1 Thessalonians

Well, this morning I want you to imagine that you are a member of a church in the city of Thessalonica.

If you live there today, you would say that you live in Greece.

But back then the territory of Greece was part of the Roman Empire, divided up into several provinces.

The southern tip of Greece back then was the Roman province of Achaia, where the city of Athens and Corinth were.

However, the northern part of Greece back then was the Roman province of Macedonia.

And so imagine that you are a member of a church in the capital city of Macedonia, the city of Thessalonica.

You live in a proud city with a population of over 100,000 people.

It's also a port city with a natural harbor opening up into the Aegean Sea.

Your city is a key stop on the Ignatian Way, which is a land-based trading route running from east to west.

And Thessalonica is a flourishing center of trade and commerce.

A free city governed by the local polytarchs.

When it comes to religion, most of the people in Thessalonica worship the gods of the Greeks and Romans.

But there's a sizable population of Jews who live here as well.

The year is 50 AD.

The amazing and wonderful events of Jesus' death and resurrection happened just 17 years ago.

But as for the story of our little church here in Thessalonica, this is all quite new for us.

Within just the past year, Paul, Silas, and Timothy came through our city on Paul's second missionary journey.

Before coming to our city, they were on the other side of the Aegean Sea in the province of Asia,

when one night, Paul had a vision of a man from our province of Macedonia,

urging him to come over here and help us.

Before coming here to Thessalonica, Paul and Silas went, after sailing across the sea,

to Philippi, where they got into some trouble.

They actually ended up in jail there for a night.

And thankfully, they were released the next morning.

But not until after God had done a miracle in the middle of the night,

through which the jailer and his family came to believe in Jesus.

Well, after Philippi, Paul, Silas, and Timothy passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia.

And then they came here to Thessalonica.

They were here for only three weeks.

And our lives were turned upside down.

Three weeks in a row, on the Sabbath day,

Paul came to the local synagogue and was proclaiming Jesus the Christ

and saying that Jesus was the one that the Scriptures pointed to.

And some of the Jews were persuaded,

and a great many of us Greeks believed,

and even some of the leading women of the city believed in Jesus.

But as more of us Gentiles were believing in Jesus,

suddenly the Jews became jealous,

and they rounded up some really bad characters,

formed a mob,

and set the whole city in an uproar.

They came and stormed the house of Jason,

one of our own church members,

looking for Paul and Silas.

But when they couldn't find him,

they grabbed Jason,

and some of us other church members here,

and dragged us off to the city authorities,

shouting,

These men,

Paul and his companions,

they've been causing trouble all over the world,

and now they have come here.

And Jason has welcomed them into his house.

They are all defying Caesar's decrees,

saying that there's another king,

one called Jesus.

And the whole crowd that was gathered,

and the city officials,

were thrown into a frenzy after hearing this.

Amazingly, they let us go

that same day,

after making us post-bond.

And later that night,

we secretly sent Paul and Silas and Timothy

out of the city,

down to Berea.

But I tell you,

our lives were turned upside down.

So fierce has been the opposition of the Jews.

As soon as they found out

that Paul and Silas had gone down to Berea,

some of them even went down there

and began agitating the crowds

and stirring people up against them.

That was a number of months ago now.

But now wait.

What?

A letter written by Paul

has just arrived

to be read to everyone.

All right.

Let's gather around.

Let's open it up.

Let's see

what Paul has to say to us.

Everybody listen.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy.

To the church of the Thessalonians,

in God the Father,

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace

and peace to you.

We always thank God for all of you

and continually mention you in our prayers.

We remember before our God and Father

your work produced by faith,

your labor prompted by love,

and your endurance inspired by hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ.

For we know,

brothers and sisters,

loved by God,

that he has chosen you

because our gospel came to you,

not simply with words,

but also with power,

with the Holy Spirit

and deep conviction.

You know how we lived among you

for your sake.

You became imitators of us

and of the Lord,

for you welcomed the message

in the midst of severe suffering

with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

And so you became a model

to all the believers

in Macedonia and Achaia.

