and see how our faith has lead to the formation of belief in others?
>>>> Have someone read I Thessalonians 1:9-10.
Q What report went out about them in verse 9?
An = How they received the good leadership of Paul and his fellow ministers. How they turned to the living God and turned from idols. The use of the word “turn” goes back to the Old Testament and means they repented of their former ways and turned to God. One cannot become a believer in God and still worship an idol.
Q What are the idols that people must turn from today to turn to God?
An = Note what idols exist, in our lives. Have everyone turn to Matthew 6:24. >>> Have someone read Matthew 6:24 to the group.
Q Is Jesus correct? What do you think of what Jesus says and what it means to our church?
An = So often the pursuit of and the retention of money competes with our loyalty to Christ. Money is never to take priority over our love for God. Jesus seems to think that this can easy happen because he speak much on this issue through out His teaching.
>>>> Have someone re-read I Thessalonians 1:10.
Q What three things characterize the beliefs of the Thessalonians according to this verse?
An = 1) They were awaiting the return of Jesus Christ who was divine. He was from heaven. 2) They believed Jesus had risen from the dead so they had hope of eternal life.
3) They believed Jesus’ death on the cross could save them from the penalty of their sins. They could be delivered from the deserved wrath of God. All three of these beliefs are centered around the character of Jesus and around hope!
Homework:
For next time: 1) Read verses 1-11 and try to write down the characteristics of a good Christian leader that these verses portray.
2) What is the goal of good leadership according to verses 12-13?
3) What happens to good leaders, even Jesus, at the hands of people who know religion but do not follow God (14-16)?
4) Why do Paul and the other Apostles want to see the Thessalonians so badly again according to verses (17-20)?