Churches EstablishedActs 16:5“So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”

Qualitative and Quantitative Growth

Evangelize Strategic Cities

Establish Local Churches

Entrust to Faithful Men

Acts 13:1-14:28 The Pauline

Cycle

Pauline Cycle of Church Planting*

*Jeff Reed, BILD - International

Paul’s Early Letters

Paul’s Middle Letters

Paul’s Later Letters

Strong in the Gospel

Galatians1 & 2 Thessalonians1 & 2 Corinthians

Romans

Strong in the Mission/Vision of the

Church

EphesiansColossians Philemon

Philippians

Strong Mature Households and

Leaders

1 TimothyTitus

2 Timothy

The Process of Building Strong Churches

The Epistles – Tools to Establish*

Founding Strengthening Establishing

*Jeff Reed, BILD - International

The Big IdeaThe thesis… Paul’s strategy of establishing the local church community at Thessalonica in the gospel plays an important role model that the local churches in any culture, time and place should be established that they should live out their gospel faith in their formation days.

The Author’s IntentPaul wrote two of his early letters to the churches at Thessalonica with the intent

to establish them in their living out of their gospel faith while they were suffering persecution, going through moral lapses, open to wrong teachings on the second coming that triggered them toward disorderly life as busybodies doing nothing.

Establishing History

Nov 50 to Jan 51

(3 months)

Jan to May 51

(6 months)

Early Summer 51

Paul’s founding the church and

initial teachings

Acts 17:1-9

1 Thessalonians from Corinth

2 Thessalonians from Corinth

Timothy and Silas’ Follow up

ministryActs 17:14, 15;

18:51 Thessalonians

3:1-6

Mid Summer 51

Paul Establishing the Thessalonians Community*Founding the Community

Shaping the Community

Stabilizing the Community

Conversion• Not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.. (1 Ths 1:5• The Word of the Lord sounded forth from you (1 Ths 1:8)• You turned from idols to serve a true and living God (1 Ths 1:9)

*Founding the churches in the Gospel, BILD Booklet

Challenge to Old Traditions

• We want to come to you… we sent Timothy (1 Ths 2:18; 3:1-6)

• That you may not be quickly shaken… by a spirit or a message or a letter from us (2 Ths 2:2)

• Honor the leaders (1 Ths 5:12)

• Admonish the unruly (1 Ths 5:14)

• Keep away from unruly (2 Ths 3:6)

• May the Lord direct your hearts (2 Ths 3:4-5)

Concept of Traditions (Commandments, Instructions)• Proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Ths 2:7)• We were exhorting…as a father …to his own children (1 Ths 2:11)• You received from us instructions…you know the commandments.. (1 Ths 4:1-2)• Stand firm and hold to the traditions..by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Ths 2:15)

“So, the Word of God Spread”

JerusalemJerusalem

AntiochAntiochEphesusEphesus

RomeRome

CorinthCorinth

To Establish – A Picturesque Word

Paul Establishing the Thessalonians Community*Founding the Community

Shaping the Community

Stabilizing the Community

Conversion• Not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.. (1 Ths 1:5• The Word of the Lord sounded forth from you (1 Ths 1:8)• You turned from idols to serve a true and living God (1 Ths 1:9)

*Founding the churches in the Gospel, BILD Booklet

Challenge to Old Traditions

• We want to come to you… we sent Timothy (1 Ths 2:18; 3:1-6)

• That you may not be quickly shaken… by a spirit or a message or a letter from us (2 Ths 2:2)

• Honor the leaders (1 Ths 5:12)

• Admonish the unruly (1 Ths 5:14)

• Keep away from unruly (2 Ths 3:6)

• May the Lord direct your hearts (2 Ths 3:4-5)

Concept of Traditions (Commandments, Instructions)• Proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Ths 2:7)• We were exhorting…as a father …to his own children (1 Ths 2:11)• You received from us instructions…you know the commandments.. (1 Ths 4:1-2)• Stand firm and hold to the traditions..by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Ths 2:15)

Motherly Care 1 Thess. 2:7-8 “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden

to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children.

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

Role Model to the Church 1 Thess. 2:9-10 “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and

hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”

Fatherly Role1 Thess.2:11-12“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a

father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory.”

Each of you… personal pastoral care.Encourage – exhort to every one Comfort - to the truly repenting Urge – warning to the defaulters

Heart of a Minister of the Gospel 1 Thess.3:8“For now we really live, since you are standing firm in

the Lord.”

