THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
SPREADING THE SOUL-SAVING MESSAGE OF JESUs
(Chapters 1-2)
Introduction by narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Spreading the soul-saving message of Jesus. And now, Timothy Sparks and Ben Bailey.
Ben Bailey:
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thess. 1:2). I’m Ben Bailey.
Timothy Sparks:
And I’m Timothy Sparks. Welcome to our study of 1 Thessalonians. These lessons are being brought to you by loving, caring members of the churches of Christ. The churches of Christ in your area would like for you to stop by and visit with them. They would be happy to study the Bible with you. We, too, would like to help you in your study of God’s Word. We are making this lesson, and numerous others, available on CD or DVD. You might like to have a copy for yourself, or you might like to give copies to friends or relatives to help them with their study of God’s Word. We will gladly make these available to you free of charge. Visit us on our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, fill out the request form that you will find there, and we will be happy to assist you in whatever way we can.
Ben Bailey:
We learn from Acts 17 that Paul had traveled into the region of Thessalonica. In Acts 17:1-9, we find the background to the two epistles of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Acts 17:2-3 informs us, “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’” Paul, because of his knowledge of the Old Law, and because of his intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ, was able to convert some of the Greeks, as well as some of the leading Jewish women in that area. However, as was often the case when Paul went into a region to preach, there were those who did not believe. They were so enamored with the Jewish system that, even when the truth was presented to them, they refused to accept it. An uprising occurs, and the unbelievers begin to cause problems for Paul. But a Christians by the name of Jason, and some other Christians, take Paul into their homes and help him in any way they can. Eventually, however, Paul has to leave the region because there are so many who refuse to accept the truth, and who are trying to stir up trouble for Paul. From Acts 17: 1-9, we learn something about the “positive” things that happened, but we also see that there were some “negatives” along the way as well. Yet out of all this, much good arose for the church.
Timothy Sparks:
These things are reflected in Paul’s writings to the Christians in Thessalonica. As we look at the Book of 1 Thessalonians, we will see some key phrases such as “just as you know.” Paul uses this to remind them of things they already know. Paul uses these phrases as introductions to statements that are intended to encourage and admonish them, and to correct some things that they are doing wrong. The Book of 1 Thessalonians is a very encouraging letter. Paul writes, not so much to teach something “new,” but instead to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica to “keep on keeping on” in their faithfulness to God. In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul begins by telling the brethren how much he remembers them, even in his prayer life.
Ben Bailey:
As Paul begins his letter, he knows that he is going to have to deal with some difficult issues. He knows that false teachers have arisen. How would you begin if you had to write a letter that was intended to both encourage and correct at the same time? Perhaps you would begin as Jesus did in His letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Or, perhaps you would begin as Paul does here, when he says, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” (1 Thess. 1:2). Paul did not say that he was thankful “just for those who were faithful.” Rather, he said that he was thankful for all the members of the church in Thessalonica who were trying to live up to God’s will and expectations. Paul knew that there were some in the church who had problems, and that there were even some who were teaching things that were not right. One of the things we learn from this epistle is that in order for us to be able to help someone, that person must come to understand that we love the truth, and that we love their soul. They need to understand that there is no ulterior motive on our part, and that we are not in it for the money or for any fame that we might gain. Paul wanted the Christians in Thessalonica to know that he was thankful for them, and that he was praying for them. It is hard to be mad at someone if you know that person is thankful to God for you and is praying for you. Paul knew exactly what he was doing. And we today can learn a lesson from how he handled this situation. If we are dealing with people who really want to do God’s will, and who are trying to do God’s will, we need to be thankful for them. We should not be mean to them or castigate them. Rather, we should be thankful for them, and let them know that we are thankful that they are trying to do right. Sadly, sometimes we make fun of people because they “are not like us.” Or, perhaps we are unkind to someone because they take a different view than we do on a matter of expediency. What should we do if there is another Christian with whom we disagree? We should pray to God and ask for His help with the matter. We should do our best to encourage people and to be thankful for them. Paul was thankful for three things. What were those three things?
