Introduction (3 things)

• 1^st – The whole counsel of God…
  • 1^st – There are only two ways to teach the Bible – inductive and deductive…
    • Deductive – more commonly called topical teaching…
      • Starts with an idea – then looks for the Bible to support that idea…
      • It might be a teaching on marriage / or money / or salvation…
      • Most churches and pastors use this method of Biblical study…
      • You will hear about a pastor going through a X week study on (fill in the blank)…
      • They can be very powerful studies because they focus on ONE topic…
      • Ideal for special events – such as retreats or seminars!
    • Inductive – more commonly called verse-by-verse teaching…
      • Rather than coming to the Bible with a topic – a pastor teaches through the Bible…
      • Covering many different topics as they come up within the Word of God…
      • That often means that more than one topic is taught in a given Bible Study…
      • But for a regular Bible Study it ends up being the better of the two methods!
  • 2^nd – Learn the Bible in context…

• When a pastor teaches a Bible study by picking out a few verses…
  • The danger is you do not know the CONTEXT of those verses…
  • It is easy to change the meaning of a single verse when taken out of CONTEXT…
  • Most errors in Bible interpretation come from taking a verse out of CONTEXT…
  • Matthew 18:20– “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them…”
  • This verse if often quoted when people are praying – Jesus is here with us
  • Yet the context of this verse is not prayer – it is church discipline…
  • The idea is if you remove someone from fellowship – Jesus is there to confirm it!
• One of the most important concepts in understanding the Bible is CONTEXT…
  • Understanding a verse in the context of the other verses before and after…
  • The context within the chapter / within the book / within the whole Bible!
  • That is why we study the whole Bible – teachings chapter by chapter…
  • We learn the Bible in CONTEXT – having an accurate understanding of Gods Word!
• 3^rd – The whole counsel of God…
  • If a pastor only teaches certain passages / books – we miss out on the whole counsel…
    • Pastors will tend to teach on certain topics they LIKE and overlook ones they DISLIKE…
    • Lots of teaching about love / family / being good / tithing / etc.
    • While harder topics that are just as important – judgment / holiness – get ignored…
    • When was the last time you heard a teaching from Obadiah or Habakkuk…
• Old and New Testament…
  • The NT sits on the foundation and history of the OT – it is essential to unveiling its truths!
  • If there is any doubt on how important the OT is – the NT lets us know…
  • The New Testament included approximately 250 express Old Testament quotations…
  • If we include indirect or partial quotations – the number jumps to more than 1,000!
  • The quotes come from every book of the Old Testament – with the exception of Obadiah!
  • But every part of the Bible is Gods inspired Word – all of it is necessary…
  • By teaching through the whole Bible – book by book – chapter by chapter…
  • We learn ALL of Gods word – and we focus on the topics God deems important!
  • Acts 20:27 – “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

Overview of I Thessalonians (6 things)…  

• 1^st – The author…
  • Paul is the author of the book of I Thessalonians – I Thessalonians 1:1 / 2:18…
    • The same Paul who whose life we read about from Acts chapter 13 to 28…
    • Paul wrote 13 book of the New Testament (14 if you include Hebrews)…
• The EPISTLES or letters of Paul can be broken up into 3 different categories…
  • The three larger letters by Paul – Romans / I Corinthians / II Corinthians…
  • The 6 smaller letters written to various churches…
    • Where the larger books have 13-16 chapters / these average between 4-6 chapters…
    • Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I Thessalonians / II Thessalonians…
  • The Pastors Epistles – I Timothy / II Timothy / Titus / Philemon

• 2^nd – Who was the book written to…
  • The book was written to the church in the city of Thessalonica – I Thessalonians 1:1 …
    • The city was originally called Therma – meaning hot springs…
    • In 315 B.C. the city was renamed after Alexander the Greats half sister…
    • Today the city is called Thessaloniki – it sits on the Aegean sea – on the Gulf of Salonika
  • The church there was established by Paul on his 2^nd missionary journey – Acts 17:1-15

