"Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians — The Typical Church in Thessalonica — Extolled!”

Today we begin our study of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian believers. In this letter, we find that there was no occasion for Paul to reprimand this church as there was good reason to do that with other assemblies (such as the church in Philippi).  This church, therefore, stands as our example.  Indeed, this letter provides us with a three-fold illustration of a church that can even rightfully be called “typical” or, to use a more current word in our language, “normal”. For, in chapter one, the apostle boldly declares that we should live as the Thessalonians did faithfully imitating him, rejoicing by his grace, and then, in constant expectation of his blessed return, living in the light of his coming. What a glorious blessing that would be and how different the church would be if we all did just that.