Timothy Sparks:
We see those three things in 1 Thessalonians 1:3, when Paul says that he is “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father.” Notice first that Paul says he remembers their “work of faith.” They were active in their efforts on God’s behalf—which came as a result of true faith. Second, Paul remembered their “labor of love.” Love will labor! Love does not have to be compensated. It simply goes about doing what is right and good. Paul also remembered their “patience of hope.” This was the apostle’s way of complimenting them for enduring, and for “keeping on keeping on.” “Hope” helps us endure those times that are very difficult—times when it becomes difficult for us to see past the “temporary present” —so we can look forward to the future. This is not the first time Paul has written about “faith, hope, and love.” In 1 Corinthians 13:13, he wrote, “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Paul frequently used this trilogy of faith, hope, and love in his writings.
Ben Bailey:
Thessalonica was not a nice city in which to live. Somewhat like Corinth, it had its fair share of vices and wickedness (as many modern-day cities do). When Paul mentions the triad of faith, hope, and love, he is attempting to encourage the Christians in Thessalonica in regard to the example they set for those around them. When Paul mentions “faith,” he is talking to people who lived in a city where people trusted very little, and where idol worship was commonplace. Paul wanted the people of Thessalonica to be able to look at Christians and know that their faith was not dead, but was living, active, and working! The lesson for Christians today is that if we hope to be an example to those around us, we, too, must have an active, working faith. Faith is “obedient trust in God.” In Romans 1:5 and 16:26, Paul talked about “the obedience of faith,” which is pleasing to God. James addressed the importance of an active, working faith when he wrote,
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (Jas. 2:14-17).
If you say to a person, “Be warmed and filled,” but you do not do anything for the person, have you helped the person? Of course not! Faith without works is worthless! We today must set good examples. When our friends and neighbors use the type of language that we know is inappropriate and that we know the Bible condemns, we can be a light in the world by not talking like that. When we see people dress and act in lewd and ungodly ways, but we do not dress or act in such a way, think about the good example it sets. Paul wanted the Christians in Thessalonica to know that their strong faith was having a good effect on those around them.
Timothy Sparks:
In 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Paul pays them an additional compliment when he says, “You turned 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, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Their “work of faith” was that they had turned from idols to God. When they turned from idols to “serve the living and true God,” that was their labor of love. And as they “waited for His Son from heaven,” they exhibited the patience of hope. Their “work of faith” led them to repent, so that they changed their hearts and minds, and conformed their will to the will of God. Their “labor of love” caused them to faithfully serve the one, true, living God. Their “patience of hope” allowed them to be able to wait for Jesus, Who would deliver them from the wrath to come. The Christians in Thessalonica were faithful followers of Paul (as he followed Christ) and of God.
Ben Bailey:
In chapter 1, Paul urges the Christians not to take his word for the things he is discussing. In verse 5, he says, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.” Paul did not want the Christians to “take his word for it.” Rather, he wanted them to examine the evidence that establishes Jesus as the Christ. He tells them that Christ came “in power.” That word “power” is used frequently in connection with miracles. It appears that in Thessalonica, the Christians had possibly witnessed some miracles that had been performed there. We know from various passages within the New Testament that whenever Jesus, or the apostles, preached the Gospel, their message was backed up by miracles from Heaven. Thus, Paul stresses that they should be examining the evidence they had seen themselves. That is where their assurance would lie. The lesson for us today is that our faith cannot be built upon the words of mere men. Our faith must not be built upon what any preacher or teacher says. Instead, our faith must be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Romans 10:17 teaches us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” We have ample evidence that the Bible is God’s Word, and thus we know that the faith that comes from that Word is genuine and well established. We can know that Jesus is the Son of God, and we need Him to get to Heaven. He said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no one comes to the Father except through Me.” We, therefore, must not put our trust anywhere except the Word of God. We cannot have the appropriate type of biblical faith without placing our trust in God’s Word.
Timothy Sparks:
The faith of the Christians in Thessalonica had a serious impact. Their faith served as a good example, not just in Macedonia, but elsewhere as well. Paul wrote, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thess. 1:8). This ought to cause us to ask, “What about my faith? As a result of the example I set through my faith, are more and more people coming to know about the God of Heaven and His plan of salvation?” Paul commended the Christians in Thessalonica for their great evangelistic efforts. Our influence is a result, not just of what we say, but of what we do. The attitude of many people is that expressed by the familiar poem:
“I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one any day.
I’d rather one walk with me, than merely tell the way.
For the eye is a better pupil, and more willing than the ear.
Fine counsel can be confusing, but example is always clear.
