Today I am beginning a series from the books of First and Second Thessalonians.  These are two of Paul's earliest writings.  Paul writes these letters to the baby Christians at the infant church at Thessalonica.

The Acts 17:1-16 gives us the background of this new church.   Paul's ministry at Thessalonica might have been anywhere from three weeks to three months.   Certainly he was there long enough to preach or "reason with or argue with the Jews" at the Synagogue for those three Sabbaths, as the Acts passage tells us.   Paul's custom was to go first to the Jews at the local Synagogue.  It was sort of giving them first chance to hear the message of Jesus Christ.  Then he went to the Gentiles.  From later verses in I Thessalonians we learn Paul was there long enough to receive the financial support in an offering from the church at Philipi.  Still later verses tell us Paul and his companions were at Thessalonica long enough to support themselves - probably working as tent makers.

            The city of Thessalonica was an urban center of the Roman Empire.    It is located in Eastern Macadonia...the present-day Balkans.  It had a strong Greek culture.  This capital of Macedonia was a natural booming commercial center, because  of its location on the Egnation Highway.

            Paul and his companions' ministry, and the work of the Holy Spirit, resulted in the joy of instant conversions at Thessalonica.  These people turned from Judaism or idolatry to the worship of the one true and living God.   They turned from darkness and despair to the hope of the return of Christ.   The Acts passage tells us that most of his converts were "godfearing Gentiles," "influential women" and some Jews.  The tremendous success of the conversions infuriated the unbelieving Jews.  The leaders of this opposition were so enraged that their mop action forced Paul and the others to be smuggled out of town, in fear of their lives.  They were smuggled to nearby Berea.  The same thing happened in Berea.  Mostly because the mob leaders heard about the good things Paul was doing in Berea, they traveled and caused the mob scene again. And so on to the Athens Paul went; and finally to Corinth.  So when Paul and the others left, their leaving left this infant church not only alone; but exposed to the fury of its enemies and a real uncertain future.

            Later Timothy was able to join Paul in Athens.  But Paul is so anxious for word from Thessalonica that he sends Timothy back to Thessalonica to assist this infant congregation and to bring back word, if at all possible, of its condition.  Indeed Timothy does bring back good
news...and bad news.  Thus these two letters are Paul's reply.

            Let's read the first chapter of First Thessalonians.  It is just 10 verses.  But it does give us a sense of the rest of the letter - The bad news we will deal with in future sermons, but this passage does begin with the good  news...The affection of the Thessalonians for Paul is as strong as ever; and they are standing firm in the faith.   Our focus today will be Verse 1.  Read I Thessalonians 1:1-10.  I have often wondered if Loris Mitchell knows how much like Paul she is.  As I prepared for this new series, I again began to wonder that.   As you know, Loris works in the front office, as church secretary, Dave's administrative assistant, deacon to all who call and come in; facilitator of the prayer chain and list; friend to many here and my friend.   What a ministry God does through her right here.   You know, there have many times she clicks off an automated e-card to one of you - and includes my name.  Other times she asks if I want to sign a card she has purchased and is getting it ready to mail to another of you.  Often she includes my name on responding emails to you.    Like Silas and Timothy, I had not shared in the thought process or the composing of these missives.  Yet I am in complete agreement – as were Silas and Timothy with Paul.  Loris is being very Paul-like, and is being very courteous to me (and, I think to you), in these loving gestures. Like Paul, she and I are both very appreciative of our friendship and partnership in ministry.  I believe we are IN good company.   Paul and Silas and Timothy were not only friends, but indeed partners in ministry.  It did not take long for Paul to be in partnership with the new Christians at Thessalonica.  Since they are being severely tested through persecution we would expect this church to be in a very precarious condition-physically and spiritually.  But no!  We read of their work of faith, labor of love and steadfast hope.  We learn of their strength and joy.  We hear they are already being a Christian example to all the believers in the Region...actually influencing the world around them!  We get a strong sense of Paul's confidence in these people.  Paul knows this is God's church.  And Paul has confidence in God.  Paul knows he is in good company...with them as well as with God. 

            As you may know, the very gathering of this good company of new Christians was called an "assembly."  The Greek word for "church" is ekklesia, which means "an assembly".    There were many kinds of assemblies in those days - as now.  There would be both religious gatherings and secular; Jewish and Greek.   Look how Paul states his confidence in and differentiates this new assembly of believers.  To the church in Thessalonica which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus.

            That which makes this particular assembly distinctive is in that little preposition "in".   Paul says this assembly is "in" God the Father and the Son.   You and I - and the early church - are familiar with the phrase "in the Lord Jesus Christ."   This is a favorite expression of Paul's....and first developed by Jesus.  Jesus spoke of His disciples as being 'in' Him as branches are 'in' the vine.   Paul sees us as being 'in Christ' as limbs are 'in' the body.  Both relationships make possible the sharing of a common life.  In Colossians Paul describes our new life as 'hidden with Christ in God.'   All this is to say the church's one foundation - then through now (including today at MPC) and forwards – is 'living in', 'rooted in', or 'drawing its life from' God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.   Commentator William Barclay says that,  "The God in whom the Church lives is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; and, therefore, the Church does not shiver in the icy fear of a God who is a tyrant but basks in the sunshine of a God who is love."  God is the very atmosphere in which the Church lives and moves and had its beginning and has its being.

            But let's not miss another message Paul gives us.  This is possibly the deeper message.   As I said, this is one the earliest letters written by Paul.  The time-line is within twenty years of the death and resurrection of Jesus.  And here we see already the joining of the Father and the Son as equal in the universal faith of the church.  Pastor, evangelist and commentator John Stott says:  "This simple fact is enough to undermine the teaching of those who claim that the New Testament nowhere attributes deity to Jesus. (Pg27)"  How awesome is that.  And its use here is a powerful witness to the faith of this primitive Church in the full deity of the Jesus Christ.

            Paul's bold statement about Jesus' deity and equality with God, is combined later in this same chapter when Paul references the work of the Holy Spirit.  This is one of the few statements about the Trinity we have in Scripture.  At this moment, today, we don't know much more about these brothers and sisters - except that, right from the beginning these people, the church at Thessalonica, are IN good company.  What better company for this gathering than the three members of the Trinity.  What better company for MPC that the three members of the Trinity.

            And we can only guess why Paul chooses this exact wording to this primitive church and these new believers.  I believe a good guess is because this young church is being harassed and persecuted.   Paul is not with them to encourage them in person.  He is not right there to guide them and to keep them going on the right path.   I am sure these new Christians are feeling a great insecurity- both physically and spiritually.  They can't just pick up a cell phone and dial up "A" for Apostle.  They are not able to stop by his tent and ask their questions.  Paul knows all that.  So here Paul wants to remind them and encourage them that in the midst of their trials and anxiety, their security is in God.    He tells them that no matter the persecution - the bad times, the growing pains - they are experiencing, their life source is God in Jesus Christ.

            Paul tells you and me that each church, whether in Thessalonica, Corinth, Mokobe, Africa or right here in Moorpark, is in God, the Father, and Jesus Christ.  We here at Moorpark Presbyterian also are to remember that yes, we are physically here in Moorpark - a place where God has planted us.  We are here so that God's gospel message can be spread to those both near and far.  We are to remember that the very breath of this church is God.