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An Apostolic Age

An Apostolic Age. George Hunter on these combined realities (Asbury) Christendom largely dissolved; peoples of Europe and North America mostly secular. Enlightenment, which provided the worldview for the West, is spent.

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An Apostolic Age

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  1. An Apostolic Age George Hunter on these combined realities (Asbury) • Christendom largely dissolved; peoples of Europe and North America mostly secular. • Enlightenment, which provided the worldview for the West, is spent. • Once again, we are in an Apostolic Age ―much like the age that Early Church Christianity encountered. (Church for the Unchurched, pg. 23) Christianity moves from North/West to South/East

  2. Asian/Indian Trend Asia is ablaze with the spontaneous expansion of the gospel―large-scale conversions in India predicted 6.7% of Christians in India (Hindustan Times – Jan. 12, 2005) Weekly 1000 house-churches formed (Dr. Victor Chowdhary) Groups like DAWN―10 million new churches over the next few decades

  3. India Church Growth

  4. Two Illustrations The gospel is spreading into the Southern Hemisphere (Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia) at rates beyond our imagination 3–4 decades ago!! India’s time: 250 million in next decade? Millions of churches are being planted! But many are not lasting. 400 churches planted in Cambodia, now down to 50, and they too are failing. Redoing the church planting in Janacholi of Haryana

  5. The Concern • Christians, families are not established • massive lack of leadership in the 2nd generation. • major nominalism in the 3rd generation. • syncretism in 4th generation • no more old Christians in 5th generation and new evangelistic activities start

  6. Numerical Growth in the Early Church 2:41 3,000 men added into them 4:4 5,000 men added 4:32; 5:14 multitude / many / in large number 6:7 the Word of God grew and multiplied 9:31 the churches enjoyed peace 12:24 the Word of God grew and multiplied 16:5 the churches were established and grew 19:20 the Word of God spread 28:31 From Jerusalem to Rome Romans 15:19 From Jerusalem to Illyricum

  7. 1st Century Churches 2nd Century Churches 3rd Century Churches Turning the World Upside Down Eerdman’s Handbook to the History of Christianity (Berkhamsted, Herts, England: Lion Publishing, 1977), pp. 66–67

  8. Churches Established Acts 16:5 “So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.” Qualitative and Quantitative Growth

  9. Paul’s Strategy Acts 14:21-23 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,“ they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

  10. Pauline Cycle of Church Planting* Evangelize Strategic Cities Entrust to Faithful Men Acts 13:1-14:28 The Pauline Cycle Establish Local Churches *Jeff Reed, BILD - International

  11. Paul’s Strategy of Establishing • Paul prayed for the churches • He revisited the churches (Acts 14:21; 15:41; 18:23) • He sent his team members (Timothy, Silvanus, Titus) • He wrote 13 letters

  12. The Process of Building Strong Churches Paul’s Early Letters Paul’s Middle Letters Paul’s Later Letters Strong Mature Households and Leaders 1 Timothy Titus 2 Timothy Strong in the Gospel Galatians 1 & 2 Thessalonians 1 & 2 Corinthians Romans Strong in the Mission/Vision of the Church Ephesians Colossians Philemon Philippians • The Epistles – Tools to Establish* Founding Strengthening Establishing *Jeff Reed, BILD - International

  13. The Big Idea The thesis… Paul’s strategy of establishing the local church community at Thessalonica in the gospel plays an important role model that the local churches in any culture, time and place should be established that they should live out their gospel faith in their formation days.

  14. The Author’s Intent Paul wrote two of his early letters to the churches at Thessalonica with the intent to establish them in their living out of their gospel faith while they were suffering persecution, going through moral lapses, open to wrong teachings on the second coming that triggered them toward disorderly life as busybodies doing nothing.

  15. Paul’s Concern Paul’s concern was that the church should be established in the gospel on its formation years. He insisted that his instructions / commandments/ “tradition” should be followed.

