Born in Adversity - The Thessalonian Church
Born in Adversity – The Thessalonian Church
We will begin next week our study of the first and second Letters of Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. Before we get to the Letters, we would like to know how the Church was started and established. For this, we go back to the Book of Acts where the Church was planted. Listen to Paul, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 1:6. Is this your story? Do you have the joy from the Holy Spirit regardless of your sever sufferings? May God’s joy be your strength.
Acts 17: 1-15
1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,[b]" he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[c] 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
10As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul and Silas preached the true Gospel to the Thessalonians. It was very clear what they preached. Paul reasoned with the people, 3”explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ”. This is the core of the Good News of Christ. Is this where you started or do you have a different foundation? Christ’s death has become our life. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Do you have any other claim except the Grace of God? I do not and neither do you. Thank you Lord for your mercy.
2. The Church was a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles. It makes for a challenging beginning to deal with the cultural differences. We will always have these differences but in Christ, we are one. Are you being challenged to embrace another culture and people group different from yours? We must not treat anyone different who has been redeemed and saved by believing in Christ. Lord, help us with our differences and biases about other cultures and races. Let us reach out to other cultures.
3. The city of Thessalonica has a lot of trouble makers. They were not going to take the establishment of the Church lying low. The Jews with some “bad characters” wanted to kill Paul and Silas. In fact Paul and Silas had to be hidden and left town in the night. I don’t know how many of us who have been in such a Church meeting but this is reality of the beginning of the Thessalonian Church. Opposition from the enemy does not mean that it is not from God. Is there something of lasting value God is using you to initiate and plant? Please stand your ground and go forward in Jesus name. Let us pray for the persecuted Church (our brothers and sisters in Christ) around the world.
4. The enemy does not give up with one trial so why should we give up ourselves. Even after Paul and Silas left town to Berea, the trouble makers from Thessalonica followed them to cause more trouble. We must use wisdom to guard against the enemy. Paul left town, leaving Silas behind. They enemy is more interested in killing off the leadership whether it is at home, school, work or nation. We must know who the targets are and pray for them. Let us pray for those in leadership in our immediate contact.
5. Paul left with anguish in his heart and with great concern for His new believers in Jesus. The Church however was established as we see that the promise of Jesus coming through. “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” Mathew 16:18.
I invite you to read the Letters to the Thessalonians with the appreciation of their difficult beginning. Paul wrote the Letters to encourage the Thessalonians. It may be possible that someone needs to hear from you and me today a word of encouragement. Would you send that email, text or phone call to encourage the one having a difficult beginning or re-beginning?
I am excited about studying the Letters to the Thessalonians with you. It only takes less than 45 minutes to read the entire Letters at a go. I challenge you to do that. At least start with 1 Thessalonians. Be encouraged today if you are in “sever suffering” of any kind. Amen.
May God bless and encourage you and as we study and grow from ‘glory to glory”.
We will begin next week our study of the first and second Letters of Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. Before we get to the Letters, we would like to know how the Church was started and established. For this, we go back to the Book of Acts where the Church was planted. Listen to Paul, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 1:6. Is this your story? Do you have the joy from the Holy Spirit regardless of your sever sufferings? May God’s joy be your strength.
Acts 17: 1-15
1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,[b]" he said. 4Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
5But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.[c] 6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus." 8When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.
10As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12Many of the Jews believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
13When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. 14The brothers immediately sent Paul to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. 15The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul and Silas preached the true Gospel to the Thessalonians. It was very clear what they preached. Paul reasoned with the people, 3”explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ”. This is the core of the Good News of Christ. Is this where you started or do you have a different foundation? Christ’s death has become our life. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Do you have any other claim except the Grace of God? I do not and neither do you. Thank you Lord for your mercy.
2. The Church was a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentiles. It makes for a challenging beginning to deal with the cultural differences. We will always have these differences but in Christ, we are one. Are you being challenged to embrace another culture and people group different from yours? We must not treat anyone different who has been redeemed and saved by believing in Christ. Lord, help us with our differences and biases about other cultures and races. Let us reach out to other cultures.
3. The city of Thessalonica has a lot of trouble makers. They were not going to take the establishment of the Church lying low. The Jews with some “bad characters” wanted to kill Paul and Silas. In fact Paul and Silas had to be hidden and left town in the night. I don’t know how many of us who have been in such a Church meeting but this is reality of the beginning of the Thessalonian Church. Opposition from the enemy does not mean that it is not from God. Is there something of lasting value God is using you to initiate and plant? Please stand your ground and go forward in Jesus name. Let us pray for the persecuted Church (our brothers and sisters in Christ) around the world.
4. The enemy does not give up with one trial so why should we give up ourselves. Even after Paul and Silas left town to Berea, the trouble makers from Thessalonica followed them to cause more trouble. We must use wisdom to guard against the enemy. Paul left town, leaving Silas behind. They enemy is more interested in killing off the leadership whether it is at home, school, work or nation. We must know who the targets are and pray for them. Let us pray for those in leadership in our immediate contact.
5. Paul left with anguish in his heart and with great concern for His new believers in Jesus. The Church however was established as we see that the promise of Jesus coming through. “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it” Mathew 16:18.
I invite you to read the Letters to the Thessalonians with the appreciation of their difficult beginning. Paul wrote the Letters to encourage the Thessalonians. It may be possible that someone needs to hear from you and me today a word of encouragement. Would you send that email, text or phone call to encourage the one having a difficult beginning or re-beginning?
I am excited about studying the Letters to the Thessalonians with you. It only takes less than 45 minutes to read the entire Letters at a go. I challenge you to do that. At least start with 1 Thessalonians. Be encouraged today if you are in “sever suffering” of any kind. Amen.
May God bless and encourage you and as we study and grow from ‘glory to glory”.
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