And the best of all the preachers, are the men who live their creed.
For to see good put into action, is what everybody needs.
Though an able preacher charm me with his eloquence, I say,
I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one any day.”
This poem expresses exactly what was occurring in the lives of the Christians in Thessalonica. They had put their faith into action, and people were able to see the effects of that faith through their examples.
Ben Bailey:
The faith of the Christians in Thessalonica was not just a “surface” thing. They had really changed their lives. Verses 9 and 10 show us that they were a true example of what genuine repentance is all about. They turned from idols to God, and made up their minds to serve Him and Him alone! This provides a beautiful picture of what it means to truly repent. All too often, it seems, people are of the mind-set which suggests that all they have to do is say, “I’m sorry.” But that is not what biblical repentance is all about. Yes, 2 Corinthians 7:10 does say that godly sorrow helps produce repentance. But godly sorrow alone is not repentance. True repentance is combining godly sorrow with a determination to turn from the wrong to the right, and doing what we know we should do. Repentance is a change in our minds and hearts, as well as a change in our actions. It is a changed will that leads to a changed way. The Christians in Thessalonica had truly changed their will and their way. They wanted to serve the Lord faithfully. If a person decides that he wants to leave his sinful life of incorrect speech, incorrect actions, and so on, then he must make up his mind to stop doing those things. That person must turn to God and serve Him. If a person had sexual immorality in his life, he has to stop engaging in those types of activities, turn to God, and begin doing what is right. Yes, that may be difficult. And that person may fall back into those former activities. But he still must turn and repent. Repentance is something that we do over and over again as we sin. We must want to walk in the light, and we must never give up. The repentance of the Christians in Thessalonica is what gave them hope. They were waiting on the glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Book of 1 Thessalonians, Paul closes each chapter by saying something about the Second Coming of Christ. There were evidently questions that had been raised by the Christians in Thessalonica about the Second Coming, and so it is a major theme of Paul’s throughout the epistle. Paul’s incentive to the Christians to remain faithful was the Second Coming of Christ.
Timothy Sparks:
As Paul begins chapter 2, he says, “You yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict” (vss. 1-2). Paul commends the Christians in Thessalonica for accepting the Gospel as God’s Word. Paul makes it clear that when he and the other apostles and disciples preached, it was to please God, not men. Paul said the same thing to the Christians in Galatia when he wrote, “Do I seek to please men, or God? If I were seeking to please men, I would not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). Paul wanted them to know that he was not a “people pleaser,” but rather was trying to preach the Gospel of Christ in its purity. I once heard a preacher say, “As I preach to please God, I hope that it pleases you as my audience as well. But if my preaching pleases God but not you, I am at least thankful that my preaching has pleased the One Who truly matters.” Isaiah 43:7 teaches us that in everything we do, we are to try to please God, since He is the One Who made us. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” Paul always kept it in the forefront of his mind that he had to preach the Gospel, so that those who heard and obeyed it could be spared from “the wrath to come.”
Ben Bailey:
Sometimes, people get the impression from Paul’s writings that he was a bit of a radical, and that he might have been the type of people who would “beat people over the head” with the Gospel. While it is true that Paul was a pleaser of God and not of men, verse 7 of 1 Thessalonians 2 teaches us a lot about Paul’s character. How did Paul go into Thessalonica? He says, “We were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.” Paul was a gentle soul. He did not come to make enemies or to harm anyone. His point was not to stir up trouble. Rather, he wanted to be like a nursing mother who cherishes her children. A mother loves her child. She nourishes it and takes care of it. That is how Paul was when he tried to convert others to the Gospel of Christ. Paul was gentle, kind, and trying to help. Yes, he had to stand firmly for the truth. But he still tried to be gentle. As preachers and teachers of God’s Word, we need to follow Paul’s example. We need to be gentle, and let people know that our sole concern is their eternal welfare. We have no “hidden agenda” or ulterior motives. We are not in it for the money or the fame. We simply want to see people come to a knowledge of Jesus Christ and be saved! That is the very reason that we study the Word of God and come to an understanding of it—so that we can then teach it to others so they, too, can be saved.
