Lesson 2 - Thessalonica: A Model Church for Today
Mar 10, 2024 • Matthew Allen
1 Thessalonians 1 begins with a prayer of thanksgiving. The Thessalonian Christians would have had much to be thankful for. They had embraced the gospel under challenging circumstances. The fruit of their faith was evident, and this chapter is filled with praise and thanksgiving for their commitment to God and determination to honor Christ in everything. They became part of God's chosen people because they had decided to believe through their free will. In verse 4, the apostle says God loves them and that he has chosen them. This is the Christian identity: chosen by God and loved by God. In Paul’s prayer, we see what it means to live inside this relationship day by day.