Lessons from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Philipose Vaidyar
Once I was asked to
write an article on the theme of ‘a
model church’ for a church’s yearly publication. I refrained, as
felt I would not the best person to do so for that publication. Now I am asked
to share the Word and the theme given to me is “A Model Church” and the
scripture portion, 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.
I would humbly attempt
to reflect upon these 10 verses and draw implications for our churches today
and for each one of us who are part of a congregation.
When we say a ‘Church’
we think about a congregation, not the building; the members and their pastor
or elders. Church, of course, will include the members, the office bearers, the
committee, and everyone who play a role in the congregation.
I see at least seven
marks of a model church in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1:
1. A church has a
Physical address (1:1)
1Paul, Silas a and Timothy, To the church
of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and
peace to you.
The church had
geography and it was located in the local province of Thessalonica. Whether
it’s a city or a village, whether it’s urban or rural, a church is a physical
congregation of believers, wherever they met together- at a house, a hall, or a
church building. Anybody could go over and meet with them. A church building
that is closed almost all the time except for a schedule cannot be a model
church building. A growing church that has a growing fellowship of maturing
Christians will be open for people, passersby, and ministers who travel. They
can come in, have fellowship, get help, and use the facilities freely without a
charge. That does not need to coincide with the worship time or prayer time. If
the congregation has a separate church building, it should be available for the
needy to walk in any time.
In spite of the present challenges, we still can be Church more than being virtual.
2. A church has a
spiritual Address (1:1)
… To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ:
These new believers no
longer just lived in Thessalonica, they were “in God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.” They had believed the gospel and now the life of God was active
in them in the midst of their physical life in Thessalonica.
This spiritual mark of
members of a church makes them spiritual members of the spiritual body of
Christ. It may be easier to become a member of a local congregation and still
not in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. A belief about Jesus and God
does not make one a real disciple of Christ. A spiritual living Christian lives
in Christ and Christ in him or her. God’s Word remains and will be active in
the life of a disciple of Christ. Such believers grow spiritually and produce
spiritual fruits. Members of a model church will have a spiritual identity.
They live in Christ and God and God in them. Cf. John 15:1-16.
3. A church
has spiritual leaders who are grateful encouragers (1:2-3)
2We
always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our
prayers. . .
3We remember before our God and
Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your
endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
A model church has sincere and faithful leaders like Paul, Silus, and Timothy who pray for the church and give thanks to God. More than praying for the believers, the epistles of Paul to the churches including Thessalonica were, to encourage the church and to build them up in the faith. A minister who moves to another location may continue to pray and communicate with the church.
The leaders of a
church are not employees or hired workers who take care of themselves. They
follow the Lord Jesus. He said…
11“I am the good shepherd. The
good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the
shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he
abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters
it. 13The man runs away because he is
a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:11-13
The leaders of the church take care of the members of their church as servants, not as masters. The Lord Jesus called Apostle Peter the second time and entrusted him to love and take care of the sheep. Apostle Peter towards the end of his life writes…
1To
the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s
sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2Be
shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not
because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not
pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3not
lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And
when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will
never fade away. 1 Peter 5:1-4
Members of such
churches imitate and follow the model of the leaders.
Illustrations:
Kennedy had a marriage proposal. The girl’s family collected his
pastor’s phone number and enquired about Kennedy. Kennady’s pastor has an
autonomous church but did not know Kennedy personally to comment. He even could
not recollect Kennedy.
Emily’s church had hardly 20 families and a handful of Sunday school
children and youth. After a three year term, the pastor had been transferred.
The pastor had a call from a boy’s parents to find out if Emily is a born-again
believer.
The pastor knew Emily,
could comment that she was active in Sunday school and youth union. “Anything
she was asked to do at church, she did’ he said. The pastor said, “But to know
if she is born again, you will have to inquire in detail with someone”.
