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Studies in 1 Thessalonians: The Model Church

Thessalonica was the provincial capital of the province of Macedonia and the seat of the Roman Governor. It was ‘Greek’ in culture and a ‘Free city’ in terms of government and law. However, it could lose this much coveted status if it caused Rome’s displeasure (i.e. rioting, abandoning the imperial cult etc.). Evidence suggests that the Imperial Cult was strong in the city – Zeus had been replaced on coins by the Emperor Augustus, thereby promoting his ascendency over Zeus in Thessalonica. The city was a thriving commercial centre, commanding trade across the Aegean and by land along the east-west road - the Via Egnatia.

As part of his second missionary journey, the apostle Paul visited Thessalonica, after having been unceremoniously asked to leave Philippi (Acts 16:37-40). Paul was accompanied by Silas (aka Silvanus, a leading figure in the early church, a prophet and a Roman citizen, (Acts 15:22, 32; 16:37-38). Also with Paul was the young Timothy who had only been part of the ‘mission team’ for a month or two (c.f. Acts 16:1), and possibly Luke the physician. The Apostles only spent about three weeks in Thessalonica before being chased out of town by a mixed mob of Jews and Greeks (Acts 17:5-10). Paul parted company with his companions at Berea and went on alone to Athens (Acts 17:13-14). However, given the short time he had been able to spend with the fledgling Thessalonian church, Paul was concerned that the small flame that was the Thessalonian Church might have been snuffed out in the rising tide of the surrounding hostility (1 Thess. 2:17-18). It appears that Timothy and Silas caught up again with Paul in Athens (not recorded in Acts) and he dispatched Timothy back to Thessalonica to assess the state of the church there (1 Thess. 3:1-2). Eventually Timothy returned to Paul who by this time

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was in Corinth (Acts 18:5), and give him the encouraging news that the church was flourishing in spite of opposition – the church in fact stood as an example for all the other churches – we could say it was the ‘model church’.

1 Thessalonians was written (c. 50AD) in response to the great news Timothy had reported back to Paul concerning the Thessalonian Church. It is a letter to praise a church for its conduct and commitment to Jesus and the saints, and to encourage them not to sit back on their ‘laurels’ but to go from glory to glory. 1 Thessalonians is a message for all of us, to not coast or sit back on our past achievements but to spur one another on as a church family, to become more ‘Christ-like’ and bring glory to his name.

I would like to thank Jess Hayward and Sam Patterson for their work in preparing most of this material – I have merely adapted and edited their student Bible studies for a wider audience. A full exegesis of the NIV text can be found on the St. John’s Homegroup web page which you can down load and print.

Richard Hawes Nov 2019

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Study 1: Prayer Modelled

Watch: Bible Project: 1 Thessalonians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No7Nq6IX23c Read Acts 17:1-9 1) What do we know about the church in Thessalonica? What picture

do we get of the situation Paul is writing this letter into?

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

2) Who were Paul, Silas and Timothy? What do we know about them?

3) The Thessalonian Church is described as being ‘…in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’. What do you think this means? Why do you think Paul uses this expression? (1 Thess. 1:1)?

4) The Apostles greet the Thessalonians by saying ‘Grace and Peace’. What do they mean by this, why would they use this greeting to the Church? (1 Thess. 1:1)

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5) What does verse 2 teach us about Paul’s prayer life? How does this challenge us? (1 Thess. 1:2)

6) What is Paul thankful for in verse 3? (1 Thess. 1:3)

7) What is faith? What is work? How are ‘faith’ and ‘works’ linked (1 Thess. 1:3)?

8) What is love? What is labour? How are ‘love’ and ‘labour’ linked (1 Thess. 1:3)?

9) What is hope? What is endurance? Why does hope produce endurance? (1 Thess. 1:3)

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10) In what ways are faith, labour and hope being worked out in your life?

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 2: The Signs of the Model Church

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1: 4-7

1) How did the Gospel come to the Thessalonians? What are the principles that we can learn for our own evangelism (1 Thess.1:4-5)?

2) The Apostles preached with deep conviction, trusting that the Lord would save. When you share the gospel, do you do so with this same attitude? What stops you from truly believing this at times (1 Thess. 1:4-5)?

3) Who did the Thessalonians imitate? What were the results of their imitation (1 Thess. 1:6-7)?

4) How were the Thessalonians able to endure suffering with joy (1 Thess. 1:6)?

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Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:8-10 5) What do you learn about the Thessalonians’ evangelism in verse 8?

How does this inform your evangelism (1 Thess. 1:8)?

