This outline contains two parts. First there are some explanatory remarks about the chapter. These remarks are brief and can be enlarged upon by the introducer. After that are some starting points for the discussion at the society meeting.

A. Explanation⤒🔗

1. Thessalonica←↰⤒🔗

An important centre for trade. With good connections to the east (Asia Minor) and to the west (Greece and Italy). Situated in the Roman province of Macedonia (Northern Greece). A city of some importance. Especially as it was the capital city of Macedonia.
Apart from the pagan inhabitants in this city, there was also a substantial group of Jews, who had a synagogue and who had attracted adherents from among the Gentiles.

See map. Cf. Acts 17:1 and 4b

2. The congregation in Thessalonica←↰⤒🔗

Paul founded this church by his preaching during his second missionary journey. The Jewish community rejected the gospel of Jesus the Messiah and made life so difficult for Paul that he had to be smuggled out of town. They even worked against him in other towns. In the meantime a number of people had given ear to Paul's preaching. They now formed the congregation "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" in Thessalonica (verses 1 and 9-10).

By using the map on page 8 together with Acts 16:6-12 and 17:1-15, the introducer can expand on this short summary.

3. The letter to the church in Thessalonica←⤒🔗

When you read chapters 1:8 and 3:1,2, 6, with the map at hand, you will notice that Paul must have written this first letter whilst he was continuing his second missionary journey. He was probably in Corinth. In any case, not more than a year had elapsed since Paul had been forced to leave Thessalonica. The apostle would have loved to come back, but the opposition of the hostile Jews prevented that (2:18-20 and 3:11). So Paul decided to write a letter.
This first letter to the Thessalonians is probably the oldest letter of the apostle that has been preserved. His reason for• writing this letter is not confined to one particular point. It was written because Paul felt the need to maintain fellowship with the brotherhood in Thessalonica. If this could not be done personally, then it had to be by letter. The first incentive to compose and send this letter was given when Timothy returned from Thessalonica with good tidings (3:1-2, 3:8, and 3:10,11). Of course Timothy also brought `news' about church life there with all its joys and its problems. Paul deals with those tidings in more detail in chapters 4 and 5. Some people even think that Timothy brought back a list of questions from the Thessalonian congregation. These questions would then be dealt with one by one in chapters 4 & 5 (4:1-8, 4:9-12, 4:13-18, 5:1-11).

Paul wrote this letter in close co-operation and consultation with Silas (i.e. Silvanus) and Timothy: two close co-workers (1:1)^.1

4. The contents of chapter 1←↰⤒🔗

Paul and his co-workers thank God for what He has done in the congregation in Thessalonica (verses 2-5). Just as Paul and his helpers gave a living witness for Jesus Christ in Macedonia, the Thessalonian congregation now does likewise. It followed their example (verses 6-7). The good reputation of the congregation at Thessalonica was spreading so fast throughout Greece, that it preceded Paul. As he arrived at other towns, there was already talk about the wonderful conversion of Gentiles in the capital of Macedonia (verses 8-10).

B. For the discussion←⤒🔗

Reading between the lines in 1 Thessalonians 1 you get a picture of the congregation of Christ. Paul doesn't theorise about 'the church'. He speaks to and about a concrete, existing Christian congregation. That congregation is an example for us (verse 7). The model of Thessalonica therefore has something to say for the life of the congregation of which you (in your own home town) are members.

You may, for instance, notice that:

1. Many people are inclined to consider one certain thing in the church as being the most important issue, and to consider all other issues as secondary.
   People who belong to sects often say: `our hope, our expectation of the future is the most important thing.' They want to live in an inspired expectation of the future. Everything else is less important to them. Matters like 'the doctrine of the church' would have little value compared with the hope of the church.
   On the other hand you hear people from all kinds of church-groups say, les all about love, that is the most important issue, and doctrinal matters are secondary.' At the other extreme, there are those who dare to say that things aren't so bad if hope and love languish in the church, as long as the basis of the doctrine remains intact.
   So what is right? Can you call a particular matter 'the most important' in the church? The Bible does not give us this example. True, in 1 Corinthians 13:13 Paul says that love is more than faith and hope, but he says this against the particular background of the Corinthian congregation where there was plenty of everything except love. That is why the apostle says here: start getting excited about love, because without love all the rest is worthless. Paul does not mean that the other things do not matter, for it is not biblical to call either faith, or hope, or love 'the most important'. Everything the Lord asks of us is important.
   In this context read verse 3, where faith, hope, and love are indissolubly joined together. The one may not be separated from the other. What does this mean for the life of the congregation of which you are privileged to be a member?
2. Nowadays Christian lifestyle is very poor. This is a phenomenon which also, unfortunately, does not bypass the Reformed Churches. Other churches in the wider community, however, face the problem of spiritual decline.
   Various answers are also Biven to the question: how can we change this? The charismatic movement wants to kindle new fire in Christianity. Other mainstream churches want to liven up things by using a more modern approach to church work (more social work, a different liturgy, change of style in sermons etc.).
   These problems were not topical in Thessalonica. In that congregation there was power and spirit (verse 5). What was the source of that? Verse 6 gives us the definitive answer: they heard and received the Word with joy. That Word of God apparently does something in the church. It generates change. Provided it is received with joy. And couldn't that be the origin of today's problem? That the Word is no longer received with gladness and joy? See also Luke 4:11-15 in this context.
3. The church has a purpose here on earth. This is shown very clearly in verses 6-8. The congregation (in imitation of the apostle) is there in the first place to spread a good report concerning Christ. The church exists for Him and His honour. At the same time therefore for the wider community.
   People today begin their arguments from a human viewpoint, 'Primarily the church exists for young people' or 'for the world'. They want to set up church work to suit young people, or to the tastes of the worldling. But the church must first focus on God, Who drew her away from the idols to Himself (verses 9b-10). When the church at Thessalonica focussed primarily on Him and attuned herself to what He required, then He at the same time made her of the greatest importance to fellow-Greeks.

Start from the right perspective when it concerns the aim to which God calls a church in your town.