The first-century city of Thessalonica was located in the region known as Macedonia (modern Europe). Paul, Silas, and Timothy went there to preach the gospel and established the Lord’s church in that location (Acts 17). Two of the books of the New Testament, First and Second Thessalonians, were actually letters that Paul wrote "unto the church of the Thessalonians" (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 2:1).

The Christians in Thessalonica were still babes in the Christ when Paul wrote the Book of First Thessalonians. They needed to mature spiritually, and they certainly were not totally void of mistakes in their lives. There are, however, a number of statements in this first epistle which clearly indicate that in a number of respects, the saints in Thessalonica had gotten off to an excellent start in their Christian lives and were thereby serving as a good model for other disciples of Jesus.

The first epistle to the church of God in Thessalonica contains many instructions that the members there needed to carry out in their lives. Whether they actually made the proper application of those instructions in the future, or not, the Bible does not say. In our present study, we want to reflect on some basic things that the Thessalonian brethren were already doing well. In these areas, we need to be like them.

They had a good reputation. Paul said he mentioned them in his prayers to God. Here is the impression that they had made on him: "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Paul later spoke again to them about "the big three" items of faith, hope, and love: "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation" (5:8).

When Paul thought of the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica, their good reputation came to mind. There is no way to put a price tag on the value of maintaining a good name, which is better than great riches (Proverbs 22:1). Again pointing to how others perceived them, Paul told them, ". . . ye were examples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia" (1:7). We may be good at a lot of things, but if our reputation is soiled in the community, we will have little influence.

They received the gospel as the word of God. "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Because they accepted the gospel’s message as being inspired, they recognized it to be God’s word of authority. Every congregation of God’s people today needs to maintain a healthy respect for the authority of the word, understanding that it is through that word that the Lord speaks to us and authorizes the work and worship activities of the church. Paul reminded the saints in Thessalonica of the authority of the message that he had taught them, saying, "For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 4:2). We need to be people of the Book, but we will keep on doing that only when we continue to receive the Bible’s message "not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God" (2:13). The Bible needs to be the central message of every sermon and every Bible class that is taught.

They loved one another. "But as touching brotherly love, ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love on another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more" (1 Thessalonians 4:9,10). In fact, they not only loved one another, they also showed their love for those brethren that were in other locations. It grieves our hearts to know that scriptural worship and sound preaching are lacking in a number of places today. It would be equally tragic, though, for a local church to preach the truth and worship in truth, but be filled with members that lack genuine love for one another.

It is not right, and it could never be right, for you and me to treat non-Christians better than we do our own brothers and sisters in the Lord. Yet, that is how it sometimes plays out. We might show great patience and understanding with a non-saint that is struggling in some area of life, but be cold, callused, critical, and unconcerned about a brother or sister that is dealing with the very same issue. What was it that Jesus said to His apostles? "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). The church ought to be the one place where we can count on people (our spiritual family) to love us with the love of our Lord – pure, unconditional, sacrificial love. "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God" (1 John 4:7).

They were an encouragement to one another. To encourage means "to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope: hearten, to spur on: stimulate, to give help or patronage" [Webster’s 9^th New Collegiate Dictionary]. What were the saints in Thessalonica doing that could be called counted as "encouragement" for one another? "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Those Christians were edifying and comforting one another. Would not those two words, "comfort" and "edify," qualify as forms of encouragement? Surely they would. To edify means to build up or to strengthen, and to comfort indicates saying or doing that which shows concern and sympathy for one that is hurting.

It is a great encouragement to us when a brother or sister in the Christ, from a heart of unfeigned love, puts forth an effort to edify or comfort us. It is an encouragement to know that others really care about us, and it is an encouragement to be able to work with such great people in the Kingdom. It is for the good of the church that we "follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Romans 14:19). Each of us needs to be sensitive to the needs of other members of the body of the Christ. Let us all be prepared to "comfort one another" (1 Thessalonians 4:18). We just never know when that word or deed of comfort on our part might make a huge difference in the attitude and life of the one whom we attempt to comfort and encourage.

They worked to spread the gospel. In 1 Thessalonians 1:8 it is written of them, "For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to Godward is spread abroad . . ." God’s word did not sound out from Thessalonica by accident! The saints taught that word; they spread the gospel. Do you remember how the disciples of Jesus were accused of filling the whole city of Jerusalem with the gospel? (Acts 5:28). Do you remember how the saints that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word? (Acts 8:4). Do you remember how the early church taught and preached daily, both publicly and privately? (Acts 5:42). The evangelistic fervor of the early saints just leaps off the pages of the Bible, does it not?!

The Lord’s church needs to regain its zeal for evangelism in the 21^st century. We need to be talking to others about the gospel. We need to invite others to public Bible studies and worship. We need to distribute Bible tracts and encourage others to study Bible correspondence courses, listen to lesson tapes, and watch Bible videos and DVDs. Regardless of the means that you and I might feel most comfortable using, we must make certain that we sound out the word of the Lord in our region, just as our brethren in Thessalonica did about 2000 years ago.

By way of summary, here are the five matters in the lives of the ancient saints in Thessalonica that we have noted together: (1) Reputation – right example; (2) Received the gospel as God’s word – right attitude toward God’s authority; (3) Loved one another – right treatment of one another; (4) Encouragement to one another – right way to help each other get to heaven. (5) Sounded out the word – right approach to evangelism (actually doing it!).

I am convinced that if a congregation will do well in the five areas that we have covered in this study, then it will do well, period. They are all basic items, but each one of them is absolutely essential. Let us all put forth a diligent effort in each of the matters that we have discussed. Yes, in these areas, let us be like the saints in Thessalonica!

s-- Roger D. Campbell