The city of Thessalonica was a large seaport city located in Macedonia (Northern
Greece). Can you find Macedonia and the city of Thessalonica on the following
map?
[The above map was taken from The MacMillian Bible Atlas by Yohanan Aharoni and Michael Avi-Yonah (map #238).]
Thessalonica was similar in many ways to the city of Corinth (see Chapter 6). Thessalonica was also a "city of sin." Most of the people worshipped idols (compare 1 Thessalonians 1:9). The city was filled with all kinds of wickedness and the sin of fornication was a great problem, just as it was in Corinth (see Chapter 6 and compare 1 Thess. 4:3). God loves to reach down and save those who are lost in sin, and in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 the Apostle Paul thanked God for the great work of salvation which He accomplished in the hearts of the Thessalonian Christians.
How did a church begin in this city? Who preached the gospel to these people? The answer to these questions is found in Acts 17:1-9. Paul came to the city of Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. As Paul preached the good news of salvation to these people, did some believe (Acts 17:4)? _______ Did everyone believe (Acts 17:5)? ______ Finally the unbelievers caused so much trouble that Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city (Acts 17:5-10).
Paul was very much concerned for these new believers that he left behind in the city of Thessalonica. Usually Paul would spend many months with new believers to teach them and to strengthen them in the faith. However, because of persecution he was not able to do this with the Thessalonians. Did Paul want to return to Thessalonica and see these believers again (1 Thessalonians 3:6,10)? _________ Even though Paul was unable to visit these Christians, he was able to send Timothy (see 1 Thess. 3:2) on a dangerous mission to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonian Christians in their faith.
When Timothy finally returned to Paul, what message did he bring? Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-7 and circle the correct answer.
Paul's heart rejoiced when he heard the good news which Timothy brought, and he sent these Christians a letter (1 Thessalonians) to remind them of the things he had taught them, to comfort them in all of their trouble and to help them to understand certain things about the coming of the Lord. Not long after this, he sent another letter (2 Thessalonians) to correct some wrong teaching that had come into the church (2 Thessalonians chapter 2) and to correct some wrong conduct among some of the church members (2 Thessalonians chapter 3).
Both of these letters to the Thessalonians were written very early, only about 20 years after the death and resurrection of Christ. These were two of Paul's earliest letters. They were written about 51 A.D. The only letter which may have been written earlier was Paul's letter to the Galatians which may have been written 48-49 A.D.
These two letters were written to new Christians. What are some of the things that new believers need to understand? What are some of the things that every Christian should understand? Let us now consider twelve things that every new Christian should be taught:
Instructions for New Believers
When a person becomes a Christian, this does not mean that difficulties and troubles will cease. Did the Thessalonian Christians have much affliction (trouble, pressures, problems, trials) according to 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 3:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 1:4,6? _______ Did God allow them to suffer (1 Thess. 2:14; 2 Thess. 1:5)? ______ Did Paul tell them to expect an easy life, or did he tell them that they would suffer tribulation (1 Thess. 3:4)? _____________________________________________________________________
Did the Lord Jesus also tell His disciples to expect tribulation and trouble as long as
they were in this world (John 16:33)? ________ Is the believer in the world (John 16:33;
17:11)? ______ Is the believer also in Christ (John 16:33)? _______ In the world there is
tribulation but in Christ there is P____________ (John 16:33). In the middle of the
trouble we can have peace, knowing that Christ has already won the victory!
Not only did the Thessalonians have
affliction (trouble and persecution) but
they also had J________ (1 Thess. 1:6). When Paul wrote to them, he reminded them of this
and told them to R_____________ evermore (1 Thess. 5:16). Believers should always be
rejoicing! As we have seen, this was the same message Paul sent to the Philippians:
"R_________________ in the Lord ________________: and again I say
___________________" (Philippians 4:4).
When a person is saved, he receives God's Word into his heart and God's Word finds a home in his heart (see 1 Thess. 1:6 and compare Acts 2:41 and 17:11). After a person is saved, he should continue to receive God's Word. How did the Thessalonians receive God's Word according to 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (circle the correct answer)?
Have you really accepted the Bible as God's message to you?
In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul gave the Thessalonians this important command: P_________ without ________________________. When a person really prays in the right way, he is very much aware of God's presence. As we go through the day, we are to remember that God is right there with us and able to help us. We can call upon Him at any time and in any place. Praying without ceasing does not mean that we are on our knees 24 hours each day, but it does mean that as we walk through each day, we are aware that the living God walks with us. We are conscious of His Person and His presence. We are learning to enjoy Him!
If we were walking along a roadside with a friend, would we be aware of his (or her)
presence? Would we probably talk with this person frequently? Would we enjoy being with
this person? So also as we walk with God, we can be aware of His presence (even though we
can't see Him). We can talk to Him at any time as we enjoy that wonderful relationship
and fellowship that we have with Him.
