1 Thessalonians 1
The next five lessons focus on the content of two Pauline letters: 1 and 2 Thessalonians. The Apostle Paul planted this church on his second journey (Acts 17:1-9). These letters could be the oldest writings of the New Testament.
The content of these letters, written just weeks or months apart, gives us a glimpse of a church under intense pressure. What counsel does one give to a young congregation? What priorities does a healthy church emphasize?
What the Bible says …
Paul commends this church for being “a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia” (v. 7). He bases this belief, not on wishful thinking, but upon three concrete observations: 1) their work of faith, 2) their labor of love and 3) their steadfastness of hope.
A literal reading of the Greek New Testament demands one to interpret these three ideas. For example, in the phrase “work of faith,” is the emphasis on work which produces faith, or is it faith that produces work? Does Paul speak of labor which produces love or is intense labor a natural result of their love? Does hope grow out of steadfastness or is steadfastness the fruit of hope? The above possibilities are all grammatically correct.
The New International Version reflects such interpretive choices in their translation: “We continually 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” (v. 3). Paul gives thanks for their faith, love and hope and the results which these virtues produced.
The dedication and success of this congregation was not the result of Paul’s power—it was the work of the Holy Spirit. “Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (v. 5). Paul fulfilled his role in the process: to be a good example (vv. 5-6). Where others may have taken credit, Paul refuses. The good things, the growth and the blessings which the people experienced, could be explained by only one thing—the work of God’s Spirit among them.
In our digital world, when something goes “viral” it spreads quickly. One posting on the Internet spreads from website to website. What took days to communicate by mail can now reach the entire globe in a matter of seconds.
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The work and witness of the Thessalonian church spread throughout the land. People took notice of this congregation and its commitment to living out their faith, their love and their hope. The intense pressure which these believers experienced brought out the best in them. “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” (v. 8).
What the Bible means to me today …
The first century church faced opposition from the very beginning. Yet their focus remained on missions and evangelism. Thank God for such churches today! What can your church do to mirror the Thessalonian congregation?
A faith that produces work. Though our efforts do not save us, our faith in Jesus should result in works that give him glory. For example, raising funds to send a mission team to minister to an orphanage in Central America may seem too great a task. But when people pray and respond to the need, children are fed, receive medical attention and hear about the love of God. Faith motivates people to respond with good works.
A love that labors. When we love people, we see them as God sees them. We pray fervently for people to accept Christ as Lord. When the Holy Spirit guides us and we sense his presence in our lives, we cannot help but love others. Consequently, when people come to faith in Christ, we witness the very power of God’s Spirit among us.
A hope that results in endurance. A concise definition of hope is “to look toward the future with expectation.” A good definition for endurance is “to continue, even when you are tempted to quit.” When you feel like giving up or when you recognize the situation at hand as a time when you usually quit, look to the future God has prepared. Hope depends upon the very character of God, not upon the ebb and flow of life. Parents will grieve over the death of a young child, but hope will enable them not to give up on life.
I want to belong to such a church. Consider the following: What if everyone in your church was just like you? What if everyone served on the level you serve? What if everyone gave, modeling their giving after you? What if everyone in your church spent just as much time in prayer as you do?
If everyone attended a worship service as often as you, what would the attendance be? What if everyone nursed grudges just like you? What if your congregation forgave on the same level as you forgive?
We all want to belong to a church that honors God. If we are willing to follow God’s Spirit in every area of life, then we can be like the Thessalonian congregation. And people will know it far and wide.
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