What We Believe About…

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

Paul writes to the ThessaloniansPaul writes to the Thessalonians

Part 1 – 1 ThessaloniansPart 1 – 1 Thessalonians

•Week 10, 3/9/2014•Week 10, 3/9/2014

•Gene Wright, GeneLA@comcast.net•Gene Wright, GeneLA@comcast.net

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Paul had preached in the synagogues inThessalonica for three Sabbaths (17:2)•Paul had preached in the synagogues inThessalonica for three Sabbaths (17:2)

•Very unlikely he stayed longer than thatbefore he had to leave quickly•Very unlikely he stayed longer than thatbefore he had to leave quickly

•This is in contrast to Paul’s stay in Philippi,where they stayed “some days”•This is in contrast to Paul’s stay in Philippi,where they stayed “some days”

•Paul had not been able to be with these newChristians very long.•Paul had not been able to be with these newChristians very long.

•Paul went to Berea and then Athens.Timothy joined him again at Athens withnews from Thessalonica.•Paul went to Berea and then Athens.Timothy joined him again at Athens withnews from Thessalonica.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•There was good news and not sogood news.•There was good news and not sogood news.

•They were still faithful•They were still faithful

•But they had misunderstood somethings•But they had misunderstood somethings

•It was from Athens that Paul wroteback to the church at Thessalonica.•It was from Athens that Paul wroteback to the church at Thessalonica.

•And he sent Timothy back with theletter.•And he sent Timothy back with theletter.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Good news: They were still faithful•Good news: They were still faithful

•1 Thess 2:14: “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches ofGod in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.”•1 Thess 2:14: “For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches ofGod in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.”

•1 Thess 3:5-6: “when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about yourfaith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our laborwould be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and hasbrought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that youalways remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you”•1 Thess 3:5-6: “when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about yourfaith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our laborwould be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and hasbrought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that youalways remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you”

•1 Thess 4:9,10: “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need foranyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God tolove one another, or that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothersthroughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more andmore”•1 Thess 4:9,10: “Now concerning brotherly love you have no need foranyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God tolove one another, or that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothersthroughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more andmore”

•Interesting word here. In the Septuagint, this is used of real bloodrelatives.•Interesting word here. In the Septuagint, this is used of real bloodrelatives.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news.•Not so good news.

•1) They had misunderstood the secondcoming•1) They had misunderstood the secondcoming

•2) They were worried about those who hadalready died•2) They were worried about those who hadalready died

•3) Some were despising authority•3) Some were despising authority

•4) Concern that some might lapse back intoimmorality•4) Concern that some might lapse back intoimmorality

•5) Some seemed to be slandering Paul, thathe preached for his own gain•5) Some seemed to be slandering Paul, thathe preached for his own gain

•6) There was some division in the church•6) There was some division in the church

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news:•Not so good news:

•1) They had misunderstood the second coming soPaul tells them to get to work!•1) They had misunderstood the second coming soPaul tells them to get to work!

•1 Thess 4:11: “But we urge you, brothers, to dothis more and more, and to aspire to live quietly,and to mind your own affairs, and to work withyour hands, as we instructed you, so that you maywalk properly before outsiders and be dependenton no one.”•1 Thess 4:11: “But we urge you, brothers, to dothis more and more, and to aspire to live quietly,and to mind your own affairs, and to work withyour hands, as we instructed you, so that you maywalk properly before outsiders and be dependenton no one.”

•If the second coming is happening later today, whycut the grass? Why help clean the city?•If the second coming is happening later today, whycut the grass? Why help clean the city?

•Echoes of message to Philippi. Aspire to livequietly and so that others see you as goodcitizens.•Echoes of message to Philippi. Aspire to livequietly and so that others see you as goodcitizens.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news: 2) Worried about those who had already died•Not so good news: 2) Worried about those who had already died

•1 Thess 4:13-18: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do whohave no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, evenso, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.•1 Thess 4:13-18: “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers,about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do whohave no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, evenso, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

•For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who arealive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede thosewho have fallen asleep.•For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who arealive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede thosewho have fallen asleep.

•For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a cry ofcommand, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of thetrumpet of God.•For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a cry ofcommand, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of thetrumpet of God.

