By Example

BY EXAMPLE

THESSALONIA LETTERS ARE ANOTHER SET OF PAIRED LETTERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. IN PAUL DAY THESSALONICA WAS THE ROMAN CAPITAL OF THE PROVINCE OF MACEDONIA. IT WAS LOCATED ON A PRIMARY ROAD LEADING FROM ROME TO THE EASTERN PART OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE. THIS CITY IS TODAY NAMED SALONIKA, LOCATED IN GREECE. MOST SCHOLARS DATE THE BOOK ABOUT A.D. 51. THE LETTER ADDRESSES VARIOUS SUBJECTS. KEY PLAYERS ARE THE APOSTLE PAUL, TIMOTHY AND SILAS.

SPIRITUAL INSIGHT:

READ 1 THESSALONIANS 1: 1-8 THE KEY WORD IS “BY EXAMPLE” EXPRESSED IN VERSE 7.

THE THESSALONIANS’ PREDOMINANTLY GENTILE BACKGROUND WAS EVIDENT IN THEIR FALSE IDOL WORSHIP.

PAUL’S STRATEGY WAS TO EVANGELIZE THE MAJOR CITIES IN A REGION, ANTICIPATING THE GOSPEL WOULD SPREAD TO OTHER LESS POPULATED COMMUNITIES. THE ENDEAVOR WORKED AND MIGHT BE A CONTEMPORARY CONSIDERATION.

YOU AS A BELIEVER MUST BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO MODEL. FAITH, LOVE AND HOPE ARE SPIRITUAL MOTIVATORS AND MUST BE MODELED. NEW BELIEVERS IN CHRIST NEED TO BE SHOWING HOW TO MODEL CHRIST SCRIPTURALLY. THIS REALITY IS BEYOND JUST “HEARING”.

1 PETER 2: 21 “TO THIS YOU WERE CALLED, BECAUSE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US, LEAVING US AN EXAMPLE, THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW HIS STEPS.” (NKJV)

1 JOHN 2: 6 “HE WHO ABIDES IN HIM OUGHT HIMSELF TO WALK JUST AS HE WALKED.” (NKJV)

READ JOHN 13: 14-15

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES: MARK 10: 43-45, ROMANS 15:5-7

APPLICATION: MODEL CHRIST BY EXAMPLE!