1 Thessalonians 1 (7)

Pray Psalm 146.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD, O my soul!
While I live I will praise the LORD;
I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

Read 1 Thessalonians 1.1-10.

Reflect.
1. How was the power of the Gospel evident to and among the Thessalonians?

2. How does the example of the Thessalonians encourage you?

Meditate.
1 Thessalonians begins with Paul reminding the people of that Macedonian city how the Gospel had come to them, and what had occurred since. In spite of opposition, many believed the Gospel, and a church was established in Thessalonica. The grace of God came through the preaching of Jesus – His life, death, resurrection, ascension, and imminent return – and those who believed and turned to God from idols began at once to worship and serve Him and to look forward to His return.

Their faith was real; the power of the Gospel had taken hold in them. And it seems the believers in Thessalonica could not keep quiet about Jesus, even in the face of persecution. Their lives backed up their words as their work of faith, labor of love, and hope in the coming of Jesus bore powerful witness to the new life that had come to them. The Gospel sounded forth and went out from them into many other places, bearing witness to their faith far and wide, making the church in Thessalonica a model congregation.

Paul will spend the rest of 1 Thessalonians shoring-up this good start and instructing the Thessalonians in how to remain faithful going forward. Paul longs for the grace and peace of the Lord to increase among these new believers, so by reminding them of their beginnings in the faith, he lays a foundation to build on for the rest of his epistle. 

Prepare.
1. Imagine you were present the day this epistle was first read to the church in Thessalonica (1 Thess. 5.27). How would you have felt after hearing this first chapter? Would you have been encouraged? Why? Should we be more encouraging like this toward one another?

2. From 1 Thessalonians, what are the most important truths to make clear whenever you share the Gospel with someone?

3. Meditate on verse 8. How should the example of the Thessalonians guide you in working your Personal Mission Field?

Thus, the obedient and responsive soul gives itself over to the virtuous life. This life is freedom itself, on the one hand, from the chains of this life, separating itself from the slavery of base and empty pursuits. On the other hand, this soul devotes itself to faith and the life of God alone, because it sees clearly that where there is faith, reverence and a blameless life, there is present the power of Christ, there is flight from all evil and from death which robs us of life.  Gregory of Nyssa (335-394), On the Christian Mode of Life

Let the Good News of Jesus come by word and power through me today, O Lord, as I…

Pray Psalm 146.
Let the Spirit guide you to praise the Lord for the specific ways the power of His Gospel has brought grace and peace to you.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 146 (Hallelujah! What a Savior!: Man of Sorrows)
Praise the Lord, my soul, give praise! While I live, His Name I’ll raise! 
And exalt Him all my days –God forever reigns in Zion!

Trust we not in prince or man – no salvation’s in their hand; 
Death shall take them, breath and plans – God forever reigns in Zion!

Blessed are they whose hope resides in the Lord, Christ at His side. 
By Him heav’n and earth abide – God forever reigns in Zion!

He is faithful evermore; He gives justice to the poor, 
feeds the hungry from His store – God forever reigns in Zion!

Jesus sets the pris’ner free, heals blind eyes that they may see, 
Lifts those burdened painfully – God forever reigns in Zion!

He the righteous loves the best; wand’rers in His grace are blessed;
Needy ones in Him find rest – God forever reigns in Zion!

But the wicked who defame His eternal blessèd Name, 
Them He brings to ruin and shame – God forever reigns in Zion!

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you understand the setting of all the books of the Bible, and how they fit into God’s unfolding plan of redemption. Watch the brief video introducing this course at The Ailbe Seminary (click here), then plan to register after January 1 in our Certificate in Kingdom Studies program, featuring Introduction to Biblical Theology.

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).