Be Ready by Warren Wiersbe

1. Be Readyby Warren Wiersbe A Church Is Born Chapter 1

2. A Church Is Born • Background • Thessalonica (Thessaloniki) • A capital of Macedonia • Currently it’s an important industrial and commercial city • Second to Athens in population • An Allied base during WW II • Captured by German army & 60,000 Jews were deported and exterminated

3. First called Therma, an an- cient city with many hot springs • In 315 B.C. renamed to Thessalonica after half-sister, Thessalonike, of Alexander the Great • Became the capital of the province when the Romans captured Macedonia in 168 B.C. • In Paul’s days 200,000 lived there and most of them were Greeks although there were Roman and Jews communities. Today 300,000 live there. • Paul came to Macedonia in response to a vision which a man from Macedonia who asked him to “come over into Macedonia and help us” (Acts16:9)

4. After Philippi Paul left for Thessalonica. Amphipolis and Apollonia were nearby, but Paul went to Thessalonica. Why? • Paul believed that he should go to a large city and then the believers would go to smaller cities to reach out. • Paul’s commision was to take out the Gospel to the Gentiles, but he started with Jews at the synagogue. • Paul used the Old Testaments Scriptures to explain the meaning with the reference to Jesus Christ. • Paul’s approach to evangelism: he used God’s Word to declare Jesus as the Son of God.

5. Paul’s approach evangelism to Gentiles: he started with God of Creation because the Gentiles had no knowledge of Old Testament Scriptures. • Paul ministered in the synagogue for 3 Sabbath days (Acts 17:2). Paul stayed longer because of home mission offering from Philippi (Phil 4:16) and tentmak- ing trade to support himself (I Thess 2:9 & II Thess 3:6-15) Timothy & Silas were left there while Paul went to Athens. Paul was hindered twice to go to Thessalonica (I Thess 2:17-18)

6. Lessons: • God used people not angels to evengelize • The Gospel is still “the power of god unto salavation” (Rom 1:16). “Not in words only, but also in power in the Holy Ghost” (I Thess 1:5) • Satan still opposes the Gospel and persecutes God’s people, however, persecution can be a way of growth. • The Burden • Why did Paul write I & II Thessalonians • Assurance of his love and concerns for his friends • Paul’s enemies’ attack on his character and absurd information to the new believers that Paul was preaching for money (I Thess 2)

7. Desire to ground the believers in the doctrines of Christian faith, especially with Christ’s return. • Encouragement to live holy life. • Straightening out the confusions • Return of Jesus Christ • Due to persecution, the thought that “Day of the Lord” had arrived. • Correcting some weaknesses in the church: • Not honoring the spiritual leader • Refusal to work • Confusion in public services (I Thess 5: 19-21) • Confusions still exist: • Bible prophecy, practical holiness, & lack of respect for spiritual leadership

8. The Blessing • Every book written by Paul has a special meaning, or blessing • Romans – Righteousness of god dealing with both sinners & believers • I Corinthians – The wisdom of god • II Corinthians – The comfort of God • Galatians – Freedom • Philippians – Joy • Ephesians – Wealth in Christ • I & II Thessalonians – The return of Christ & how this doctrine can affect our life & church • Paul looked at the doctrine not as a theory, but a truth to live by

9. I Thess II Thess • Christ comes in the Christ comes to air for His church earth with His church (4:13-18) (1:10) • A sudden secret A crisis that is rapture at any time part of predicted program • Can occur today Can occur only after certain events • The Day of Christ The Day of the Lord Be Ready