Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
Think for a second of someone that has influenced you. Someone who has impacted your life. Someone you aspire to become. Someone you’d call a great leader. Now what are characteristics of that person? What draws you to him or her? What makes that leader so effective?
In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul is describing himself. He’s not doing this to boast. He’s doing it in response to critics. The gospel’s at stake. That church is at risk.
Paul comes into this town Thessalonica. He goes into the synagogue as he always does. He preaches. And people come to faith. And, as always happens, the Jewish leaders get enraged, and they chase Paul out of town. Apparently there are some people there - likely the Jewish leaders again - who are questioning Paul’s motives. They’re trying to lead that young, fragile congregation astray.
Paul here writes back to those Thessalonian believers. He defends his time of ministry there. And in the process, he shows us what biblical servants look like. And he allows us to look into a devoted Christian leader’s heart.