The Lord's message rang out from you,

not only in Macedonia and Achaia,

your faith in God

has become known everywhere.

Therefore, we do not need

to say anything about it,

for they themselves report

what kind of reception you gave us.

They tell how you turn to God

from idols

to serve the living and true God

and to wait for his Son from heaven,

whom he raised from the dead,

Jesus,

who rescues us from the coming wrath.

You know, brothers and sisters,

that our visit to you

was not without results.

We had previously suffered

and been treated outrageously

in Philippi, as you know,

but with the help of our God,

we dared to tell you

his gospel

in the face of strong opposition.

For the appeal we make

does not spring from error

or impure motives,

nor are we trying to trick you.

On the contrary,

we speak as those approved by God

to be entrusted with the gospel.

We're not trying to please people,

but God,

who tests our hearts.

You know,

we never used flattery,

nor did we put on a mask

to cover up greed.

God is our witness.

We were not looking

for praise from people,

not from you

or anyone else,

even though as apostles of Christ,

we could have asserted

our authority.

Instead,

we were like young children

among you.

Just as a nursing mother

cares for her children,

so we cared for you.

Because we loved you so much,

we were delighted

to share with you

not only the gospel of God,

but our lives as well.

Surely you remember,

brothers and sisters,

our toil

and hardship.

We work night and day

in order not to be a burden

to anyone

while we preach

the gospel of God to you.

You are witnesses,

and so is God,

of how holy,

righteous,

and blameless

we were among you

who believed.

For you know

that we dealt

with each of you

as a father deals

with his own children,

encouraging,

comforting,

and urging you

to live lives

worthy of God

who calls you

into his kingdom

and glory.

And we also

thank God continually

because when you

received the word

of God

which you heard

from us,

you accepted it

not as a human word,

but as it actually is,

the word of God,

which is indeed

at work in you

who believe.

For you,

brothers and sisters,

became imitators

of God's churches

in Judea,

which are in Christ Jesus.

You suffered

from your own people

the same things

those churches

suffered from the Jews

who killed

the Lord Jesus

and the prophets

and also drove us out.

They displease God

and are hostile

to everyone

in their effort

to keep us

from speaking

to the Gentiles

so that they may be saved.

In this way,

they always heap up

their sins

to the limit.

the wrath of God

has come upon them

at last.

But brothers and sisters,

when we were orphaned

by being separated

from you

for a short time

in person,

not in thought,

out of our intense longing,

we made every effort

to see you

for we wanted

to come to you.

Certainly I,

Paul,

did again and again,

but Satan

blocked our way.

For what is our hope,

our joy,

or the crown

in which we will glory

in the presence

of our Lord Jesus

when he comes?

Is it not you?

Indeed,

you are our glory

and joy.

So when we could stand

it no longer,

we thought it best

to be left by ourselves

in Athens.

We sent Timothy,

who is our brother

and co-worker

in God's service

in spreading

the gospel of Christ

to strengthen

and encourage you

in your faith

so that no one

would be unsettled

by these trials.

For you know quite well

that we are destined

for them.

In fact,

when we were with you,

we kept telling you

that we would be persecuted

and it turned out that way

as you well know.

For this reason,

when I could stand

it no longer,

I sent

to find out

about your faith.

I was afraid

that in some way

the tempter

had tempted you

and that our labors

might have been in vain.

But Timothy

has just now

come to us

from you

and has brought

good news

about your faith

and love.

He has told us

that you always

have pleasant memories

of us

and that you long

to see us

just as we also

long to see you.

Therefore,

brothers and sisters,

in all our distress

and persecution,

we were encouraged

about you

because of your faith.

For now,

we really live

since you are

standing firm

in the Lord.

How can we thank God

enough for you

in return

for all the joy

that we have

in the presence

of our God

because of you?

Night and day,

we pray most earnestly

that we may see you again

and supply what is lacking

in your faith.

faith.

Now may our God

and Father himself

and our Lord Jesus

clear the way

for us to come to you.

May the Lord make

your love

increase

and overflow

for each other

and for everyone else

just as ours

does for you.