After three years of
ministering to 20 families, if the pastor could not give a reference or a
spiritual testimonial or even provide the contact of a spiritual mentor of
Emily in the Church, what more could a pastor do beyond the duty of managing a
congregation?!
Are we excited about what God wants to do? Are we building a culture of encouragement despite the challenges?
3We remember before our God and
Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your
endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Believers transformed
by the love of God will impact others, leading to changed lives. The members of
the church had faith, love, and hope in Jesus Christ. That helped them work,
labor, and endure hardships for the good of others. “Faith without works is
dead”, says the Word. Their work was produced by faith, not fear. Their labor
was prompted by love not selfish motives. Their hope in Christ inspired them to
endure in their good works and ministry. The Thessalonians were not only doing
the right things – they were doing them with the right motives!
Is our ministry and
service, the result of our genuine love and faith in Christ?
How much are we
willing to serve and go an extra mile for others?
5. A Church receptive to the gospel and deeply committed to the word of God. (1:4-6)
4For we know, brothers and
sisters b loved by God, that he has
chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you
not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep
conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and
the Lord, for you, welcomed the message amid severe suffering with the joy given
by the Holy Spirit.
It was evident to the
leaders that the members of the Thessalonian church were loved by God and
chosen by God. The reason: They were receptive to the gospel. The presentation
of the gospel and the teaching of the Word were not by persuasive words. The
leaders spoke in the power of the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. The
leaders’ lives were a good model to the believers to follow. The leaders
reflected the character of Jesus. So the church members imitated the life of
the preachers and the Lord Jesus. They responded to the message and teachings
despite troubles. They had joy in the Holy Spirit amidst suffering and hardships.
In a model church the
message, the messengers, and the members have power and joy of the Holy Spirit
and the lives are modeled after Jesus Christ. A model church is not driven by
human words but by the Word of God.
6. A church influences and impacts the outside (1:7-10)
7And so you became a model to all
the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord’s message rang out from
you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known
everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what
kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to
serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from
heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming
wrath.
In faith, practice, and witness, the church at Thessalonica…
- Became a model to all other believers in the provinces of Macedonia and Achaia and the known world.
- They welcomed God’s people,
- They shared the gospel everywhere. They were a witnessing community.
- Their testimony was known everywhere.
- turned away from idol worship
- served the living true God
- waited in hope for the second coming of Christ
People can be impacted
if they see God’s power at work in us and through us. The Thessalonian
believers had become a model of faith across the known world.
A church that receives
the power of the Holy Spirit only can witness to the outside and multiply. To
be fruitful and multiply is the mandate for the body of believers. (Acts 8)
A model church will
not be just inward but faithfully outward.
7. A church has Transformed
Lives (1:9)
The Thessalonian church was not just a ritual community that just followed some sacraments. They
were changed radically. They….
A model church sees
conversions that are idol-shattering! Christianity is neither a routine nor a
hobby for them. They will recognize their modern-day idols and forsake them.
They will learn the Word of God to obey and serve Him. Let us continue to look
to Christ and to wait for Him (1:10). Waiting on the Lord is not wasting time.
To wait on is to serve the master. God may send “Pauls” or “Silas” or
“Timothys” to minister to us and point us to Christ. But we need to remember
our model is Jesus Christ, our savior, the builder and finisher of our
faith.
In conclusion…
A MODEL CHURCH HAS…..
- A physical address that is open for people to walk in
for fellowship and get benefited.
- A spiritual address/ identity in Jesus Christ and God
the father.
- Spiritual leaders who are grateful encouragers and
build up the members.
- Love and faith in action; serve one another and endure hardship in doing right to others with right intentions.
- Is receptive to the gospel and deeply committed to the Word of God. The leaders minister in power and in Holy Spirit. The members imitate the leaders and Jesus Christ.
- A growing ministry to the outsiders; it influences and impacts people. They are a witnessing community.
- Transformed lives where members are spiritually growing people who forsake the evil and corrupt practices; the member are servants of God and wait on the coming of the Lord.
