Welcome to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 17:1-9)
Happy New Year*!
This week at Grace we're beginning a new series in the book of 1 Thessalonians. From now until Easter we're going to slowly and thoughtfully move through this under-appreciated New Testament book.
Paul founded the church in Thessalonica and then was run out of town after only three weeks. Understandably, they were left with a lot of questions - about their new faith, how it affected their lives, and what to do with their doubts. His answers to these questions are a gift for us today, as many of the things they wondered about we're still wrestling with (life after death, the return of Jesus, sexuality, the will of God, and others).
Looking forward to starting our series with you Sunday!
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
*PS. Technically speaking, the Christian church calendar begins with the first Sunday of Advent. But only a really persnickety seminary student would point that out.
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.
-1 Thessalonians 1:1; Acts 17:1-9