1. Fall 2015

3. Acts 17
Birth of church
turmoil
persecution
chaos

4. Ancient Roman Culture

5. “pagan”
Ancient Roman Culture

6. Increasingly we are living in a world that is “gone wrong!”
If we want to "do church right in this world gone wrong" (and growing "wronger" by the day!), we can learn much from taking a look at this church that was so influential in its day!

7. “Doing” Church Right in
a World Gone Wrong!
Two very common features
One truly uncommon church
Chapter 1

8. Two Common Features
The Greeting
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

9. Two Common Features
The Greeting
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

10. Two Common Features
The Greeting
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

11. Two Common Features
The Greeting
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
This "hello" is used by Paul in each of his 9 New Testament letters to churches

12. Two Common Features
The Greeting
1 Thessalonians 1:1
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
Grace – God’s unmerited favor
Peace – flows from grace
- peace WITH God
- peace OF God

13. Two Common Features
Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 1:2
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly  mentioning you in our prayers.
The giving of thanks to God for his readers can be found in 7 of the 9 New Testament letters Paul wrote to churches

14. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and your steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

15. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and your steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
work produced by faith

16. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:8
... but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere...

17. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and your steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
labor prompted by love

18. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:4
 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you...

19. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

20. One Truly Uncommon Church
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and your steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
steadfastness inspired by hope
in the promised return of Christ

21. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?

22. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

23. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.

24. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

25. We will imitate what or who we admire.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

26. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
Their joy was real!
1 Thessalonians 1:6
And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 

27. Happiness is a warm puppy!
“happiness” “happenings”
Happiness is a warm puppy!

28. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
Their joy was real!
Their passion was evident!
1 Thessalonians 1:8
For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 

29. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
Their joy was real!
Their passion was evident!
Their allegiance had changed!

30. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their allegiance had changed!
1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God...

31. Greek and Roman Mythology
Greek name
Roman name
Description
Zeus
Jupiter
King of gods
Poseidon
Neptune
god of seas
Aphrodite
Venus
goddess of love
Eros
Cupid
god of love
god of underworld
Hades
Pluto

32. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their allegiance had changed!
1 Thessalonians 1:9
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God...

33. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
Their joy was real!
Their passion was evident!
Their allegiance had changed!
Their hope was expanded!

34. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
Their hope was expanded!
1 Thessalonians 1:10
... and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

35. Titus 2:11-13
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

36. What made the Thessalonian church such an uncommon church?
They had a working faith, a laboring love and an enduring hope which clearly showed up in that ....
Their conversion was genuine!
Their walk was different!
Their joy was real!
Their passion was evident!
Their allegiance had changed!
Their hope was expanded!

37. How do we, Grace Church, measure up?
Today’s Takeaway
How do we, Grace Church, measure up?
How do you, as a follower of Jesus Christ, measure up?

38. Was your conversion genuine?
Today’s Takeaway
Was your conversion genuine?
Is your walk different from what it was before you came to faith … or from the walk of those who do not claim to follow Jesus?
Do you rejoice, even in the midst of tough times?

39. Today’s Takeaway
If those who know you were asked to name what you are passionate about, what (or who) would they name?
To whom or to what do you give your allegiance? Who or what are you living for?
How much time to you spend thinking and praying for the return of Jesus Christ?