•And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left,will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord inthe air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage oneanother with these words.”•And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left,will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord inthe air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage oneanother with these words.”

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news: 3) Some were despising authority•Not so good news: 3) Some were despising authority

•1 Thess 5:12-13: “We ask you, brothers, to respect thosewho labor among you and are over you in the Lord andadmonish you, and to esteem them very highly in lovebecause of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”•1 Thess 5:12-13: “We ask you, brothers, to respect thosewho labor among you and are over you in the Lord andadmonish you, and to esteem them very highly in lovebecause of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

•Idea is of those who work even after they are worn out.•Idea is of those who work even after they are worn out.

•Over you = those who stand in front of you. Our bishops•Over you = those who stand in front of you. Our bishops

•The idlers in Thessalonica apparently weren’t listeningto the leaders in the congregation.•The idlers in Thessalonica apparently weren’t listeningto the leaders in the congregation.

•Internal problem, but also evident to outsiders.•Internal problem, but also evident to outsiders.

•Greek democracy could sometimes run wild•Greek democracy could sometimes run wild

•Still does today!•Still does today!

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news:•Not so good news:

•4) Concern that some might lapse back into immorality•4) Concern that some might lapse back into immorality

•1 Thess 4:3-8: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: thatyou abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know howto control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion oflust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgressand wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is anavenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand andsolemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but inholiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not manbut God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”•1 Thess 4:3-8: “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: thatyou abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know howto control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion oflust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgressand wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is anavenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand andsolemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but inholiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not manbut God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

•God’s will is that we learn how to behave ourselves.•God’s will is that we learn how to behave ourselves.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news.•Not so good news.

•5) Some seemed to be slandering Paul, that hepreached for own gain!•5) Some seemed to be slandering Paul, that hepreached for own gain!

•1 Thess 2:5,9: For we never came with words offlattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed -God is witness…For you remember, brothers, ourlabor and toil: we worked night and day, that we mightnot be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed toyou the gospel of God.”•1 Thess 2:5,9: For we never came with words offlattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed -God is witness…For you remember, brothers, ourlabor and toil: we worked night and day, that we mightnot be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed toyou the gospel of God.”

•They came with God’s message and not for their ownbenefit. No words of flattery and no greed.•They came with God’s message and not for their ownbenefit. No words of flattery and no greed.

•Toil is word for harder work than labor. They went outof their way to pay their own way. They were notloafing or living off the Thessalonians.•Toil is word for harder work than labor. They went outof their way to pay their own way. They were notloafing or living off the Thessalonians.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news:•Not so good news:

•6) Some seemed to think he was a dictator•6) Some seemed to think he was a dictator

•1 Thess 2:6,7,11-12: “Nor did we seek glory frompeople, whether from you or from others, thoughwe could have made demands as apostles ofChrist…But we were gentle among you, like anursing mother taking care of her ownchildren…For you know how, like a father with hischildren, we exhorted each one of you andencouraged you”•1 Thess 2:6,7,11-12: “Nor did we seek glory frompeople, whether from you or from others, thoughwe could have made demands as apostles ofChrist…But we were gentle among you, like anursing mother taking care of her ownchildren…For you know how, like a father with hischildren, we exhorted each one of you andencouraged you”

•Image really is of a nursing mother and the care /bond between the two of them.•Image really is of a nursing mother and the care /bond between the two of them.

•But also that of a father giving instruction for theirbenefit. Must have both.•But also that of a father giving instruction for theirbenefit. Must have both.

Crieve Hall church of Christ

Spring 2014

Following Paul in GreeceFollowing Paul in Greece

•Not so good news:•Not so good news:

•There was some division in the church.•There was some division in the church.

•Solution?•Solution?

•1 Thess 5:13: “Be at peace among yourselves.”•1 Thess 5:13: “Be at peace among yourselves.”

•Some of these problems might afflict anyyoung church.•Some of these problems might afflict anyyoung church.

•Some of these warnings apply to us today•Some of these warnings apply to us today

•Next week? 2nd Thessalonians.•Next week? 2nd Thessalonians.