The Dynamic Gospel Series

THE DYNAMIC GOSPEL

1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10

#1Thessalonians1

INTRODUCTION… HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO PLAN A… (p)

[wildapricot.com/blog/how-to-plan-an-event]

What does it take to plan an event? One website I consulted said that there are 10 normal steps that need to be considered for any type of event. The steps range from organizing the team to setting a budget to planning the actual date and time and place for the event. In the checklists and advice, they mention that one should leave 4-6 months to plan an event. Keep that in mind… 4-6 months.

[lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/event-planning/how-to-organize-basketball-tournament]

What does it take to organize a basketball tournament? When thinking about a sports tournament, there is gear, vendors, equipment, insurances and liability, space for games, and cost for putting on the event. One website notes: “Also give yourself plenty of time to plan the event. The Amateur Athletic Union recommends starting the preparations at least 180 days before the tournament starts. Otherwise, the weeks leading up to the event could become a mad, stressful scramble, and some important tasks might fall through the cracks.”

What does it take to plant a church? Braeden has a degree in church planting and I asked him to think back on his classes and what is the recommended time suggested for planting a church. He said there is not a recommended time for launching a church, but it is recommended that at least 1 year of planning take place in learning about the area, the people, and the needs of the community. 1 whole year!

I mention these things because today we are starting a new sermon series through 1 and 2 Thessalonians. For me personally, I have not preached through 1 or 2 Thessalonians before and I am excited to see what God has for us in these two small New Testament books! These letters are written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Thessalonica which he himself began, but it was a brief beginning for the church and Paul was not there very long. There was not a lot of planning for this church and the beginning of the church was one with much opposition which smashed all their planning and organization.

We can read about the beginning of the Thessalonian Church in Acts 17.

READ ACTS 17:1-10a (ESV)

“Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea…”

Acts 17 shares with us that Paul and Silas were with these Christians for three weeks. Verse 2 tells us that he was with them for three Sabbath days… three whole weeks. After those three weeks, they were driven from the city leaving behind new believers. I am not sure how much a person can teach and disciple in three weeks, but that was all the time Paul and Silas had to begin the church, start discipling them about the Lord Jesus, helping them to worship, and everything else that comes with being a believer in Jesus.

Paul reflects about this time in 1 Thessalonians 2:

READ 1 THESSALONIANS 2:17-18 (ESV)

“But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.”

Eventually after a great deal of time, Paul would return to Thessalonica, but it was after he wrote 1st and 2nd Thessalonians and after he trained up leaders one on one from there to minister in the church there. The letters of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians are Paul, Silas, and Timothy’s attempt to help this church from afar even while they are trying to get back to them to build up their faith.