• 3^rd – What is the key theme to the book…
  • The coming of Jesus Christ…
    • I Thessalonians 1:10 – To wait for His son from Heaven…
    • I Thessalonians 2:19 – What is our hope – you in His presence at His coming…
    • I Thessalonians 3:13 – May establish your hearts blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus…
    • I Thessalonians 4:15 – We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord…
    • I Thessalonians 5:2 – The Day of the Lord comes as thief in the night…
    • I Thessalonians 5:23 – Preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…
  • We will look at the COMING of the Lord in two ways…
    • We will see how the Lord will come for His church – we call that the rapture…
    • This occurs before the seven years of tribulation – Revelation 6-18
    • We also look at the second coming of Jesus at the end of the Great Tribulation!
  • In light of the KEY theme of the book – the KEY verse is…
    • I Thessalonians 5:9-10 – “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.”
    • Meaning when God pours out His wrath on a God rejecting world – the 7 years of Tribulation…
    • The seven seal judgements / 7 trumpet judgements / and finally the 7 bowl judgements…
    • We will not be here – cause we are NOT appointed to wrath – we will be together with Jesus!
    • Also in I Thessalonians 1:10 / Revelation 3:10 / Romans 5:9 / Luke 21:36

• 4^th – Where and when was the book written…
  • The book of written while Paul was in Corinth on his 2^nd missionary journey…
  • Around 51 A.D. – one of the earliest books Paul wrote…
  • Acts 18:12-27 – Gallio was the proconsul of Achaia – on the Grecian peninsula…
  • Archeologists found an inscription at the temple of Apollos of Delphi – Gallio proconsul 51 A.D.

• 5^th – Why was the book written…
  • Timothy brought a good report back to Paul – I Thessalonians 3:6…
  • Paul wrote to epistle to reaffirm to the church that Christ IS coming!
  • And when He comes to pour out His wrath – they would NOT be here!
  • Although the church was only a couple of years old when Paul wrote this epistle…
  • Apparently there was already some division about when / if Christ would return!

• 6^th – How is the book divided…
  • Chapter 1-3 – Paul gives us personal information about the church…
    • Paul addresses the origins of the church in chapter 1
    • He then details the growth of the church in chapter 2
    • Finally – he deals with the establishment of the church in chapter 3
  • Chapter 4-5 – Paul gives very practically application for the church

Origin of the church…  (3 things)

When you do you will find out – God had already chosen you!

1^st – Who started the church… vs. 1

1^st – The introduction of the letter includes the names of 3 people…

Paul – who as we have already discussed is the author of the letter…

Silvanus – also known as Silas – the traveling companion of Paul on his 2^nd journey…

Acts 15:22 – Paul and Barnabus were preparing for their 2^nd missionary journey…

Barnabus wanted to take his cousin Mark – who had abandoned them on the 1^st trip…

The dispute between Paul and Barnabus over Mark was so strong – they parted ways…

So instead of one missions team there were two – Barnabus and Mark went west…

Paul took Silas – and went north into what is now modern day Turkey!

He is also the one who transcribed the book of I Peter – I Peter 5:12

Timotheus – also known as Timothy…

He is mentioned in 11 of the letters of Paul – more than any other person…

Timothy joined Paul at the beginning of his 2^nd missionary journey – Acts 16

He was a young man – at least in the beginning of his ministry – I Timothy 4:12

And he stayed with Paul all the way through the 3^rd missionary journey!

2^nd – Who started the church…

Though Paul and his three companions were used by God to start the church…

We will note in the first 4 verses as Paul lays out the origin of the church…

Every aspect of the church revolved around God the Father and the Lord Jesus!

Which makes sense because EVERY church should revolve around God and Jesus!

When God is the one who builds the church – God is the one who does the work…

Since its Gods church He is the one who gets the credit!

3^rd – Started in three weeks – Acts 17:2…

Some who suggest Paul was just teaching in the Jewish church for three weeks…

After that he spent a more time outside the Jewish church teaching the gentiles…

But others say Paul only spent three weeks IN the city of Thessalonica…

If that is the case it is AMAZING – it means Paul established a church in 3 weeks!

It would seem impossible for a church to be established in such a short time…

But God nothing is impossible for God – and He is not limited by our ideas…

Its easy to get caught up in methods – thinking there is only one way do things…

Forgetting that God rarely limits Himself to our ideas – He likes to break the mold!

So rather than tell God how to get things done – we need to be asking God..

How does He want to do it – that is when AMAZING things take place!

