The Thessalonians 1 Of 13 (1 Of 2)

This church was established on Paul’s second missionary journey. It was when Paul and Silas had just left Philippi and passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia to arrive at Thessalonica.

Many of the people who heard Paul preach came to believe in the gospel that he preached.

The unbelieving Jews became jealous and created an uproar in the city. The commotion they stirred up was so great it was necessary for Paul and Silas to leave secretly for Berea.

Despite such threatening beginnings, a strong church was established in Thessalonica.

The membership consisted of some of the most notable men in church history, such as: Jason, Aristarchus, and Secundus.

According to Acts 17, Paul spent the first three Sabbath days he was there preaching that Christ came, died, and rose again.

But, as already stated, because of the severe persecutions he had to flee for his life. He sent Timothy to check on them and Timothy came back to him with a thrilling report.

His heart was so warmed by Timothy’s report that he sat down and wrote the second letter to the Thessalonians.

After receiving Paul’s first letter, the believers in Thessalonica had apparently responded to Paul, asking him some questions about the Lord’s return. These questions are what prompted the second letter to the Thessalonians.

This second epistle was written for two reasons:

(1) To give the church in Thessalonica more specific instructions on certain matters.

(2) To set their minds at ease about the second coming of Christ.

Also, Paul wrote to deal with the matter of a letter that some had written, forging his name to it. The reason we believe that is because he says, 2 Thess. 2:2, “That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

2 Thessalonians tells us exactly what a church needs to do to make it strong.

The church in Thessalonica was being fiercely attacked. When a church is being attacked it needs strength more then than ever.

It is the duty of a minister to give comfort to his people during trying times. In this second letter to the Thessalonians Paul was doing just that!

As we work our way through this epistle, we will find things that will be a tremendous help to our church, as it was to their church. First, notice...

I. THE GREETING

Look at 2 Thess. 1:1-2. We read, “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Notice, as Paul addressed this church, he said, “...unto the church of the Thessalonians IN GOD our Father and THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.”

Paul knew a great deal about the church at Thessalonica. He knew they were IN GOD and IN CHRIST. It is clear from Paul’s writings that he believed in the local church. He did everything he could to edify the local church. Things are different these days. Much is being done today to replace the local church.

• Some are doing this ignorantly.

Illus: That is, there are Christians who feel they are doing God a service when they conduct church services on the beaches and camp grounds.

However, about all they are accomplishing is an attempt to soothe the conscience of people so they can feel they have worshipped God, when actually all they have done is get Him out of the way so they can do what they really want to do the rest of the day.

Many have not thought this through. They may be sincere in their efforts, but what they are doing is encouraging people to desecrate God’s day and destroy the local church.

• Some television ministries are aggressively trying to destroy local churches. That is, they do not come out and say they are doing this, but you can hear it in the messages they send across the airwaves. You can tell they would be thrilled if everyone sat home on Sundays, watched them for thirty minutes or an hour, sent all their tithes and offerings to them and then went to do whatever they wanted to do.

• We have so-called Christian radio stations constantly encouraging people not to call the local church for spiritual counseling and assistance. No, they want people to call them so they can put them on their mailing list and start sending them their monthly newsletter that tells what they are doing and how you can assist them by giving to their operations.

We have television stations telling people to send them money so they can spread the gospel.

Listen, God has never commission a radio station, God has always worked through the local church.