August 08 2026

Saturday August 08

Living in Light of His Coming

1 Thessalonian 1:1

Welcome to Pastor's Chat. Today we begin a brand-new journey through two wonderful books of the New Testament—First and Second Thessalonians. We have just completed our study through Philippians, and now we are going to follow the Apostle Paul a little farther down the road on his second missionary journey. I would like to give our new series this theme: "Living in Light of His Coming." You will understand why as we move through these two letters. The return of Jesus Christ is one of their great themes. In fact, every chapter of First Thessalonians ends with some reference to the coming of the Lord. But Paul does not teach prophecy merely to satisfy our curiosity about the future. He teaches us about the coming of Christ because what we believe about tomorrow should change the way we live today.

So before we begin with First Thessalonians 1:1, let's go back to Acts 16 and 17 and remember how this church was born. Paul was on his second missionary journey with Silas and Timothy. He had intended to preach in certain areas of Asia Minor, but the Holy Spirit closed those doors.  After Paul heard the "Macedonian call." Paul immediately recognized that God was directing them into Europe and went to Philippi. And we know what happened there. After the salvation of Lydia, a demonic girl, and the jailer’s and his household, A church had been born. But Paul's journey continued. Acts 17:1 says, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews."

Thessalonica was about one hundred miles from Philippi and was one of the great cities of Macedonia. It was located on the Via Egnatia, one of the major highways of the Roman Empire. People, merchandise, soldiers, government officials, and travelers continually passed through this important city. Paul understood something very important about missions. If you can reach a strategic city with the Gospel, the people in that city can carry the Gospel far beyond it. So Paul went into the synagogue, as was his custom. Acts 17:2 tells us, "And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures." I love that expression: "Reasoned with them out of the scriptures." Paul did not give them his opinions. He opened the Word of God.

Verse 3 says he was, "Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead." And then Paul declared, "This Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." That was his message. Jesus died. Jesus rose again. Jesus is the Christ. And people believed. Some Jews believed, but Acts tells us that a great multitude of devout Greeks and a number of prominent women also received the message. In a remarkably short period of time, another church was born. But almost immediately, opposition came. Unbelieving Jews stirred up trouble. A mob attacked the house of a man named Jason, where Paul and his companions had apparently been staying. When they could not find Paul, they dragged Jason and some of the other believers before the rulers of the city.

And listen to the accusation they made in Acts 17:6: "These that have turned the world upside down are come here also." What a testimony! These early Christians were accused of turning the world upside down. Actually, the world was already upside down because of sin. The Gospel was turning it right side up! Because of the danger, the believers sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. Imagine how Paul must have felt. He had only been with these new believers for a short time. They were young Christians living in a pagan culture.

They were already experiencing persecution. Paul loved them and was deeply concerned about them. Eventually Timothy was sent back to see how they were doing. Later, when Timothy brought Paul the wonderful news that their faith was standing strong, Paul wrote the letter that we call First Thessalonians.

And that is what makes this letter so precious. It is not simply a theological textbook. It is a letter from the heart of a spiritual father who loves his spiritual children and wants them to remain faithful to Christ. As we study this book, we are going to learn about faith, love, holiness, witnessing, suffering, Christian relationships, grief, prayer, and especially the return of Jesus Christ. And here is something I want us to remember throughout this entire study: Jesus is coming again. That truth should not make us careless about life. It should make us more faithful. We should love more faithfully. Serve more faithfully. Witness more faithfully. Live more holy lives. Encourage one another. And remain steadfast when difficulties come.

The question is not simply, "When is Jesus coming?" Perhaps the more important question is, "How should I be living because Jesus is coming?" That is the question I hope First and Second Thessalonians will help us answer. So as we begin this new journey together, let's determine to do exactly what the believers in Thessalonica did. Let's receive the Word of God. Let's stand firm when opposition comes. Let's share the Gospel with others. And let's live every day expecting that our Lord Jesus Christ could come again. Living in light of His coming—that is our journey through First and Second Thessalonians.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for Your precious Word and for the opportunity to begin this new journey together through First and Second Thessalonians. Thank You for the faithful believers in Thessalonica who received the Gospel and stood strong even in the midst of persecution. Lord, give us that same kind of faith. As we study these wonderful letters, open our hearts and minds to Your truth. Help us not merely to learn more about the coming of Jesus, but to live differently because we believe He is coming. Make us faithful in our witness, holy in our conduct, steadfast in our trials, loving toward one another, and always looking for that blessed hope. May this study draw us closer to You and make us more useful for Your glory until Jesus comes. In His precious name we pray. Amen.

God bless, and you have a wonderful, wonderful day.