2^nd – It is all about God… vs. 1-4

1^st – The church of the Thessalonians in God and Jesus…

The word church – ekklesia – used 118x in the NT – the word means to be called out…

This letter was to those in Thessalonica who were called out…

If we as Christians look and act just like those who do not know Jesus…

Why would anyone want to hear about Jesus – come to church…

It is only as we are DIFFERENT – that we are able to shine and point others to Christ!

They were different from others in their city because they were IN God and Jesus…

The people were not different because of what they wore / where they were on Sunday…

They were different – called out – because of who lived IN them…

John 14:23 – “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

2^nd – Grace and Peace from God and Jesus… vs. 1

The Grace of God – charis – used 156x in NT…

Judgment is getting what I deserve – mercy is not getting what I deserve…

But Grace is getting what I do not deserve – a free gift from God…

We earned the right to go to hell through our sin and rebellion – judgment…

Instead God gave us the incredible gift of righteousness and heaven – through Jesus!

Peace with God – eirene – 92x in NT…

Before we were saved – we lived in certain expectation of Gods wrath and judgment

There was no peace in our lives – only the fear of death – and punishment…

Hebrews 10:27 – “There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of Gods judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies.”

When we have the Grace of God – the free gift of salvation – we have peace with God!

We cannot have true peace – rest in the knowledge we are forgiven – without grace!

3^rd – Giving thanks to God… vs. 2-3

Paul thanked God for the church in Thessalonica…

He would mention them to God – ALWAYS – in his prayers…

The typical view of prayer is coming to God with a list – needs / wants / etc.

It is treated as a ritual – part of what God expects a Christian to do…

As if somehow if we recite some words to God once or twice a day – it is enough…

Rarely do we take the time in prayer to listen – it is a one-way conversation…

It makes you wonder – if no one is answering – is anyone listening – Luke 18:11

Prayer should be a conversation with our Father in heaven…

How can we have a relationship with God – if we never get a chance to talk to Him…

Telling Him about our day – getting to know the God who created us…

Taking the time to listening to the wisdom He has for our lives!

Prayer is not something we do – it is the definition of how we live our life!

I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing…”

Remembering the work of God…

There were three things that Paul remembered and gave THANKS to God for…

THE work of THE faith – speaking of their saving faith in Jesus – John 6:29…

THE Labor of THE love – speaking of their desire to share the Gospel with others…

The word labor literally means to beat your chest in agony…

There is no greater LOVE than to share the Good News with others…

It is the ONLY cure for the curse of sin that all of us are burdened with – Romans 6:23

And we LABOR knowing the price for those who do NOT receive Jesus!

THE Patience of THE hope – speaking of the hope of the return of Jesus!

It is easy to forget that this is not our home – get caught up in the business of life…

We are not home yet – our home is a place we have yet to see – heaven!

Hebrews 11:13-16 – “[We are] strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a home… that is, a heavenly country.”

So Paul was ALWAYS giving thanks to God…

Because of THE FAITH that started the believers in Thessalonica on their walk…

Because of THE LOVE they had as they shared the Good news with others…

Because of THE HOPE they had as they waited for Jesus to return!

I Corinthians 13:13 – “Now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love…”

4^th – THE election of God… vs. 4

Paul knew – eido (meaning to see) – that God had elected the believers in the church…

The election of God speaks of His sovereignty – God chose us…

Paul certainly understood this because he was ELECTED by God…

Acts 9:15 – “The Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen [same word] vessel…”

This can be a hard concept for us to comprehend – God chooses those who go to heaven…

John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”

It does not seem fair to us that God chooses who gets to go to heaven…

When you got / or will get married – who chose the person you married…

Would you have liked it if someone else made the choice!

It seems fair that God would also get to choose whom He spends eternity with!

God chooses based on His foreknowledge…

Romans 8:29 – “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined…” 

God is eternal – which means He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8

God does not have an endless amount of time – God is outside of time!

God sees all of time – from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 all at once!

Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done…”

If you knew a person would say no if you asked them to marry you – would you ask…

If you knew they would say yes – would you wait!

In a sense God cheats – He knows every ones choice before they every make it…

God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in/receive Jesus…

So He chooses those who He knows will choose Him!

What if you do not want to choose to believe in Jesus…

Then you are not one of those whom God has chosen to be saved – to go to heaven…

You might say – but I want to go to heaven – then choose to believe in Jesus…