Introduction:
A. The story is told of two preachers who were standing by the side of a highway holding up two signs. One read, “The end is near!” The other held a sign that said, “Turn around before it’s too late!”
1. As a car approached, they lifted their signs, pointing to the words, they tried to get the driver’s attention.
2. The driver slowed down enough to read the sign and then yelled out the window at the preachers, saying, “Leave us alone you religious fruitcakes!” Then he sped back up down the highway.
3. A few seconds later the preachers could hear the screeching of tires and a big splash.
4. The two preachers looked at each other and one said to the other, “Do you think we should just make a sign that says, ‘Danger! The Bridge is Out?’ ”
B. Today we begin a new sermon series that I’m calling “Be Ready – A Study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians.”
1. One of the main themes that Paul addressed in the letters of 1 & 2 Thessalonians is the Second Coming of Christ.
2. So, at the risk of sounding like a “religious nut,” I will be talking about the fact that the end is near and that we must be ready.
C. It appears that 1 & 2 Thessalonians were Paul’s first letters, or at least some of his first – the letter to the Galatians may have been his first.
1. 1 &2 Thessalonians were letters written to real people, who had real questions, and were facing real problems in a world that was not friendly to their Christian faith.
2. It sounds like you and I will be able to easily identify with them, right? We are real people, with real questions, and face real problems in a world that is not friendly to our faith.
D. So let’s spend a few minutes this morning being introduced to the church at Thessalonica.
1. Let’s notice some things about the background, the burden, and the blessing of these two letters.
I. The Background
A. Believe it or not, you can visit Thessalonica today, only the travel guide will call it Thessaloniki.
1. It is an important industrial and commercial city in modern Greece and is second to Athens in population.
2. Today it has a population of 400 thousand, and is one of the few cities that has survived from the New Testament era.
B. Thessalonica is an ancient city, originally named Therma because of the many hot springs found there. This picture shows the ruins of the market place in Thessalonica that existed in Paul’s time.
1. In 315 B.C., Therma was renamed Thessalonica after the half-sister of Alexander the Great.
2. In Paul’s day, 200 thousand people lived in Thessalonica.
3. Most of them were Greeks, but there were also many Romans and a strong Jewish minority.
4. Thessalonica was a commercial center for two reasons – (1) it was a seaport, and (2) the Egnatian Way, the major east-west highway of the Roman Empire went through the city.
5. William Barclay, the commentator, wrote: “It is impossible to overstress the importance of the arrival of Christianity in Thessalonica. If Christianity was settled there, it was bound to spread East along the Egnatian Road until all Asia was conquered and West until it stormed even the city of Rome. The coming of Christianity to Thessalonica was crucial in the making of it into a world religion.”
C. The book of Acts contains the story of the beginning of the church at Thessalonica, and during the Scripture Reading you heard those verses read that tell the story.
1. Paul first came to Thessalonica on his second missionary journey in A.D. 49.
2. After traveling west across Asia Minor to the region known as Mysia, the apostle and his entourage reached an impasse.
3. They had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in the province of Asia (to the south of Mysia), and their attempt to turn north into Bithynia was similarly blocked.
4. With no other way to proceed, they went to Troas, a city on the Aegean Sea.
5. There Paul saw a vision of a Macedonian imploring him to come to that province and preach the gospel (Acts 16:6-10).
6. Crossing the Aegean Sea, they came to Philippi.
a. The first converts in Philippi included Lydia and her household.
b. Then Paul and Silas were arrested on false charges, beaten, and imprisoned.
c. But God delivered them and they were able to lead the jailer and his household to faith in Christ.
7. After being exonerated and encouraging the new believers, Paul and his friends left Philippi and headed for the important city of Thessalonica.
D. It is about 100 miles from Philippi to Thessalonica.
1. Although Paul’s commission was to the Gentiles, the local synagogue was the place where Paul often began his ministry when he came into a town.
2. Paul knew that the synagogue was the place where the Old Testament was known and revered, so he knew he could get a sympathetic hearing, at least at the start.
3. Paul also knew that there were often many Gentile proselytes and “God-fearers” who would also be in the synagogue with whom Paul might begin his ministry.