May he strengthen

your hearts

so that you will be

blameless

and holy

in the presence

of our God

and Father

when our Lord Jesus

comes

with all his holy ones.

As for other matters,

brothers and sisters,

we instructed you

how to live

in order to please God

as in fact

you are living.

Now we ask you

and we urge you

in the Lord Jesus

to do this more and more

for you know

what instructions

we gave you

by the authority

of the Lord Jesus.

It is God's will

that you should be sanctified,

that you should avoid

sexual immorality,

that each of you

should learn

to control your own body

in a way that is holy

and honorable,

not in passionate lust

like the pagans

who do not know God,

and that in this matter

no one should wrong

or take advantage

of a brother or sister.

The Lord will punish

all those who commit

such sins

as we told you

and warned you before.

For God did not call us

to be impure

but to live a holy life.

Therefore,

anyone who rejects

this instruction

does not reject

a human being

but God,

the very God

who gives you

his Holy Spirit.

Now about your love

for one another,

we do not need

to write to you

for you yourselves

have been taught

by God

to love each other

and in fact,

you do love

all of God's family

throughout Macedonia

yet we urge you

brothers and sisters

to do so

more and more

and to make it

your ambition

to lead a quiet life.

You should mind

your own business

and work

with your hands

just as we told you

so that your daily life

may win the respect

of outsiders

and so that you

will not be dependent

on anybody.

Brothers and sisters,

we do not want you

to be uninformed

about those

who sleep in death

so that you

do not grieve

like the rest of mankind

who have no hope

for we believe

that Jesus died

and rose again

and so we believe

that God will bring

with Jesus

those who have

fallen asleep

in him.

According to the

Lord's word

we tell you

that we who are

still alive

who are left

until the coming

of the Lord

will certainly

not precede

those who have

fallen asleep

for the Lord

himself

will come down

from heaven

with a loud

command

with the voice

of the archangel

and with the

trumpet call

of God

and the dead

in Christ

will rise first.

After that

we who are

still alive

and are left

will be caught up

together with them

in the clouds

to meet the Lord

in the air

and so

we will be

with the Lord

forever.

Therefore

encourage one another

with these words.

Now

brothers and sisters

about times

and dates

we do not need

to write to you

for you know

very well

that the day

of the Lord

will come like

a thief

in the night

while people

are saying

peace

and safety

destruction

will come

on them

suddenly

as labor

pains

on a pregnant

woman

and they will

not escape.

but you

brothers and

sisters

are not in

darkness

so that this

day should

surprise you

like a thief.

You are all

children of the

light

and children

of the day.

We do not

belong to the

night

or to the

darkness

so then let us

not be like

others who

are asleep

but let us

be awake

and sober

for those

who sleep

sleep at

night

and those

who get

drunk

get drunk

at night

but since

we belong

to the

day

let us

be sober

putting on

faith

and love

as a breastplate

and the hope

of salvation

as a helmet

for God

did not

appoint us

to suffer

wrath

but to

receive

salvation

through our

Lord Jesus

Christ.

he died

for us

so that

whether we

are awake

or asleep

we may

live together

with him

therefore

encourage one

another

and build

each other

up

just as in

fact you

are doing.

