Click here for 1 Thessalonians 1 audio:
Read it. Pray it. Share it. Live it.
Paul, with Silvanus and Timothy, greets the church and thanks God for the clear marks of new life among them—faith, love, and hope—seen in their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (vv. 1–3). He’s confident they are loved and chosen by God because the gospel came to them not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction, and because they saw the missionaries’ sincere lives (vv. 4–5).
The Thessalonians imitated Paul and the Lord, receiving the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and they became an example to believers throughout Macedonia and Achaia (vv. 6–7). The news of their faith sounded forth everywhere: they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, Jesus, whom God raised from the dead, the One who delivers us from the wrath to come (vv. 8–10).
🌀 Reflection:
What “idol” (habit, approval, control, comfort) do you need to turn from today so you can more freely serve the living and true God and wait for His Son (vv. 9–10)?
💬 Mission Challenge:
Let your faith sound forth (v. 8): share a brief testimony with someone today—how Jesus met you in a hard season with the joy of the Holy Spirit (v. 6)—and invite them to read 1 Thessalonians with you.
Click here to return to the contents page for Phase 2.2 — The Savior, His Church, and the Mission.
Just Keith Harris 
1 Comment