INTRODUCTION
This letter was written by Paul to the church at Thessaolonica,
which was, at that time, the capitol of Macedonia.
The Thessalonian church was probably the second European
church Paul started; and, was during his second missionary
journey (See Acts 17:1-9).

After being severely harrassed by the Jews, Paul went to Athens.
But he was concerned for the church at Thessalonica, and sent
Timothy back to minister to them.
When Timothy returned with good news, Paul wrote this letter
to commend them for their faithfulness.

Thanks to Luke's historical details in Acts, the dates of both
letters to the Thessalonians are pretty certain.

In Acts 18:12, Luke referred to Galio, proconsul of Achaia in
connection with Paul's stay at Corinth.
This has been proven by the discovery at Delphi of an inscription
which dates Galio under the reign of the emperor Cladius.
The inscription seems to indicate that Galio assumed office
in the summer of A.D. 51.

Since Luke apparently suggests that Paul had stayed in Corinth
about eighteen months before Galio came to power (Acts 18:11),
Paul probably arrived in Corinth in A.D. 50.

Not long after this, Silas and Timothy returned from Madedonia
with the report which caused Paul's writing 1Thessalonians.
(See Acts 18:5 and 1Thess. 3:1-6).
That was probably the middle of A.D. 50.

A few months later 2Thessalonians followed, in response to
reports that certain problems which were not yet resolved.

There are several things that growing in knowledge teaches:
1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) Puppies still have bad breath even after eating tic tacs.
3) If you want someone to listen to you, just whisper.
4) Sometimes you must take the test before you have finished
studying.

Now - let's grow in some knowledge through Scripture study.

CHAPTER 1

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the
Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus
Christ Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ.

Let me repeat something: As an emissary of Christ, you have
the ability to impart grace and peace to others.

You have the joy of salvation;
You have the peace and assurance of living with Christ forever;
You have the purpose of sharing;
You have power because you are anointed! (See Eph. 1)

Notice that Paul says the church at Thessalonica is IN God our
Father, AND IN the Lord Jesus.
We are IN God by being IN Christ!

Pause a moment and think: What does that mean to YOU?

vss 2-3
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of
you in our prayers;
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of
love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of
God and our Father;

Paul thanks God for them, and prays for them because of their
FAITHFULNESS.
We, as Christians, should thank God and pray for our brethren
because of their FAITHFULNESS!

Paul continually remembers the things they have done in and
for Christ. We should remember the things our fellow Christians have done
in and for Christ.

Vs 4
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

That word "election" is sometimes confusing.
It comes from the Greek ekloge (ek-log-ay'), which means
divinely selected.

Just HOW does God divinely select a person?
He comes to our hearts, exposing sin, and calling
for repentance and a commitment to "follow" Jesus!
(See Mark 1:15 and Luke 9:23)

When ANYONE truly repents and commits to Christ,
THEN God CHOOSES or divinely selects that person to be
in the family of Christ.
In John 15:16 Jesus says this: "Ye have not chosen me, I
have I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and
bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: ...."

One is chosen BECAUSE he/she has surrendered to Jesus as
Lord of his/her life.
AND, one is chosen for a PURPOSE: to give witness to and to
share Jesus!

Vs 5
5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye
know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

When Paul and company first came and preached in
Thessalonica, their preaching was accompanied by two
very special things:
1) the POWER of God's Spirit moved upon their hearts
convincing them that the Gospel of Christ was TRUTH;
2) the ASSURANCE was given because of the testimony of
Paul and company.

As a result the people who surrendered to Christ as Lord, were
CHANGED!!
And, their lives EXHIBITED that change.

My Christian friend, if your testimony is given, it is ACCOMPANIED
by God's Holy Spirit to the ears and hearts of those listening!

Vss 6-7
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.
7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia
and Achaia.

Not only did the believers follow Paul, they followed "the LORD."

The reason they followed the Lord, then, was because Paul's
preaching and teaching was FROM the Lord!!

Even though there was much "affliction" there was also
"JOY of the Holy Ghost!"

Jason, who was the host of Paul and company, was dragged
before the council of the city by some unbelievers.
The council took "security" from Jason and another
man. (See Acts 17:9)

Probably, that security was monetary.

The unbelieving Jews declared that Paul was preaching
ANOTHER king besides Caesar!
Jason and the other man provided security to assure that there
was no insurrection on their part against the Emperor of Rome.

Those believers endured "affliction" and showed/exhibited
their JOY in the Gospel by telling others.
Therefore, they became "ensamples" (examples) to others.

Our lives, changed by Jesus, should be reflected in our actions!
(Sort of like the man who encountered a bear in the woods.
The man ran, but he fell, and the bear caught him.
The bear raised his huge claw and took aim on the man's throat.
The man cried out, "LORD! I plead that you would make this bear
a Christian."
Just then, the bear paused, put both claws together and pushed
them up toward heaven.
Then, he spoke, "Lord, I thank you for the wonderful bounty of
this food you have supplied.")

The bear's ACTIONS exhibited his faith!
HEHE

Vs 8
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to
God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

The "news" spread all over Macedonia and Greece about these
believers in Thessalonica.
When Paul and company arrived in another town, they didn't
have to tell people.
The people already KNEW!

A principle in business advertising is that the BEST advertisement
is word of mouth!
That principle comes from the New Testament!

The BEST way to share Jesus is by word of mouth!

When God saves a person, He also ORDAINS them to TELL
the Gospel of Jesus!!

Vss 9-10
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we
had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

The believing Thessalonians had turned AWAY from worshipping
idols, and had EMPHATICALLY turned to serving Christ!

They had gone about expressing their faith as being in the
"LIVING GOD"!
(That's quite different from worshipping a worthless idol which
one must carry around!)

The LIVING GOD defines Him as ALWAYS with us!
Quite different from the idol of luck which is NOT always
with us!

The believing Thessalonians also:
1) expressed faith in Jesus returning to earth;
2) described Jesus as being the ONE raised from the dead;
3) described Jesus as the ONE Who delivers from the wrath
of God, which is to come soon.

In other words they taught that there IS a judgment to come!
(Heb. 9:27)

Let's check this lesson for KNOWLEDGE and MEANING!

If our lives are truly CHANGED by surrender to Jesus, then:
1) We'll EXHIBIT that change in our actions;
2) We'll TESTIFY to the change and WHO performed it;
3) We'll KNOW Jesus as the LIVING GOD;
4) and We'll TRUST in Him to deliver us from God's wrath!

Once there was a newspaper which had a headline:
"Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons!"

If your LIFE is RAIDED, let JESUS be FOUND!