now we

ask you

brothers and

sisters

to acknowledge

those who

work hard

among you

who care

for you

in the

Lord

and who

admonish

you

hold them

in the

highest regard

in love

because of

their work

live in

peace

with each

other

and we

urge you

brothers and

sisters

warn those

who are

idle and

disruptive

encourage

the disheartened

help

the weak

be patient

with everyone

make sure

that nobody

pays back

wrong for

wrong

but always

strive to do

what is good

for each

other

and for

everyone

else

rejoice

always

pray

continually

give thanks

in all

circumstances

for this

is God's

will for

you

in Christ

Jesus

do not

quench

the spirit

do not

treat

prophecies

with contempt

but test

them all

hold on

to what

is good

reject

every kind

of evil

may God

himself

the God

of peace

sanctify

you

through

and through

may your

whole spirit

soul

and body

be kept

blameless

at the

coming

of our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

the one

who calls

you

is faithful

and he

will do

it

brothers

and sisters

pray for

us

greet all

God's

people

with a

holy kiss

I charge

you before

the Lord

to have

this letter

read to

all the

brothers

and sisters

the grace

of our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

be with

you

well we've

got a couple

minutes now

and I want to

open it up a

little bit for

discussion

maybe I'll move

down here so

it feels less

sermony

what did you

hear in these

words that

encouraged you

or challenged

you or

made you

wonder

don't be

shy

416

for the

Lord

himself

will come

down from

heaven

with the

loud command

with the

voice of

the

archangel

with the

trumpet

of call

of God

and the

dead in

Christ

will

arise

first

after that

we who are

still alive

and left

will be

caught up

with them

in the

clouds

to meet

the

Lord

in the

air

and so

we will

be with

the

Lord

forever

so that's

the encouragement

that

before

that's

the

rapture

that's

described

in

the

gospel

yeah

depending on

your

interpretation

of those

things

rapture

or second

coming

of Jesus

but that

is our

hope

yeah

yeah

I like

in

chapter

5

9

for

God

did not

appoint us

to suffer

wrath

but to

receive

salvation

through

our

Lord

Jesus

Christ

makes

me

think

of

a

true

true

rapture

God

wants

what

he's

doing

for

us

that

he

loves

us

and

doesn't

want

us

to

go

through

the

wrath

yeah

yeah

that's

the

glorious

good news

of

Jesus

that

he

died

so that

our

punishment

would be

taken

away

and

one

day

that

punishment

is

coming

the

word

of

God

tells

us

on

our

world

and

so

that

is

our

promise

that

we

have

not

been

appointed

to

suffer

that

wrath

but

to

receive

salvation

through

Jesus

our

Lord

yeah

I'd say

516

to 18

rejoice

always

pray

without

ceasing

give

thanks

in all

circumstances

for this

is the

will of

God

Christ

Jesus

for you

and just

looking at

that

and asking

do we

rejoice

always

even Paul

in the

beginning

of this

letter

talks

about

their

ministry

and

at

times

they're

longing

to

come

and

their

struggle

and

the

things

they

endured

and yet

they

rejoice

whether

they were

in prison

or

free

running

around

they

still

rejoice

in the

Lord

yeah

it's a

powerful

word

especially

when you

take into

consideration

the

circumstances

of how

Paul met

these people

and shared

the gospel

with them

and then

was chased

out of town

like

pretty much

right after

it happened

there was

and then

they were

asking about

what about

the people

who believed

among us

who are

dead

you know

like

maybe

persecuted

and killed

for their

faith

and

and yet

even in the

midst of

that

he says

rejoice

always

we always

have something

in the

Lord

to rejoice

about

a hope

that endures

and that

can't be

taken away

from us

yeah

yeah

encourage

the

disheartened

help

the

weak

thanks

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, there's quite a lot in this letter about love.

Love for one another, but much of it is commendation.

I love how he says that God taught you guys how to love each other.

The sense that the Holy Spirit in them just produced that fruit,

and they were doing it, and Paul was kind of torn away from them

and didn't have the chance to explain, well, how do we do this as a church?

And yet here they were doing it all these months later

when the letter finally came.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

yeah

yeah there's a sense in which

all over the world

can only be so far in these few months

since his visit

but there's a real sense in which these shoe boxes

are going all over the world

all over the globe

and reaching kids with the good news

so yeah that is a great way that we can

participate

yeah

let's uh

let's pray

father in heaven

we thank you for these words

which were not only for the

Thessalonians but for us too

and uh

each one of us maybe heard something a little bit different

but we thank you for these words

and we ask that you would guard them and keep them

and that you would cause them to sink down deep into our hearts

and that we would find opportunity to

live them

this week for your glory

for your honor

for your pleasure

we want to be holy

and blameless

as you have told us to in this letter

but we also at the same time

thank you that you have promised to do that for us

and to work that in us

we love you

and we pray this in Jesus name

amen

you