I wonder what it was like to go to church in the fist century. There were no buildings, no loud speakers, and no smoke machines. People showed up in homes, hosted by followers of Jesus who shared the letters of Paul, circulated by Paul’s runners. Oral accounts were told of Jesus and the disciples. There was a sense of excitement as people gathered to learn of Jesus and share what they had with one another. Prayer and worship were components of their gathering along with a meal and discussions about faith and life. We get glimpses into the first century church through Paul’s letters, collected in the New Testament. In I Thessalonians, Paul addresses a church in the Roman province of Thessalonica, a strategic and prominent city that grew in importance in the Christian world because of it’s deep faith and spiritual maturity. In chapter 1, we learn the secret of how the gospel took root in their lives and influenced other nearby cities and towns. How does the gospel take root in your life and impact others, as Paul says, “from idols to serve a living and true God.”?
Todd
