1 Thessalonians Christianity 101" October 21, 2001

Transcription

1 Congregational handout; outline sermon text on following pages 1 Thessalonians Christianity 101" October 21, 2001 SERMON NOTES 1. Some of the characteristics of the city of Thessalonica were... Outline of 1 Thessalonians 1:1 Greeting 1:2 3:13 Past Life of the Thessalonian Church 1:2 12 The Faith of the Thessalonians 2:1 12 Paul s Labours in Thessalonica 2:13 20 The Endurance of the Thessalonians 3:1 13 Timothy s Visit to the Thessalonians 4:1 5:24 Future Life of the Thessalonian Church 4:1 12 They are to Walk in Holiness 4:13 5:11 Teaching About Christ s Return 5:12 24 Marks of the New Life 5:25 28 Closing 3. Some of the pressures on the Christians in that city were Four (or more!) Christian Basics found in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 relation to acceptance of salvation by brought to place of

2 {1}. 1 Thes 1: Thessalonians - Christianity 101 A. Introduction 1 Thessalonians 1:1 NAS: Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 1. the book a. one of the earliest NT books (A) some say earlier than Mark - mid 40's (B) after the team had moved on to Corinth (Acts 18:18) (C) preponderance of opinion is about b. outline to be found in the bulletin 2. so this teaches Basis Christianity - Christianity 101 a. unlike Romans, a reasoned theological textbook b. meet the basic needs of new Christians c. 2 Thessalonians written to expand & clarify (A) will reference occasionally in future weeks B. The City of Thessalonica (now Salonica) 1. in north-east Greece province of Macedonia a. originally Therme - hot springs b. famous harbor (A) Xerxes, the Persian, had his naval base there when he invaded Europe. (B) In Roman times it was one of the world's great dockyards. c. how it was named (A) Philip of Macedon had a daughter (1) born at a time of one of his victories (2) named her Thessalonica after this victory

3 (3) literally means: Thessaly Victory (B) daughter, ½-sister of Alexander the gread (1) married one of Alexander s generals, Cassander (2) in about 300 BC Cassander rebuilt this city (3) named it after his wife 2. headquarters of Roman administration (146BC) a. free city. (A) its own popular assembly and its own magistrates (B) population was around 200,000. Today, 70,000 b. its Main Street was the Via Egnatia, the Egnatian Road, running East and West, linking Rome with the East 3. Characteristics a. like other Greek cities, idolatry a way of life b. promiscuity prominent; even esteemed (religious service) C. The Church of Thessalonians 1. its founding a. evangelization during the second major missionary journey (A) Paul went on the Athens, sending Timothy back (B) Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth b. campaign lasted about 3 weeks, Acts 17:2 (taught on 3 sabbaths) or maybe 2-3 months (A) converted some Jews (B) converted larger number of gentiles c. no record of a subsequent preaching campaign by Paul 2. conversion of members a. church made up of Jews and more so, Gentiles (1:9, 2:14), with some having standing in the community b. a recent event and still vivid in their memory

4 c. but enough later to make it commonly known to churches D. The Pressures on the Thessalonian Christians 1. Thessalonians facing persecution a. probably not from Judaisers - Christians insisting on law (A) no evidence in book or in Acts (B) none of the characteristic arguments b. from non-christian Jews as at start in Acts 17 (A) the missionaries had left a legacy of Christian character (B) enemies lied about their motives (C) Paul defends himself in 2:1-12 (1) as always there was a small group who slandered Paul and said the only reason he preached was to get what he could out of it (2:5, 9) (2) some accused him of being a dictator (2:6, 7, 11) c. from the Gentiles an outcome of the Gospel (A) Messianic message (Acts 17:3) Jesus life fit the predicted pattern for the Messiah (B) message could be interpreted as proclaiming a ruler in place of Roman emperor (C) hence Christianity under official attack before the rulers (ðïëéôáñ áé) Acts 17:6,8 2. Concerns: a. "Timothy and Silas brought news of serious trouble in the church in Thessalonica. Some of the disciples there had misunderstood Paul's preaching about the second coming of Christ and had quit work and were making a decided disturbance on the subject" (A. T. Robertson). (A) to correct gross misapprehension and misrepresentation of his preaching about last things [sic: minor in each] (B) Some of the believers had stopped working and abandoned their responsibilities to await the Second Coming with a kind of hysterical expectancy. Paul corrects their misconceptions (4:11) (C) They were worried about those who had died and Christ had not returned. Paul gives them courage and hope in their bereavement (4:13-18) b. There was a tendency to despise authority (5:12-14)

