Brotherly Love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12)
What are we known for? If someone were to describe our personality, what would he say? There is one character quality by which it should be possible to identify every follower of Jesus. He said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) The […]
A Holy Lifestyle (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
What does it mean to live a holy and blameless life? In his first inspired letter to the church at Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul points out that holiness starts with the heart. By this he does not mean our physical heart, but rather that part of our spiritual nature which includes our will and intentions. […]
Good News About the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 3:6-13)
What gives us joy? What encourages us? For the Apostle Paul it was the news that those whom he had taught about Christ were standing firm in their faith. Paul had been thrown out of the city of Thessalonica after a very short time. Satan had prevented his return. He was worried that the new […]
Paul’s Concern (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5)
When we care for someone it is natural that we want to be around them. The Apostle Paul had a very strong affection for the people whom he had introduced to Christ in the city of Thessalonica. He was very grateful for the way they had accepted the gospel. Unfortunately, because Paul was forced to […]
Response to the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16)
A man can preach God’s word faithfully, clearly and accurately. He may present it with tenderness and compassion. He may demonstrate love. But this does not guarantee that his preaching will result in salvation for those to whom he preaches. Salvation depends not only on the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached, but also on […]
The Proper Attitude and Behavior Toward Converts (1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12)
While proclaiming the gospel, Paul was very careful to display the utmost integrity so that no one could accuse him of wrong motives or taking advantage of those to whom he preached. More importantly, Paul was very careful to be faithful to the message. He was seeking God’s approval, not that of men. But what […]
Principles of Proclaiming the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a)
The Apostle Paul was haunted by the fear that his efforts to preach the gospel in the city of Thessalonica would prove to be a failure. He had been forced to leave the city before he had the opportunity to ground those he had converted to Christ in the faith. It was not until he […]
A Model for the Believers (1 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
Whether we realize it or not, people are watching us. What we do and how we live our lives has an influence on others. Our example can either draw them closer to God or turn them away from Him. In spite of severe suffering and persecution, some of those living in the city of Thessalonica […]
Power of the Gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:2-6)
The reason we do something is as important as what we do. It is entirely possible to do the right thing for the wrong reason. In speaking of the judgment, Jesus said, “Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in […]
Introduction and Greeting (1 Thessalonians 1:1)
In spite of strong opposition, Christianity grew rapidly. Starting from the city of Jerusalem, it soon spread throughout the Roman Empire. One of the men responsible for this rapid growth was the Apostle Paul. Paul was not always a follower of Jesus. On the contrary he was, at first, bitterly opposed to Christianity and did […]