Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 1

 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.  1:1

        In Acts 17:1-10 we see Paul on his second missionary journey going to Thessalonica and as usual preaches in the synagogue and reasons with them that Jesus is the messiah. He reasoned with them from the Bible that they had, the Old Testament in Greek - the Septuagint, that the Messiah did not come to be a political deliverer but to suffer, die on a cross, and rise again. If you think the Old Testament was just for Jews and not Gentiles, think again, because a large number of gentiles including prominent women were converted/persuaded. During the week they stayed at Jason's house, which I like to call Jason's Deli, and he taught from there. I wonder if he made tents and while working engaged people in conversations.

        Anyway, a number of people were believing, enough so that the religious leaders stirred up a mob to get at Paul but he couldn't be found and because of the danger he moved on to Berea. This is how the church of Thessalonica started and Thessalonians was written to answer some questions that they had because Paul couldn't stay long.

       I meet with some 11th grade boys from church to disciple them and i said to them, "I know, I believed Christianity because I was raised in a Christian home. (on a side note, it's interesting that our political affiliations also seem to cling to us) At your age I began to question do I really believe this or have I been brainwashed? I had to find answers for the questions I had about Christianity to assure myself that it is the truth. Do you have any doubts or questions that I might be able to help you with?" One of the boys said, "When I have questions I just go to YouTube and Cliff answers them." I figured out that he meant Cliff Knechtle with "Give me an answer" ministries. The first 2000 years of Christianity did not have access to the immediate answers that we have today. Just think, if the Thessalonians could do that, we wouldn't have 1&2 Thessalonians. Wouldn't that be a shame! On the other hand, what a blessing to be able to have doubts immediately put to rest.

     The internet has great dangers for youth but also great faith strengthening tools. Lets teach our youth how to use the internet!