E. Luke’s description of Paul’s ministry in the synagogue at Thessalonica is interesting.
1. Luke tells us that Paul “reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead” (Acts 17:2-3).
2. Here is a beautiful picture of Paul trying to help them clearly understand why Jesus truly is the Messiah.
3. He didn’t just tell them so. He reasoned with them and explained things to them and in so doing proved to them some important things about Christ.
F. We are told that Paul ministered in the synagogue for three Sabbaths, and that many people responded to the message.
1. Those who believed included some of the Jews, many God-fearing Greeks and a number of prominent, high ranking women.
2. But not everyone was happy with Paul’s success – the unbelieving Jews began to oppose the work, and Paul and his helpers had to leave the city.
G. A good question to ask is: just how long had Paul stayed in Thessalonica?
1. Most likely, Paul stayed there longer than the three Sabbaths Luke mentioned.
2. What Luke might have been saying was not that Paul was only in Thessalonica for three weeks, but that his ministry in the synagogue lasted only three Sabbaths, and then he had to leave the synagogue and set up ministry elsewhere.
3. Why do we think Paul’s ministry was longer than three weeks? Here are a few things to consider:
a. In both letters to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded them that he had worked to support himself while in their city so as not to be a burden.
b. He would not have needed to do that if he were only there for 2 or 3 weeks, nor would he have become a burden to them in such a short time.
c. We also know that Paul received two generous gifts of support from the Philippians while he was in Thessalonica (Phil. 4:16).
d. Would they have sent two gifts in such a short time, and also would he have had to support himself in addition to those gifts, if he were there only a few weeks?
e. One other piece of evidence that suggests a longer stay was the deep affection that developed between them.
4. Nevertheless, even though Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was not a long one, it was solid enough to leave behind a thriving church.
H. As we consider all this background of the birth of the church in Thessalonica, let’s ponder a few helpful lessons we can learn.
1. First of all, we are reminded of the fact that God uses people - to start and build the church.
a. God did not send angels to evangelize Thessalonica.
b. God sent a converted Jewish Pharisee named Paul and his friends, including Timothy, a young man who was part Jew, part Gentile.
c. God still uses people – just like you and me.
d. God uses people who are dedicated and who are willing to follow His lead, obey His Word, and share His message.
2. Second, we are reminded of the fact that the Gospel is powerful – it is still “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes” (Rom. 1:16).
a. Paul reminded them that the Gospel came to them not “simply in words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with deep conviction.” (1 Thess. 1:5).
b. The Gospel has the power to create faith and bring conviction and change lives.
c. Our job is to share the Gospel and let God work.
3. A final lesson we are reminded of is the fact that Satan still opposes God’s work – Satan tries to hinder the Gospel and tries to stop God’s church from growing.
a. We notice that Satan doesn’t play by the rules and he doesn’t care who he employs – he employs some bad characters to do his bidding.
b. I also sometimes have to laugh at the lies Satan tells or the exaggerations he makes.
1. As those bad characters try to get the crowd riled up, they said, “these men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here” (vs. 6).
c. But history shows that Satan’s efforts often backfire against him.
d. Often the church’s greatest periods of growth have come during the times of greatest persecution.
e. So we shouldn’t be surprised when Satan tries to stop us and when he tries to destroy God’s work and God’s people.
f. The harder he works against us, the harder we should employ God’s power and not give up.
II. The Burden
A. After being forced to leave Thessalonica, the missionary team traveled to Berea, about fifty miles away.
1. They had a successful ministry going there until the Jews from Thessalonica came and stirred up trouble, and Paul was forced to leave there as well.
2. Though forcibly separated from the Thessalonians, Paul was deeply concerned about them.
3. Paul tried several times to return to Thessalonica, but Satan hindered him (1 Thess. 2:17-18).
4. So great was Paul’s concern that he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica – even though that left Paul to face the formidable task of evangelizing Athens by himself.
5. To Paul’s immense relief and joy, Timothy brought an encouraging report about the situation in Thessalonica when he met Paul in Corinth (Acts 18:5).
6. This is what Paul had to say about Timothy’s report: “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; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord” (1 Thess. 3:6-8).
