THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

Faith, Hope and Love: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

Thessalonica

Background On Thessalonica

• Modern day Thessaloniki• Located at the conjunction of two

major highways – including the Ignatia Way.

• Became capitol of Macedonia in 146 B.C.

• Predominantly Greek, with large Jewish minority.

• City of 200,000 at the time of Christ.

The Church Established There

• Acts 17:1ff• Paul, Silas and Timothy

• Three Sabbaths to convince them

• Some Jews, God-fearing Greeks and prominent women believed.

• Other Jews stirred up the crowds in protest.

Letters From Corinth Paul and company

travel to Berea. Jews follow them and

stir up trouble.Paul goes to Athens and later to Corinth.

Silas and Timothy return to Thessalonica.

Paul writes first letter upon their return.

Acts 18:5 “But when Silas and

Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.”

1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 “But now that Timothy has come to us

from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith….”

A Model Church Paul speaks of

their accomplishments in glowing praise.

Remarkable for such a young in the faith church.

Not perfect – but remarkable.

For Their Work Of Faith 1 Thessalonians

1:2-3 – We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith…

The Value Of Works Of Faith Matthew 5:16 – “Let your light shine before

men in such a waythat they may seeyour good works,and glorify yourFather who is inheaven.

God is glorified by our good works.

Faith With Or Without Works James 2:17 –

Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

Vs. 24 – You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Zealous For Good Works Titus 2:14 – “…who

gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possessions, zealous for good deeds.”

For Their Labor Of Love Labor = KOROS – a cut; beating, toil, pains

from exertion. Love = Agape – benevolent affection. Who was their love

for? Mark 12:30-31 – “And you

shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all yourmind, and with all your strength…You shall love your neighbor as yourself….”

2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of

Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died….”

Labor Without Love? Labor from

obligation. Labor for

personal gain. Labor for selfish

ambition.

Steadfastness of Hope Steadfastness –

patience and endurance.

Romans 8:24 – “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?”

Can You Understand NO HOPE? Ephesians 2:12 – “…remember that you

were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of

Israel, and strangers to the covenants

of promise, having no hope and without

God in the world.”

We have a living hope 1 Peter 1:3 --

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead….”