The Foundation of the Church, Part 1
The Foundation of the Church, Part 1
Bible Passage: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Two of Paul’s earliest letters are 1 and 2 Thessalonians. These two letters were written to real people who were experiencing real problems in a world that was not friendly to their Christian faith. You and I can easily identify with these people because we live in a similar world and face many of the same problems. Once you understand the background, the burden, and the blessing of these two letters, you will see how up-to-date and practical they are.
When we open this little letter, then, we breathe the fresh air of the early New Testament church. The church in Thessalonica was one of the very first (following Philippi) that Paul and his co-workers established in Europe as the gospel was planted in the new ground of Europe. This letter was written soon after that founding, and we can sense the newness and excitement.
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