1. We continue our look at New Testament models for how the church should be.
2. Last week, we began an examination of the church in the Greek city of Thessalonica. This church was established by Paul and Silas on the second missionary journey [Acts 17:1-9]. The New Testament books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians are written to believers in this church.
3. In the first lesson in this series, we saw that Thessalonica was a called church and a sanctified church made up of holy people in the Lord. We continue by looking at three other characteristics of this group of New Testament disciples. We'll take our text from 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (NKJV) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. 8 For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.
I. THESSALONICA WAS A SURRENDERED CHURCH.
A. They received the word [1 Thessalonians 1:6]. No one ever became a Christian without first having received the word either by hearing it taught or reading it for oneself in the Bible [James 1:21 (NKJV) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.]
1. Many are exposed to the truth of God's word but do not allow it to sink in and take root in their lives.
a. Many are daily Bible readers, but are not doers of the word [James 1:22 (NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.]
b. Some hear good preaching for years without ever obeying it. Knowing the truth but not obeying it does not accomplish anything. In fact, it makes a person even more accountable.
2. Conversion happens when people surrender themselves to the will of God that is revealed in His word.
a. Luke 22:42, "...not My will, but Yours, be done."
b. James 4:7 (NKJV) Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
B. They became imitators of Christ.
1. Our text in 1 Thessalonains 1:6 says "you became followers of us and of the Lord."
2. The Greek word there mimetes is the word from which we get mimic in English. They imitated Paul . . . but as Paul followed Christ [1 Corinthians 11:1 (NKJV), "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ."]
3. Their surrendered state is evident from the fact that they were consciously patterning themselves after Christ. We hear people say, "It's my life and I'll live anyway I want." When we surrender to Christ, that changes to "It's not my life. Christ is living in me, and I must live the way He wants." Unless that change in thinking occurs, we have not yet surrendered ourselves to Christ as Lord.
II. THESSALONICA WAS A SUFFERING CHURCH.
A. Persecution began in Thessalonica shortly after the church was started. Paul says they "received the word in much affliction." Unbelieving Jews gathered together a mob and attacked the house of Jason where they thought Paul was staying. They brought Jason and other brethren before the politarchs of the city. They "took security" from these brethren to protect the peace. In effect, they were required to post a peace bond which would have made them responsible if anyone caused any more disturbances over the preaching of the gospel. The effect of this was that Paul and his company were forced to leave Thessalonica so they went on to Berea where they found people more receptive [Acts 17:1-10].
B. 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 (NKJV) For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. The Thessalonians were also imitators of their Judean brethren in suffering persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
C. We can still expect to encounter persecution when we stand firmly for Christ [Luke 6:26 (NKJV) Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets. Cf. 2 Timothy 3:12 (NKJV) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
III. THESSALONICA WAS A SOUL-WINNING CHURCH.
A. They spread the gospel by the lives they lived [1 Thessalonians 1:7 -- "you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe"]
1. People sometimes need more than being told what to do. They need to be shown the right way. We need to be examples to others [1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.]
2. Soul-winning includes helping people stay faithful so they will end up in heaven. Soul-winning doesn't stop when a person is baptized. It includes strengthening the weak and restoring the erring [1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.]
B. However, good examples alone are not sufficient. We must sound forth the word of the Lord. [1 Thessalonians 1:8 (NKJV), "For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place." ]
1. Evangelize your city. People in Thessalonica thought the world had been turned upside down by the preaching of the gospel [Acts 17:5]. They knew something big was happening.
2. Evangelize your state. Thessalonica was in the Roman province of Macedonia -- northern Greece.
3. Evangelize your country. The message had been sounded out in southern Greece (Achaia) as well as Macedonia. They weren't content to keep the good news to themselves.
4. Evangelize the whole world -- The word sounded out in Greece, but "also in every place." They followed the apostles' example, according to Jesus' command in Acts 1:8 (NKJV) ". . . you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
C. Paul did not need to say anything more about their faith. Their reputation had already gone out. People knew about the church in Thessalonica. They were concerned about souls and were hard workers trying to help people get to heaven.
CONCLUSION