Despite much opposition and many attacks on the church over the past 2000 years, the church of Jesus Christ is still going strong. So how is this possible? The church, both local and universal, is the unique agency that God works through to achieve His purposes. Governments, politicians, businesses, philosophers and philosophies come and go but the church of God is key to changing the world for good. Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 “I will build My church and the gates of hell will not overcome it.” All over the world God is raising up churches in the midst of troubled times who will model the kingdom of God in and from a given community of people.
As we come to Acts 17, the apostle Paul and his companions arrive in Thessalonica. We see from this chapter, and also the letters Paul later wrote to the Thessalonians, how Paul with his companions planted and established a great church in Thessalonica in times of trouble. It is important that we should look again at what a model church is so that we can be reminded of our vision for this local church, King’s Church International, in Windsor, Robertson and London.
1. A church that knew God’s love (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4)
2. A church committed to prayer (1 Thessalonians 1:2; Acts 4:31; Acts 6:2-4; Acts 13:3; James 5:16-18 AMP)
3. A church committed to both the word of God and the Spirit of God (1 Thessalonians 1:5a; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5)
4. A church of reality and accountability (1 Thessalonians 1:5b)
5. A church that multiplied disciples (1 Thessalonians 1:6a; 1 Corinthians 11:1)
6. A church that kept its joy in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 1:3,6b)
7. A church that saw results (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2)
a. A church that became a base for world mission (1 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
b. A church that saw people turn to God at home base (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Acts 17:4)
Apply
Have you personally experienced God's great love? The Christians in Thessalonica knew that they were loved by God and in turn, their church work or labour was ‘prompted by love’ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-4). Love is central to church. The early Christians, for all their humanity, truly loved each other. They daily met together; they shared their lives and possessions. They prayed together. They stayed together and lived life together. And sometimes, when persecuted, they even died together. This is what we are to be about: our hearts first touched with God’s love and then we take that love to others, starting with our own family and friends but reaching out to all people everywhere. Love is the heartbeat of the church, and the love of Christ will bring healing and reconciliation to the world.
Do you pray everywhere? Are you committed to building a prayer base in your personal life, in your cell group and in the church? Do you faithfully attend the Thursday prayer meetings? The early church lived a prayer lifestyle and saw incredible miracles and growth as a result (1 Thessalonians 1:2; Acts 1:14). Prayer is mentioned in 20 out of the 28 chapters in Acts. Through prayer, the early Christians were filled with the Holy Spirit and enabled to share the gospel (Acts 4:31). Church leaders were also determined not to be sidetracked from the priority of prayer (Acts 6:2-4). And they saw apostolic ministry to the nations, and through the generations, launched through prayer (Acts 13:3). It is impossible to over-estimate the power of prayer. Prayer has always been outstanding in every move of God through history. And your prayers are powerful (James 5:16-18 AMP). As a church we continue to meet for our weekly online Thursday night prayer meetings because prayer is absolutely key to building great churches at all times, but especially in times of great trouble. So the church and church members must be given to prayer.
Are you committed to both reading and living out the Word of God, the Bible, and to living in unity and obedience to the Spirit of God? A strong church must combine solid teaching of the Bible with a life-giving experience of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 1:5a). It is not a case of choosing one or the other, they are entirely complementary. The Spirit gives life to the Word and the Word gives foundation and context to the Holy Spirit. Paul knew that the proclamation of the word of God needed to be accompanied by a demonstration of the works of God (1 Corinthians 2:4-5).
How do you judge good leadership both in and out of the church (1 Thessalonians 1:5b)? Leadership should not be gauged by how well a person may speak or sing or organise. Rather leadership should be assessed by the integrity of a person’s character, by the quality of their relationships both inside and outside of the church and by the fruit of their family life. Leadership is about a transparent lifestyle, not a title or letters that you may have before or after your name. The apostle Paul was a visible, observable, accountable leader. He was committed to local churches with which he had a close relationship.
Have you chosen to be both a disciple and a disciple-maker (1 Thessalonians 1:6)? Notice Paul doesn’t just say that they followed Christ, they also followed their leaders (1 Corinthians 11:1). The goal of making disciples is to develop each believer as a mature Christian who can in turn make and multiply more disciples. This is what Jesus did, what the apostles and early church did, and it is what we are to do as well.
Like the Thessalonians, are you full of joy given by the Holy Spirit even in the midst of severe suffering? In spite of 'severe suffering' they were a very joyful church (1 Thessalonians 1:3,6b). How come? They had an attitude of gratitude: in the midst of everything they kept a praising and positive attitude. They valued their relationship with God more than the opinions of others and they knew the life and presence of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes all the difference: He brings comfort, contentment and confidence. And they were focussed on the eternal blessings of the kingdom of heaven rather than the temporary trials on earth.
Are you expectant to see great results both locally and globally through the church? As we have seen over recent weeks, these were not easy times for Paul, his companions and new believers, but they focused on their mission and not on the opposition and saw great results (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2).The Thessalonians were a church that became a base for world mission (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8). This church was such a model to other believers that the gospel and the people’s faith in God continued to spread and became known ‘everywhere’! And they were also a church that saw people turn to God at home base. The Christians in Thessalonica became a great church spreading the gospel both locally and globally (Acts 17:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
