Model Church

1 and 2 Thessalonians are two of Paul's earliest epistles. Paul established this church on his second mission trip (Acts 17:1-9). He was there for only three Sabbaths when an envious, Jewish mob rose up against this young church. Paul had to leave town under the cover of darkness (Acts 17:10) and he eventually made it down to Corinth (Acts 18:1) from where he penned this first letter. He wrote to encourage them, to answer charges being made against him, and to correct their misunderstandings concerning the second coming of Christ. Here is an overview of both letters:

• Remembers the Thessalonians' past in chapters 1-3 as he recalls how he lived among them and shared with them in close communion.
  
• Refocuses their present in the first part of chapter 4 as he encourages them to love with brotherly affection.
  
• Reveals their future in the second part of chapter 4 and the first part of chapter 5 as he writes to them about the Rapture.
• Refines their walk in the last part of chapter 5 through a series of practical exhortations.
• Reinforces his teaching concerning the Second Coming in 2 Thessalonians.

Today, pay close attention to 1:6-8. Paul had to write them to correct some end-time misunderstandings, but their evangelism program was strong. Their witness "sounded forth not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place." Every where Paul went in this region, he ran into people who had been witnessed to by Thessalonian Christians. They may not have understood eschatology, but they practiced life style evangelism. Unfortunately, today we've got churches that can draw up the charts and just about tell you when Jesus is coming back, but they won't get out of the four walls to tell anybody about Jesus and that He is coming back! We should be ashamed. When are we going to rise up and take our community for Christ? Many congregations today are content to pay the pastor and staff to do the witnessing and soul winning for them. But in the NT churches, the entire congregation was involved in sharing the Good News. A recent survy of church growth indicates that 70-80 percent of a church's growth is the result of friends witnessing to friends and relatives to relatives. Dear Christian, you have been entrusted with the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now what are you going to do with it?