A Bumpy Start, a First Letter and a Faithful Church.
Hi there!I'm back after a short break after the Month of Mission.
I hope you enjoyed the inputs from our UPCSA ministers and found the series inspiring.
For the push to the end of the year, we're going to spend some time in Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians. I've called it "More and more" because that's a phrase Paul uses often in the letter. It's a very encouraging and inspiring letter.
I hope you will enjoy the series...
| Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Thessalonians1:1-3) |
Most scholars agree that this was Paul's first letter. He wrote it because his trip to Thessalonica was cut very short and he wanted to support this fledgling congregation. Tomorrow we'll look the the circumstances of the church's origin, but for today let's look at the background of the city and how Paul thinks about them...
Thessalonica (Thessaloniki today) was a city in Macedonia (Greece). It was a bustling seaport at the head of the Thermaic Gulf. It was Located at the junction of the great Egnatian Way and the road leading north towards the Danube, which made it an important centre for trade. It was the largest city in Macedonia and the capital of the Roman province.
Thessalonica was a cosmopolitan city, where Greek culture, Roman political influence and a mixture of religions flourished. Its inhabitants included Greeks, Romans and Jews. Many citizens worshipped various pagan gods and the worship of the Roman emperor was deeply embedded in society. Becoming a Christian meant challenging established religious and social expectations, which explains the opposition and persecution faced by the young church as well as Paul's emphasis on standing firm in faith, growing in love, and living lives that honour God.
It's significant to note that although this is a fledgling congregation, Paul has high praise for them.
Note the verbs ("work", "labour" and "endurance") and the motives ("faith", "hope" and "love").
It's already impressive that they work, labour and endure.
But this work ethic could have come from guilt, pride or even fear.
It's significant that their motives are good and attractive.
Throughout his letters Paul repeats the qualities of Faith, Love and Hope as significant.
What do people notice about you?
Do they see work that goes the extra mile to labour and pushes through trouble to endure?
Is your work driven by guilt, pride, or fear or is it from a healthier place?
Faith in God points us in the right direction.
Love colours the way we do things.
Hope keeps us going...
May Paul see this in us too...