We would almost expect the Thessalonians to be filled with complaining because of all of the trouble and persecution that they were going through. But Paul told them to be filled with thanksgiving: "In ________________________ give ________________: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thess. 5:18).
Every new Christian can say, "Thank you!" Even though times may be difficult,
we can say, "Thank you!" Even though there are many things we do not understand,
we can say, "Thank you!" God is in control, God knows what He is doing, and
God does all things well! Because of this, everyday should be a Thanksgiving Day!
What precious gift did God give to every believer the moment he or she was saved (1
Thess. 4:8)? _______________________________ The Spirit of God wants to work in our lives,
but sometimes we refuse to let Him do His mighty work in us! Paul told the Thessalonians:
"_______________ not the __________________" (1 Thess. 5:19). Do not
quench the Spirit! Just as a fire is quenched by water, so the Spirit is quenched whenever
the believer says "NO!" to God. We must always say "YES!" to the Lord:
"Yes Lord, I’ll do whatever You want me to do! Yes Lord, I'll go wherever You
want me to go! Yes Lord, I'll say whatever you want me to say!" We can also quench
the Spirit when we say "YES" after God has said "NO!" When God says,
"DON'T!" it is wrong for the believer to say, "YES I WILL!"
We will not quench the Spirit when we yield to God's wonderful will and we
submit to His commands as revealed in His Word.
God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we can live a holy life. Paul wrote to the
Thessalonians about holiness in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 (the word "sanctification"
in verses 3 and 4 can also be translated "holiness"). Remember, these
Christians lived in the middle of a wicked city where they were tempted every day to do
wrong and to fall into sin. But the God who lived in them could help them to have victory
and to live differently than those who "K ________ N_______ G______" (1 Thess. 4:5).
Paul helped these new Christians to get their eyes off their problems and onto the Lord Jesus Christ who was coming again for them. Every chapter in the Book of 1 Thessalonians ends by mentioning the coming of the Lord (or as some would call it, "the rapture"). Can you find these verses?
Chapter 1: ____________
Chapter 2: ____________
Chapter 3: _____________
Chapter 4: ____________
Chapter 5: _____________
The most detailed section about the Lord's coming is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:
Did Paul believe in a real devil who actually tempts people (1 Thess. 3:5)? _________
Second Thessalonians 2:1-12 reveals much about Satan and what Satan will try to accomplish
in the future. As you read these verses, what are some of the things you learn about
Satan, and Satan's man (the man of sin, the Antichrist) and Satan's power? What will
happen to those people who love Satan's lie more than God’s truth?
Satan is pleased when believers become lazy and fail to do those things that please the Lord and that are a good testimony to others. There were people in the Thessalonian church who were not working at all (see 1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:10-12). Paul had some strong words for these people and even said that if they did not work, neither should they ______ (2 Thess. 3:10).
When a person is saved, this should not make him or her a poor worker, a poor student, or a
sloppy homemaker! The Christian should trust God to help him to be the very best worker or
the best student he can possibly be for the glory of God. The Christian woman
should trust God to help her to be the best homemaker and mother and wife that she can
possibly be, just as the believing man should trust God to be the best husband, father and
provider that he can possibly be!
There were certain men in the Thessalonian church who were the leaders and who were responsible for the spiritual welfare of the flock (the believers). Paul told the Thessalonian Christians to be sure that they had the right attitude towards these men (see 1 Thess. 5:12-13).
Do you respect and love your Pastor and other church leaders? Do you pray for them as
they carry out their work day by day? Do you seek to help them in every way you can? What
are some of the ways you can help them?
Even though the Thessalonians were new believers, they were doing very well. Paul remembered their faith, their love and their hope (1 Thess. 1:3). But even though they were doing well, Paul wanted them to do much better!
Was Paul thankful for the faith which these Christians had (1 Thess. 3:6)? _______ Was their faith all that it should have been, or did their faith need improvement (1 Thess. 3:10)? _____________________________________________ Was their love all that it should have been, or did Paul want their love to increase more and more (1 Thess. 3:12)? _____________________________________________
Did these Christians love one another (1 Thess. 4:9)? ______ Did Paul want their love to stay the same or increase (1 Thess. 4:10)? _________________________________________
We must never think we have arrived, no matter how well we may be doing in some area of our Christian life. Whatever we are doing right, God wants us to do better and better, showing more and more love for God and for others! Whatever we might be doing that is good, God wants it to increase and reflect Him more and more!
Can a Christian ever say, "I've arrived! I no longer need to grow!"? _______
May God help us to go on and on, and have more and more of those things He wants us to have!
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