Paul Establishing the Thessalonians Community*Founding the Community

Shaping the Community

Stabilizing the Community

Conversion• Not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.. (1 Ths 1:5• The Word of the Lord sounded forth from you (1 Ths 1:8)• You turned from idols to serve a true and living God (1 Ths 1:9)

*Founding the churches in the Gospel, BILD Booklet

Challenge to Old Traditions

• We want to come to you… we sent Timothy (1 Ths 2:18; 3:1-6)

• That you may not be quickly shaken… by a spirit or a message or a letter from us (2 Ths 2:2)

• Honor the leaders (1 Ths 5:12)

• Admonish the unruly (1 Ths 5:14)

• Keep away from unruly (2 Ths 3:6)

• May the Lord direct your hearts (2 Ths 3:4-5)

Concept of Traditions (Commandments, Instructions)• Proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Ths 2:7)• We were exhorting…as a father …to his own children (1 Ths 2:11)• You received from us instructions…you know the commandments.. (1 Ths 4:1-2)• Stand firm and hold to the traditions..by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Ths 2:15)

Stabilizing the CommunityPaul stabilizes / establishes the church in their living out of the gospel by challenging their unruly lifestyle.The word “establish” is used often in two letters.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 1 Thessalonians 3:81 Thessalonians 3:132 Thessalonians 2:15 2 Thessalonians 2:16-172 Thessalonians 3:3,

Three Major Problems

There are three major problems observed in the twin letters.

Besides, Paul also teaches further teachings to set the church in order.

Let us examine the letters…

Sexual Immorality 1 Thess. 4:3-8 “It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him.”

Sexual Immorality 1 Thess. 4:3- 8 “The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we

have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a

holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not

reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

Paul’s instruction is God’s Word.

Lazy and Busybodies1 Thess. 4:11-12“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”

In Greco-Roman Society, wealthy benefactors helped poor to qualify themselves for the selection and appointment to public service and honor.

Busybodies are Disorderly2 Thess.3:6-12 “In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command

you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us.

For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.”

Busybodies are Disorderly2 Thess.3:6-12 “We did this, not because we do not have the right to

such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”

“We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.”

Idle, Busybodies are Disorderly2 Thess. 3:6; 11 “To walk disorderly” “Not according to the teachings/traditions” “Unruly” “Undisciplined life” “To miss up the step in an army parade” Some are idle and busybodies – not contradictory?Those who do not have their own work, will involve in other person’s work. Or they will very active in unproductive works.

Misunderstanding the ParousiaThessalonians letters contain good amount of information about the Eschatology.

1 Thess. 4:13-5:112 Thess. 1:7-2:17And there are mentioning and allusions of the second coming in many places, Cf. at the end of every chapter in 1 Thessalonians.

Misunderstanding the ParousiaThe issues:1.Some died in the Lord in persecution and other died of natural death. What would happen to them when Jesus comes immediately? Have they perished?2.What is the particular time and date of Jesus’ second coming?3.Is the second coming done? Or will Christ not come again?4.As Jesus’ coming is very soon, why should I work for life.

Misunderstanding the Parousia2 Thess. 2:1-2 “Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.”

Honor the Leaders1 Thess. 5:12-13 “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.”

Respect the LeadersHold them in the highest regard in love

Other Instructions 1 Thess. 5:13b – 17 Live in peace with each other.14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are

idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

16 Be joyful always;17 pray continually;

Honor the Leaders1 Thess. 5: 18-2218 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's

will for you in Christ Jesus.19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire;20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.22 Avoid every kind of evil.

The Authoritative Command1 Thess. 5:27“I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read

to all the brothers.”This is the Scriptures, the very Word of God. From

day one Paul wrote, it was recognized as the Scriptures.

The Authoritative Command2 Thess. 3:14-15If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter,

take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.”

Almost an act of excommunication of the defaulters.

The Authoritative Command1 Thess.3:12-13“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for

each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

1 Thess. 5:23-24 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through

and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

The Authoritative Command1 Thess. 5:23-24 “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you

through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

Questions to Ponder1. Why do you think Paul challenged the old way of

life, the old tradition – sexual immorality, idleness, busybodies, disorderly?

2. Why did Paul want the Thessalonians to get the right understanding of the Second Coming?

3. Do you agree that if someone in your church is idle, busybody, morally weak, disobeying leaders, holding unbiblical teachings would ultimately disestablish your church in the gospel living? How you think the church should address these issues?