5 c. These were converted pagans who had come out of heathen vices, and it was easy for them to fall back into immorality (4:3-8) (1) differing reactions to the manifestation of the Spirit (2) carryover of pagan standards of morality d. There was some division in the church (4:9; 5:13) E. Four Christian Basics for the Thessalonians 1. in God the Father a. God - a newly recognized Creator (A) previously without God and without hope (B) followed imaginary gods, idols made by hands b. Father - a newly established relationship (A) lived in fear: gods were to be propitiated (bought off) (B) now a protective, loving personal relationship 2. [in] the Lord Jesus Christ a. Christ - a newly fulfilled Promise in the Messiah (A) made to the Jews (B) but for all mankind (Promise to Abraham) b. Jesus - a newly found Saviour (A) His name is saviour (B) from lostness, from condemnation, to life c. Lord - a newly admitted Ruler (A) formerly in bondage to Satan; to sin (B) now with a loving Master, worthy of loyalty to Him 3. these two Persons linked as One a. without apology or question b. the Deity of Christ is taught as a matter of fact

6 4. Grace a. unmerited favour Grace tis a charming sound Harmonious to the ear Heav n with the echo shall resound, And all the earth shall hear. {2}. b. the means by which salvation is realized c. RW Dale Grace is love passing beyond all claims to love, conferring on a revolted race honours which no {source unknown} loyalty could have earned 5. Peace a. the age-old battle has ceased (A) the unsettling, discomforting loss of harmony in the human soul has been met by the healing work of the Great Physician of our souls (B) the veil separating God and man has been torn away b. Sholom: spiritual wholeness has been established in the heart of the believer 6. these two, linked as one, describing salvation s benefits F. Conclusion 1. God s desire is that you leave this place with knowledge as same as the Thessalonians: that of Basic Christianity a. that you have Peace with God in Christ Jesus b. that your eternal salvation has been effected 2. So this morning, make that decision a. that you will accept this salvations as your own if you have not already done so b. that you will victoriously go out into the world this week knowing what your position is in Christ

7 by Garth Hutchinson, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church of Aurora (Ontario): may be distributed or quoted freely, only let this be done to the glory of the great God and our Saviour, Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). Various English versions of the Holy Bible are used in this sermon. Some (for example, the AV, ASV, and NAS) seek to be strictly translations, while others (and especially PHIL) contain paraphrasing which involves a certain amount of subjective interpretation. Nevertheless, there is little material difference in meaning among these. Some prove slightly clearer on some verses than others. Looking at more that one version sometimes sheds additional light on any particular verse. Explanatory additions to the Bible text are shown in [square brackets]. The versions are identified as: ASV American Standard Version of 1901 AV Authorized (King James) Version NAS New American Standard version 1975 The Lockman Foundation NIV New International Version 1984 by the International Bible Society NKJV New King James Version 1979 Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers PHIL New Testament Translation 1972 by J. B. Phillips RSV Revised Standard Version 1946, 1952 by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. WEY The New Testament in Modern Speech 1902, 1912 R. F. Weymouth Further sermons and illustrations may be found at the web-site, Materials in this sermon from Rev. David Holwick s database are identified by Holwick followed by a sermon or illustration number. 2. Philip Doddridge,