  16. The Planting of the Church Acts 17:1-9a “When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, " he said.

  17. The Planting of the Church Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.

  18. The Planting of the Church But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.”

  19. Early Summer 51 Jan to May 51 (6 months) Nov 50 to Jan 51 (3 months) Establishing History Mid Summer 51 1 Thessalonians from Corinth Paul’s founding the church and initial teachings Acts 17:1-9 2 Thessalonians from Corinth Timothy and Silas’ Follow up ministry Acts 17:14, 15; 18:5 1 Thessalonians 3:1-6

  20. Establishing the Church 1 Thessalonians 3:1 - 6 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.

  21. Founding the Community Shaping the Community Stabilizing the Community • Challenge to Old Traditions • We want to come to you… we sent Timothy (1 Ths 2:18; 3:1-6) • That you may not be quickly shaken… by a spirit or a message or a letter from us (2 Ths 2:2) • Honor the leaders (1 Ths 5:12) • Admonish the unruly (1 Ths 5:14) • Keep away from unruly (2 Ths 3:6) • May the Lord direct your hearts (2 Ths 3:4-5) • Conversion • Not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.. (1 Ths 1:5 • The Word of the Lord sounded forth from you (1 Ths 1:8) • You turned from idols to serve a true and living God • (1 Ths 1:9) • *Founding the churches in the Gospel, BILD Booklet Paul Establishing the Thessalonians Community* • Concept of Traditions (Commandments, Instructions) • Proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Ths 2:7) • We were exhorting…as a father …to his own children (1 Ths 2:11) • You received from us instructions…you know the commandments.. (1 Ths 4:1-2) • Stand firm and hold to the traditions..by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Ths 2:15)

  22. Founding the Community Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.

  23. Founding the Community And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

  24. Our Concern Why do you think Paul was very concerned about establishing the Thessalonians Community in the Gospel in its formative days? What is our history of being established in the Gospel? What are the consequences if the churches are not established in the gospel in its formative days? Why do you think your living in the gospel relates to your witnessing and missions?

  25. Mission Fulfilled When Paul writes to Romans in AD 57, he means that his work is complete in Syria, Celicia, Pisidia, Galatia, Asia (andminor), Macedonia and Achaia (up to Illyricum) regions. Hardly in 10 years (AD 47 to 57), he says with confidence in Romans 15:19ff, “So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ… 23 But now that there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, 24 I plan to do so when I go to Spain. I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.”

  26. “So, the Word of God Spread” Rome Ephesus Corinth Antioch Jerusalem

  27. Founding the Community Shaping the Community Stabilizing the Community • Challenge to Old Traditions • We want to come to you… we sent Timothy (1 Ths 2:18; 3:1-6) • That you may not be quickly shaken… by a spirit or a message or a letter from us (2 Ths 2:2) • Honor the leaders (1 Ths 5:12) • Admonish the unruly (1 Ths 5:14) • Keep away from unruly (2 Ths 3:6) • May the Lord direct your hearts (2 Ths 3:4-5) • Conversion • Not in word only, but in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.. (1 Ths 1:5 • The Word of the Lord sounded forth from you (1 Ths 1:8) • You turned from idols to serve a true and living God • (1 Ths 1:9) • *Founding the churches in the Gospel, BILD Booklet Paul Establishing the Thessalonians Community* • Concept of Traditions (Commandments, Instructions) • Proved to be gentle among you as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children (1 Ths 2:7) • We were exhorting…as a father …to his own children (1 Ths 2:11) • You received from us instructions…you know the commandments.. (1 Ths 4:1-2) • Stand firm and hold to the traditions..by word of mouth or by letter from us (2 Ths 2:15)

  28. Early Summer 51 Jan to May 51 (6 months) Nov 50 to Jan 51 (3 months) Establishing History Mid Summer 51 1 Thessalonians from Corinth Paul’s founding the church and initial teachings Acts 17:1-9 2 Thessalonians from Corinth Timothy and Silas’ Follow up ministry Acts 17:14, 15; 18:5 1 Thessalonians 3:1-6

  29. Word Study – To Establish • 1 Thessalonians 3:2, “We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen (sthrixai) and encourage you in your faith,…” • 1 Thessalonians 3:8, “For now we really live since you are standing firm (sthkete)in the Lord.” • 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “May he strengthen (sthrixai) your hearts, so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” • 2 Thessalonians 2:15, “So then, brothers, stand firm (sthkete) and hold to the teachings (traditions) we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” • 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, “May our Lord Jesus Christ…encourage your hearts and strengthen (sthrixai) you in every good deed and word.” • 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen (sthrixei)and protect you from the evil one.”