B. But even though Timothy’s report was so encouraging, there were still some issues at Thessalonica that concerned Paul and prompted him to write the letters.
1. The persecution that had driven Paul out of Thessalonica had not ceased, and the church needed to be encouraged to stand firm.
2. Additionally, the persecutors were spreading lies and slander about Paul and his companions, so he needed to defend himself and his reputation.
C. So Paul wrote the letters to the Thessalonians for a number of reasons.
1. First of all, Paul wanted to assure the Thessalonians of his love and concern for them.
2. Second, Paul wanted to ground the Thessalonians in the doctrines of the Christian faith, especially the doctrine of the second coming.
a. As we study these two letters we will notice that almost every major doctrine of the Christian faith is mentioned in these letters, so that even though they are short, they are comprehensive.
3. Third, Paul also pointed the Thessalonians toward holiness.
a. We are called to be holy as God is holy. We must never settle for less.
4. Finally, Paul sought to correct some of the weaknesses in the church.
a. Some of the members were not properly respecting and honoring their spiritual leaders.
b. Others were refusing to work and had become idle and were wronging one another.
5. So we can see that Paul had many important things to address with that young church that were a burden on his heart.
III. The Blessing
A. Each New Testament letter has a special message, or blessing that is uniquely its own.
1. First Corinthians focuses on the wisdom of God, and 2 Corinthians the comfort of God.
2. Philippians overflows with joy, and Ephesians stresses the wealth of God’s riches that we have in Christ.
B. So what is the special and unique blessing in the message of 1 and 2 Thessalonians.
1. These letters help us focus on the return of Jesus Christ and how this vital doctrine can affect our lives and churches, helping us to be more spiritual and more ready for His return.
2. Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with reference to the coming of Christ, and each reference relates the doctrine to a practical aspect of Christian living.
3. From this we see that Paul did not look at the doctrine of the return of Christ as a theory to be discussed, but as a truth to be lived.
4. These letters encourage us to live in the future tense since Jesus could appear at any time.
5. The Lord wants us to live in the constant expectation of His coming, so that we will be ready.
6. The doctrine of the Lord’s return is not a toy to play with, or a weapon to fight with, but a tool to build with.
7. Although we may disagree on some of the fine points of Christ’s return, all of us believe that Jesus Christ is coming again, and when He does, He will reward believers and judge unbelievers – we know that for sure!
C. So there are many blessings we will receive if we study these letters and take God’s Word to heart.
1. We should receive assurance for the future – Christ will come with His reward.
2. We should receive encouragement in witnessing and walking with the Lord.
3. We should receive comfort in the loss of our Christian loved ones.
4. And we should receive stability in an unstable and unsure world.
5. So, how do you like those blessings?
D. I hope and pray that we will be blessed as we spend time studying these letters so that we might be ready at all times.
1. We have good news to share - the end may be near, but the bridge isn’t out.
2. Jesus Christ is our bridge to eternity, and His second coming is both an end and a beginning.
3. The end of earthly life, and the beginning of eternal life.
4. But if a person is not ready, then upon their death or the return of Christ they face a terrible disaster – far worse than a missing bridge.
5. But if a person is ready, then their death or Christ’s return is a day of release and reward.
6. God is very merciful, but He is just and righteous as well.
a. When people disregard warning and entreaty again and again, then it catches up with them.
b. One day a woman told her husband, who had always kept aloof from anything religious, about a man whom they both knew very well, and who had just died very suddenly.
- The man remarked, “What a terrible thing to be called away like that without any chance of getting ready!”
- His wife replied: “What do you mean ‘without any chance to get ready?’ He has had fifty-four years to get ready!”
7. So, are you ready? If not, then please, let us work together on getting ready!
E. Getting ready and being ready comes from recognizing that there is a God who made us and loves us and knows what is best for us.
1. Ultimately, it is God’s grace that gets us ready and makes us ready.
2. Our job is to trust in God and His grace and to seek to love God with all our heart and to obey God to the best of our knowledge.
3. Are you depending on the grace of God that comes only through Jesus?
4. Are you daily responding to God’s grace with a grace-filled and godly life?
5. That’s how to be ready.