Timothy Sparks:
In 1 Thessalonians 2:4, Paul says, “But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” He had come to love these people so very much. Love is indeed the “golden chain” that binds together brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul’s love for these people was so great that he even was willing to forfeit his own life for them. Paul was not just as gentle as a nursing mother, but also played the role of a spiritual father to them—loving them and correcting them as necessary. In short, Paul was somewhat of a “spritual parent” to these people. He also was their co-laborer. Paul was trying (and so were those who were with him) not to be a burden on the Christians in Thessalonica. In verse 9, Paul wrote, “For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.” We know from Paul’s comments in 1 Corinthians 9:14 that preachers can receive a salary for the proclamation of the Gospel. Paul said in that passage, “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.” On some occasions, however, Paul refused to accept remuneration, lest some (like those he mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9) suggest that he had “impure motives” for preaching the Gospel. Paul never wanted to be a burden to Christians, especially those who might not be able to afford to pay him compensation for preaching. Paul simply wanted to save souls. His motive was not money, but the salvation of those to whom he spoke.
Ben Bailey:
After Paul discusses his nature, he then turns to a discussion of their nature. In verse 13, he says, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” Paul commended them on the fact that when he preached to them, they did not receive his teaching as the word of men, but rather as the Word of God. This is a good example for those of us today. If we hear someone speaking to us on these types of matters, we should double-check what they say by the Word of God. If what you hear is true to the Scriptures, then receive it not as the word of men, but as the Word of God. The Bible is God talking to us today, to explain to us what He wants us to do in our lives. If the Gospel is going to save us, it must be applied to our hearts. If we are going to accept the Word of God as true, then we must apply it our lives and do what it says. These Christians in Thessalonica did exactly that. Paul closes this chapter by saying to them, “You are our glory and joy” (vs. 20).
We are glad that you have joined us for this broadcast, which is brought to you by loving, caring members and congregations of the churches of Christ. The church of Christ in your area would like for you to stop by and visit. If you would like to study the Bible with them, they would be happy to open the Bible and help you in your study. We, too, would like to assist you. If you would like to have today’s lesson, or any of our other lessons, on CD or DVD, we will be happy to make those available to you. You can log on to our website at www.thegospelofchrist.com, fill out the request form you will find there, and we will send you the items you request. As always, it is our prayer that you will conform your will to the Gospel of Christ.
Narrator accompanied by a cappella singing:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST is brought to you by loving, caring members of the church of Christ. The McLish Avenue church of Christ in Ardmore, Oklahoma, oversees this evangelistic effort. For a free CD or DVD of today’s broadcast, please write to:
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST
607 McLish Ave.
Ardmore, OK 73401
You may call 580-223-3289. Please visit us on the web at www.thegospelofchrist.com. We encourage you to attend the church of Christ, where “the Bible is loved and the Gospel is preached.”
1. Where in the New Testament can one find the background information regarding the beginning of the church in Thessalonica?
2. When Paul went into a city, it was his custom to go to a certain place to “reason from the Scripture.” What was that place?
3. In 1 Thessalonians, Paul repeatedly uses the phrase “just as you know.” Why?
4. In 1 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul speaks about three things in regard to the Christians in Thessalonica. What are those three things?
5. According to 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, the people in Thessalonica had “turned from” something. What was that “something”?
6. When Paul refers to the “patience of hope” that the Christians in Thessalonica possessed, to what did that refer?
7. Explain the point that James was making in James 2:14-17.
8. What did Paul mean when he wrote: “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake” (1 Thess. 1:5)?
9. In question #8 above, what did Paul mean when he said that the Gospel had come to them “in power”?
10. Word about the strong faith possessed by the Christians in Thessalonica had spread to other places. Name two of those places.
11. According to 2 Corinthians 7:10, part of “repentance” is godly sorrow. What is the other part?
12. Paul closes each chapter of 1 Thessalonians by addressing a specific topic. What is that topic?
13. What did Paul mean when he wrote, “Our coming to you was not in vain” (1 Thess. 2:1)?
14. According to Ecclesiastes 12:13, what is the “whole duty” (or “all”) of man?
15. What do we learn about Paul’s character from 1 Thessalonians 2:7?
16. When Paul said that he had labored and toiled while in Thessalonica, so as “not to be a burden” to the church there (1 Thess. 2:9), what did he mean?
17. The Christians in Thessalonica had a “work of faith” that caused them to do something. What was that “something”?
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, 607 McLish Ave., Ardmore, OK 73401; (580) 223-3289; www.thegospelofchrist.com