6) What impact did the gospel have on the day to day lives of the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:9)?

7) How are we standing out from the culture around us, where do we get noticed because of the Gospel? In which areas of our lives are we trying to blend in because we’re making comfortable compromises?

8) What do you think it means ‘to wait for his Son from heaven’, what do you think this looks like in practice (1 Thess. 1:7-9)?

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9) The Thessalonians ‘waited for the Son from heaven’ as a Church – how will you resolve ‘to wait for his Son from heaven’ as part of your Church?

Mission links for prayer: MAF – The Pett Family

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 3: The Roles of a Model Missionary

1) What do you think effective evangelism is? What does it look like?

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6a 2) What do we learn about the wellbeing of Paul, Silas and Timothy

when they came to Thessalonica? (1 Thess. 2:2; c.f. Acts 16:22-23)

3) How did this affect their ministry? What enabled them to be bold (1 Thess. 2:1-2)?

4) What do verses 1-6 suggest that the Apostles might be being accused of (1 Thess. 2:1-6)?

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5) Paul writes that the message he preached “does not spring from error.” Why is it essential that we get the Gospel right? What errors can we make with the Gospel (1 Thess. 2:3)?

6) Paul writes that the message he preached “does not spring from… impure motives.” What impure motives might we have for evangelism (1 Thess. 2:3)?

7) Look at verses 4-6. What are Paul’s ‘right’ motives for evangelism (1 Thess. 2:4-6)?

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:6b-12 8) What two roles do we see the Apostles adopt as they shared the

Gospel among the Thessalonians (c.f. vv.7, 11)? How would this help the Thessalonians to accept and grow in the faith (1 Thess. 2:7-12)?

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Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 9) How did the Thessalonians respond to the gospel’s message

(1 Thess. 2:13-16)?

10) To whom did Paul give the credit for the Thessalonians responding to the word of God? (1 Thess. 2:13) Why is it good for us to remember this?

11) Having looked at the passage, what changes, if any, would you make to your answer to question 1?

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Mission links for prayer: Viv Whitton & WEC

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 4: The Model of Christian Care

1) How would you describe your relationship with other people in the church?

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5 2) How would you describe Paul’s relationship with the Thessalonians,

particularly focussing on verse 17? (1 Thess. 2:17) How does this help us view church rightly?

3) How would it look different if we were to view church as family rather than a weekly meeting?

4) When Paul describes his feelings toward the Thessalonians, what language and images does he use (1 Thess. 2:17-3:1)?

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5) How do Paul’s actions match up with his words? (1 Thess. 2:17-3:2)

6) How much do you long to be gathered together with your church family? Paul made very clear steps to be with the church family at Thessalonica. How are you making similar steps?

7) Paul’s greatest concern for the Thessalonians was that their faith was still strong and that they had not been tempted to fall away (1 Thess. 3:2, 5). How is this reflected in our relationships with our church family? What could we do to prioritise strengthening the faith of our brothers and sisters in Christ?

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 8) What was it that Paul heard from Timothy about the Thessalonians

that brought him such joy (1 Thess. 3:6)?

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9) Why does Paul say it is “really living” (v.8) when he hears the report about the faith of the Thessalonians? How do you view really living? What are you looking to live for (1 Thess. 3:6-8)?

10) What are Paul’s priorities, what is his focus for the Thessalonians as expressed in his prayer for them (1 Thess. 3:9-13)?

Mission links for prayer: Ali & Cathy Hunt in Cambodia

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 5: The Model Holy Loving Family

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 1. What does it mean to please the Lord? How is this a healthy

motivation? How can this be a misunderstood motivation? (1 Thess. 4:1)

2. How are you living your life to ‘please God’ at present (1 Thess. 4:1-2)?

3. How can you ‘please God more and more’? Have you grown stagnant in pleasing the Lord more and more?

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 4. What does it mean to be sanctified?

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5. What does Paul mean when he says we ‘should avoid sexual immorality’? Why was sexual immorality such a problem for the Thessalonians? Why might it be such a problem for us today?

6. What are we allowing to shape our hearts and minds when it comes to sexual behaviour and thoughts (1 Thess. 4:3-5)? What can we do guard and shape our hearts in this area?

