1 Thessalonians 2-3: A Model of Discipleship

Paul's two letters to the people of Thessalonica were addressed to a people that were young in their faith, and were beginning to experience the trials of following Christ amid persecution. His intent was to encourage them in the midst of their struggles and persecution, instruct them in living the life of the Spirit, and address some theological issues relevant to their pagan backgrounds.

The thing that jumps out at me from these passages is the example set by Paul in the process of discipling others, particularly those that are new to the faith.

To get the whole picture of why these people were in a place to receive instruction from Paul, we have to go back to Acts 17, where Paul visits the people of Thessalonica for the first time:

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ." 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.

Paul went to a group of Jews who did not know about Jesus, and began by reasoning with them from the Scriptures, which they already accepted as revelation from God. He spent multiple days presenting a rational case for accepting Jesus as the Christ, who was resurrected and fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. As a result of this, some of the men and women accepted what Paul was claiming and changed their lives in light of this truth.

This approach that Paul took seems quite foreign to our current culture; it is much more likely to see moving emotional appeals and unsupported calls for blind faith than to see a rational argument for accepting truth before making a step of faith. When the tears dry from a moving altar call, upon what foundation is the life of faith to be built? 

After Paul and Silas had to leave Thessalonica, Paul wrote these letters to continue discipling and training them in the way of the Lord. They didn't have the internet back then, so letters were the long distance discipleship training tool of choice. 

Paul makes several insightful comments about the method he used when training the Thessalonians:

5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed--God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

Paul did not use words of flattery to reach the people - unfortunately, words of flattery are the only way to get a 'Christian' book to sell well enough to be visible in Borders these days. He also did not have a justification for greed - another failing of many churches and teachers these days. Finally, he did not seek glory from men.

The analogy Paul gives for his treatment of the Thessalonians is that of a nursing mother. What better example of selfless, sacrificial love could one ask for? A nursing mother constantly gives of herself for the good of one she loves - despite the sacrifice it requires and the fact that the object of her love is not even cognizant of the sacrifice being made. That is how Paul viewed the Thessalonians; a people he loved and gave of himself for, with no ulterior desire for glory or selfish gain.

8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

What great love was shown to these people! We won't get very far if we are only willing to pour into people when it is convenient or beneficial to our own selves.

11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Finally, Paul encouraged and challenged them. In the midst of turmoil and struggle, we have to encourage and exhort each other to press on and keep fighting for His kingdom. Like Paul, we must also challenge one another to "walk in a manner worthy of God".

After looking at Paul's example in discipling the people of Thessalonica, what areas do we notice that we fall short in?