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Thessalonians – The Receivers & Responders I Thess. 1: 1-10 - Dr. Paul J Joseph I. Introduction: (a). Author: Paul, (b). Date: 51 AD. (c). Paul’s work at Thessalonica [Capital of the province of Macedonia (Northern Greece)]: This was the second place Gospel was preached in Europe, Philippi being the first. Strong opposition raised from the Jews (or synagogue). Paul’s host, Jason was charged and the rulers of the city took Jason as a security and the missionaries (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) leave the city. When they arrived at Athens, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage the believers and report back the condition of the church. Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth, where the two letters to the Thessalonians were written. (Acts 17:1-14). (d). Purpose of the Letters: (1). To express his thankfulness, (2). To defend himself against a campaign to slander his ministry, which is that “his ministry was done only for profit”(2: 9-10). (3). To encourage the new converts to stand against the pressure to reconvert to their former religion (3:2-3; 4:1-12). (4). To answer the questions what happens to Christians who die before the return of Christ (4:13-18). (5). To discuss some problems in their church life that needed to be dealt with (5:12-13, 19-20). II. Paul’s Greetings & Thanksgiving, v. 1 – 4. v. 1: Grace & Peace. Paul from Romans to Philemon Paul always greets people with these most needed two things in one’s life: v. 2: Paul always does two things for the believers: Thanks & Prays. What is our way of greeting our co-believers?. v. 3: Paul’s reason for thanking God? 1. Because of the work of the Holy spirit, 2. Marvelous changes in their lives, 3. They have 3 great Christian virtues: Faith, Love, Hope. “Faith is the work God requires of us (John 6:29), Love motivated the works of the Thessalonian believers, They waited with patience for the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom” – Chuck Smith. v. 4: God chose believers to be His children (John 15:16; Rom. 9:16). III. The Cause and Effect of the Changes in the lives of Thessalonians, v. 5 – 10. v. 5: The cause of the changes: The Gospel v. 6: They responded to the Gospel by becoming followers (even in much affliction; Acts 17: 5-10). v. 7: They responded to the Gospel by becoming examples. “Then & Today, the world is crying out for those who will show them Christianity, not just tell them about it” – Guzik. v. 8-10: They responded by sounding forth the word of the Lord. i.e., The good work the Lord was doing among Thessalonians was known all over the region and everyone talking about the changes. (II Cor. 5:17). “Instead of asking yourself whether you believe or not, ask yourself whether you have this day done one thing because He said Do it, or once abstained because He said, Do not do it. It is surely absurd to say you believe or even to Him if you do not do anything He tells you.” (George MacDonald) IV. Conclusion: Let us be just receivers but also be responders to the gospel. (James 1:22 says: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says”.) |