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March 3, 2019 --- a New Loyalty --- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

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March 3, 2019 --- a New Loyalty --- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 1 Sunday School Lesson Outline – Pleasant Zion Missionary Baptist Church – 3317 Toledano Street – New Orleans, La. March 3, 2019 --- A New Loyalty --- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Unit I – New in Christ Introduction: “Some people are remembered for their words. Will Rogers, Mark Twain, Benjamin Franklin, and, of course, King Solomon readily come to mind as men known for their wit and wisdom. However, such people are exceptions to the general rule, undoubtedly because their writings have been preserved through the years. The people most of us remember are those whose lives have had a profound impact on us. And we remember their character and their deeds long after their words have faded from our memories. There might be a few wise words we remember from parents and grandparents, but for the most part, we remember such things as their faithfulness, kindness, love, diligence, attitudes, and particular things they did that exhibited their honorable qualities. When the Apostle Paul wrote his first letter to the Christians in the city of Thessalonica, he had things he wanted to teach them and remind them of. The first chapter, however, is devoted primarily to remembering the godly character and actions of the Thessalonian believers. Such reminders of their godly example would encourage them to continue faithfully following Christ and challenge others, including us, to set a Christ-like example for others to follow.” – BE&I (See Love's Introduction on Page 6.) I. GREETING THE THESSALONIANS -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-2 1 Thessalonians 1:1 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. A. Greeting the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:1). 1. “This important letter begins with a greeting that is familiar to readers of the New Testament.” a. “Paul identifies himself as the author and the Thessalonian church as the recipient. (Silvanus, another name for Silas, and Timothy are also mentioned alongside Paul’s name.)” b. “Silas had been with Paul when the Thessalonian church was first established (Acts 17:4), and Timothy had recently visited the Thessalonians and reported back to Paul (I Thess. 3:1-2).” 2. “Paul was writing on behalf of these two men as well as himself. (But Paul was the one who actually wrote the letter, as indicated by his use of I throughout [2:18; 3:5; 4:9, 13; 5:1, 27].)” 3. “Thessalonica was in the Roman province of Macedonia, which covered much of northern Greece.” a. “Paul had brought the gospel to the city on his second missionary journey (Acts 17).” b. “Many Gentiles came to the Lord at that time, but only a few Jews. (In fact, the Jews were largely hostile toward Paul and forced him to leave the city and even followed the apostle to Berea to disrupt his work there.)” 4. “Still, the church in Thessalonica was founded during Paul’s short stay there and was, in fact, amazingly well- grounded in the faith, as Paul’s letter shows.” a. “The letter of I Thessalonians followed shortly after the establishment of the church.” b. “It was written from Corinth and was one of Paul’s earliest letters, probably preceded only by Galatians.” 5. “More important to Paul than his own contribution was that the Thessalonian church was in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 1:1).” a. “The word translated church is ekklesia, a familiar term in Greek and Jewish society for an assembly. (It literally means a called-out assembly.)” 2 b. “It was adopted as the distinctive name for the assembly of Christians.” c. “Here God the Father distinguishes it from any pagan assembly … while and the Lord Jesus Christ distinguishes it from Jewish assemblies (Hiebert).” 6. “Paul’s distinctive greeting was Grace be unto you, and peace.” a. “His desire was for his readers to experience fully God’s unmerited favor (grace).” b. “He also desired for them the deep, abiding peace with God that results from receiving His grace.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; B. A distinctive church (1 Thessalonians 1:2). 1. “Paul and his companions expressed their thanksgiving to God for all the Thessalonian believers.” a. “This they were doing constantly by praying for them.” b. “The apostle could offer no greater encouragement to them than to assure them of his personal gratitude to God for them and of his continual prayers on their behalf.” 2. “Why has God chosen prayer to be the medium through which He acts for man?” a. “Because sharing and talking together are the way all persons communicate, fellowship, and commune together.” b. “This is true both with men and God.” Practical Point 1: “A portion of our prayers should involve giving thanks.” II. REMEMBERING THE THESSALONIANS' GODLY EXAMPLE -- 1 Thessalonians 1:3-8 1 Thessalonians 1:3 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; A. Examples in their character (1 Thessalonians 1:3). 1. “Paul’s thanks to God for the Thessalonians was not merely a formality. (As he and the others prayed, they remembered without ceasing the exemplary character of the Christians in Thessalonica.)” 2. “What would be remembered without ceasing?” a. “Their work of faith (work produced by a living faith).” b. “Their labor of love (intense, exhausting labor produced by love).” c. “Their patience of hope (hardship-conquering perseverance produced by hope).” 3. “These virtues are effectively worked out in our lives as we live with the constant awareness that we stand in the presence, or sight, of God.” 1 Thessalonians 1:4-7 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. B. Examples in their response to the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:4-7). 3 1. “Because the Thessalonians’ faith was evident in their works, Paul was convinced of their election of God.” a. “They were not only his brethren but also God’s beloved.” b. “Paul knew they were indeed chosen by God and belonged to Him.” c. “As further evidence of this, Paul recounted the founding of the Thessalonian church.” 2. “The gospel had come to them in word but also…” a. “…in power (For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [Romans 1:16]).” b. “…in the Holy Ghost (empowered by the Holy Spirit).” c. “…in much assurance (assurance to the messengers that the gospel would accomplish God’s will).” d. “(Their godly character validated their God-given gospel [what manner of men we were]).” Practical Point 2: “The knowledge that we were specifically chosen by God gives us confidence in our work.” 3. “The manner in which the believers had embraced the gospel message made them examples to many others.” a. “They had received it with faith even though it meant affliction, or oppression and they had received the word with joy.” b. “They were not deterred by unpleasant outward circumstances but experienced the inner joy produced by the Holy Spirit.” c. “Only those who trust in Christ can know the inner peace and joy that comes from knowing and following the Saviour and having a hope that extends beyond the pleasures or pains of this life.” 4. “As we look to the examples of others to inspire and encourage us, let us also be examples to others.” Practical Point 3: “Just as we emulate spiritually mature Christians, we should anticipate that others will emulate us.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. C. Examples in their ministry (1 Thessalonians 1:8). 1. “The believers in Thessalonica proved to be encouraging examples in the way they embraced the gospel and remained faithful and even joyful in the face of severe challenges.” a. “They were also examples by the way they proclaimed the word to others.” b. “Just as the gospel had come to them by way of Paul, they had taken the gospel to others.” 2. “Their ministry is described as sounding forth the word of the Lord.” a. “The expression pictures the reverberating sound of a trumpet or of thunder.” b. “It emphasizes the resounding nature of the witness borne by the Thessalonian church (Morris).” 3. The Thessalonian believers were taking the word of the Lord to others in their own province and to Achaia and beyond.” a. “The experience of the Thessalonians reminds us that we do not need to wait for organized campaigns or church programs to reach our cities and counties and states with the gospel.” 4 b. “We simply need to grasp the joy of knowing Christ through faith and faithfully share that truth in everyday life, wherever we go.” 4.
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