7. How does obeying God’s will in the area of sexual conduct show love to our neighbour? (1 Thess. 4:6a)

8. What motivation does Paul give the Thessalonians and us to focus our minds on holy sexual behaviour? (1 Thess. 4:6b-8)

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

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9. What does it look like to express more and more ‘brotherly love’ to one another? (1 Thess. 4:11)

10. What are the effects of having ‘more and more’ ‘brotherly love’ towards each other? (1 Thess. 4:12)

Mission links for prayer: Charles Barr-Johnston in Argentina

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 6: A Call to Hope and Alertness

1) How do unbelievers approach death? When was the last time you had a conversation about death with your non-Christian friends or family?

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 2) What is the pastoral issue that Paul is addressing in verses 13-18?

What do you think the Thessalonians are worried about and why (1 Thess. 4:13-18)?

3) How is it that Christians can grieve with hope? What basis is there for hope (1 Thess. 4:13-18)?

4) How should this encourage us to live today? (1 Thess. 4:17-18)

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Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 5) What were the Thessalonians concerned about? Why do you think

this might have been (1 Thess. 5:1-2)?

6) What does Paul say to address their concerns? Why does he describe it the way he does (5:1-2)?

7) The Roman Empire offered ‘pax et securitas’ (Peace and Security) to peoples who submitted to its rule. In what way do we see people saying ‘peace and safety’ today? How are you living in ‘peace and safety’ (5:3)?

8) How does Paul say we should live, knowing that Christ will return? Contrast with ‘peace and safety’ (1 Thess. 5:4-8)

9) How does the hope of our salvation give us confidence? (5:9-10)

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10) How should this motivate us to evangelism?

11) How can we encourage each other with these words?

Mission links for prayer: Martin Reynolds - Mission Assist

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

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Study 7: The Model Gospel Community or How to be a Responsible Church

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 1) What marks people out as Christian Leaders? What are their

responsibilities towards the Church family they lead? (1 Thess. 5:12-13)

2) What do these verses teach us about what our responsibilities and attitudes are towards those in leadership? (1 Thess. 5:12-13)

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 3) What six responsibilities does Paul urge Church family members to

do towards one another (1 Thess 5:14-15)?

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4) What is the sin of idleness (1 Thess. 5:14)? In which areas of your life might you be showing the sin of idleness? Why is it important to fight the sin of idleness in every area of life?

5) How can we encourage those who are fainthearted (timid) and help those who are weak? (1 Thess. 5:14)

6) Why is patience such a key attribute when it comes to fulfilling our responsibilities towards church family (1 Thess. 5:14)? How do Paul’s instructions in verse 15 help us in fulfilling these responsibilities (1 Thess. 5:15)?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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7) Given that the Thessalonians are suffering persecution since becoming followers of Jesus, what three things does Paul highlight as their responsibility towards God? What reason does he give for them fulfilling their responsibilities (1 Thess. 5:16-18)?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 8) What are the five responsibilities expected of Church family

members in relation to the work of the Spirit? How can we work these out in the life of our church family (1 Thess. 5:19-22)?

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 9) What will verses 25-27 look like in practice for us as believers living

in the 21st Century (1 Thess. 5:23-24)?

10) How does Paul’s prayer in verses 23-24 encourage you in your striving to fulfil your responsibilities towards leaders, each other, God and the Spirit’s work? (1 Thess. 5:23-24)

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Mission links for prayer: Caroline Abblitt – Gospel for Asia

Prayers from the study

Prayers for the church (including your mission partners)

Prayers arising from your group

St John’s, Riverside & St Faith’s Spring 2020 Midweek Programme Join weekly with God’s people for Bible study, fellowship and prayer. The central prayer meeting runs from 8-9pm in the church, and is repeated the next day 10-11am in the Newland Christian Centre.

We pray for a variety of things, including a mission partner and an area of ministry. It is a great place to encourage one another as we pray together.

14/15/16 Jan Homegroup Study 1: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3

22/23 Jan Prayer Meeting MAF – The Pett family Student Work

28/29/30 Jan Homegroup Study 2: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

5/6 Feb Prayer Meeting Viv Whitton and WEC St Faith’s and Riverside

11/12/13 Feb Homegroup Study 3: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

19/20 Feb Prayer Meeting Ali & Cathy Hunt - Cambodia Children & Youth

25/26/29 Feb Homegroup Study 4: 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13Mar Public

4/5 Mar Prayer Meeting Charles Barr-Johnston - Argentina The Persecuted Church

10/11/12 Mar Homegroup Study 5: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

18/19 Mar Prayer Meeting Martin Reynolds – Mission Assist The Newland Christian Trust

24/25/26 Mar Homegroup Study 6: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

1/2 April Prayer Meeting Caroline Abblitt - GFA International work

7/8/9 April Homegroup Study 7: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-5:28