The Thessalonians
A BIBLICAL VIEW OF THE LIFE OF A LEADER:
LESSONS FROM 1 THESSALONIANS 1 - 3
SUMMARY
Paul established the Thessalonian church on his second missionary trip. Silas and Timothy were partners with him during this time. In order to not be a burden on this fledgling church, the missionary team worked as bi-vocational ministers raising their own support.[1] In doing so, they set an example for the early church. Their work demonstrated an important truth – work is godly. Indeed, God is at work and expects us to work as well.[2] 1 Thessalonians 1 – 3 serve as the memoirs of the Apostle Paul’s leadership among this New Testament church. Here we discover a discipleship handbook for developing new believers. Having established this church, Paul was determined to see these believers properly discipled. To those ends, he wrote the letters we call 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. In his first letter to the Thessalonian church, the apostle taught on a number of key doctrines. These teachings included: the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of the Scripture, the return of Christ, the assurance of salvation, conversion, sanctification, the Resurrection, how faith relates to works, how love relates to service, and how patience relates to hope.[3] In chapter one, Paul described the church in Thessalonica. From the description he gave, one might think of this group as a model church. Rather than causing the apostle grief, the church was a joy to Paul. He was blessed by them and frequently gave God thanks for their faithfulness (1:2). Paul reminded these Christians of their special relationship to the Lord by referring to them as the church (ekklesia). This Greek term means a called out people.[4] As Christians, God had called these believers out of the world to live a holy life. That they were doing so was evidenced by the spiritual fruit they were bearing (their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in
LESSONS FROM 1 THESSALONIANS 1 - 3
SUMMARY
Paul established the Thessalonian church on his second missionary trip. Silas and Timothy were partners with him during this time. In order to not be a burden on this fledgling church, the missionary team worked as bi-vocational ministers raising their own support.[1] In doing so, they set an example for the early church. Their work demonstrated an important truth – work is godly. Indeed, God is at work and expects us to work as well.[2] 1 Thessalonians 1 – 3 serve as the memoirs of the Apostle Paul’s leadership among this New Testament church. Here we discover a discipleship handbook for developing new believers. Having established this church, Paul was determined to see these believers properly discipled. To those ends, he wrote the letters we call 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. In his first letter to the Thessalonian church, the apostle taught on a number of key doctrines. These teachings included: the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of the Scripture, the return of Christ, the assurance of salvation, conversion, sanctification, the Resurrection, how faith relates to works, how love relates to service, and how patience relates to hope.[3] In chapter one, Paul described the church in Thessalonica. From the description he gave, one might think of this group as a model church. Rather than causing the apostle grief, the church was a joy to Paul. He was blessed by them and frequently gave God thanks for their faithfulness (1:2). Paul reminded these Christians of their special relationship to the Lord by referring to them as the church (ekklesia). This Greek term means a called out people.[4] As Christians, God had called these believers out of the world to live a holy life. That they were doing so was evidenced by the spiritual fruit they were bearing (their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in