N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For …

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For A Blueprint For N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What About 1st Century Thessalonica?  On Paul’s 2nd journey Acts 17:1-10a  The capital city of Macedonia  Some Jews were convinced re: evidence  A great multitude of God-fearing Greeks and many of the leading women believed  A vigorous opposition by unbelieving Jews targeted these Christians

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What About 1st Century Thessalonica?  On Paul’s 2nd journey Acts 17:1-10a  The Jewish opposition  Teamed with wicked men…formed a mob… set the city in an uproar  Jason soon found trouble personally  He put up “security” (bond money) to ensure future peace in the city  Paul had to leave 1 Thess 2:14-20

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What About 1st Century Thessalonica?  It seems we sometimes “sell them short”  Esp. compared to the Bereans Acts 17:11  Yet, they were convinced by the evidence put forth by Paul Acts 17:3  They became a local church of the Lord in a 1st century Macedonian city  They were chosen by God 1 Thess 1:4

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What Is The “Thessalonian Blueprint?”  They received the word of God vv. 5, 6b, 9  They knew it to be Divine truth & accepted it 1 Thess 2:13  Even in tribulation v. 6  They left religious error, paganism v. 9  The initial building effort…people respond to God’s word Rom 10:17 Jas 1:21

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What Is The “Thessalonian Blueprint?”  They imitated the apostles v. 6a  Following the Lord’s ambassadors = is to follow the Lord Lk 10:16 1 Cor 11:1  All generations after them rely on them as “witnesses” Jn 20:29 17:17-20  We must continue in their word Acts 2:42

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What Is The “Thessalonian Blueprint?”  They were examples to believers v. 7  Saints in one location provide incentive for other believers to be faithful 1 Tim 4:12  Paul’s later work in Macedonia, Achaia, and elsewhere benefited from these saints  Other churches are helped when a local church stands for truth

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What Is The “Thessalonian Blueprint?”  They sounded out the word v. 8  Spreading the word to unbelievers  Local preaching…even more so, support of preachers who labor elsewhere  Local faith “goes out”…points to a church’s reputation in devotion to God and concern for the lost

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For What Is The “Thessalonian Blueprint?”  They wait for the Lord v. 10  All that believers do is done in anticipation of the return of Christ 1 Thess 4: Thess 1:10

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For Conclusion  They received the word of God  They imitated the apostles  They became examples to other believers  They sounded out the word  They waited on the Lord

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For Conclusion  We can be what these troubled 1st century saints were…simple N.T. Christians  To achieve that, we must do what they did  What they did is a good “blueprint” to follow  It is the key to building N.T. Christianity

N.T. Christianity 1 Thess 1:4-10 A Blueprint For …