  30. To Establish – A Picturesque Word

  31. Shaping the Community From Philippi, Paul came to Thessalonica in Nov 50 and stayed there for about 3 months, before he left abruptly in Jan 51 due to unrest (Acts 17:1-9). His initial teachings for 3 months to founding the community in the faith-living of the gospel can be surveyed from his twin letters. Though Paul had to rush to Berea, he did not leave the community without imparting the teachings how they should live out the gospel in their every day life.

  32. Paul’s Impacting Ministry Paul’s ministry for 3 months made a huge impact in Thessalonica, a strategic city… • 200,000 inhabitants in Paul’s time (Even today Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city) • It was the Capital of Macedonian Province • On the Roman Road, a commercial hub, military point, political city then and even today. • There was a Jewish Synagogue, and Jews were influential (among the criminals and civil authorities) • A city of nobles

  33. The Impact Acts 17:1-9a “When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ, " he said.

  34. The Impact Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. But the Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.

  35. The Planting of the Church But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. As soon as it was night, the brothers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.”

  36. The Impact Acts 17: 6b "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar's decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” “have turned the world upside down” “have upset the world…” “disturbing the peace throughout the empire” It is a counter culture, a different lifestyle, separated from the rest, the Kingdom lifestyle.

  37. Paul’s Teaching (Didache) Paul did not shy of or shun from spending his days in teaching the Teachings (Didache), though it lasted for short 3 months due to mayhem, which was engineered by Jewish leaders with the help of hooligan. What did Paul teach to the Thessalonians Community in this short time so that they followed a new lifestyle that drew the attention of people from all sorts of society? Let us examine the letters.

  38. Gospel and Teachings 1. Paul not only preached (Kerygma) the gospel but he taught (Didache) it. This is evident from their conversion from idols to true and living God, their faith in Christ Jesus, their love for one another, their hope, assurance of eternity and glorification as they were waiting for Christ’s second coming, their witnessing in two provinces and beyond, their joy in sufferings and enduring the persecution for their faith in Christ, And their modeling to others,

  39. Commandments, Instructions Paul gave them instructions, commandments, charges to live a life to please God: 1 Thess. 4:1-2 “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” Gr. par-ang-gel-lia = Mandate, charge, command,

  40. Commandments, Instructions Paul gave them instructions, commandments, charges to live a life to earn respect from outsiders: 1 Thess. 4:11-12 “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. Same Greek root, “par-ang-gel-lo” is used here.

  41. Cost of True Discipleship Paul foretold them the cost of true discipleship – sufferings and persecution: 1 Thess. 3: 3b-4 “You know quite well that we were destined for them. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.” 1 Thess. 1:6; 2:14; 5:13; 2 Thess. 1:4-6 cf. Acts 14:22 Prosperity Gospel is a false / perverted teaching.

  42. Brotherly Love Paul reminded them of divinely instruction to love one anther: 1 Thess. 4:9 “Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love (agapao) each other.” phil-da-el-phi-ah = fraternal affection, brotherly love, love of brethren theo-didak-tos = divinely instruction, taught of God, Godly teachings

  43. Christ’s Second Coming Paul repeated his teaching on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ (the gospel): 1 Thess. 5:1-2 “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” Since the early church, there were false teaching in two doctrines – Trinity (Humanity and Divinity of Christ) and Parousia (Second Coming of Christ)

  44. The Tradition Paul commanded that the tradition he handed over to them to followed: 2 Thess. 2:15 “So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. Oral and written traditions (word of mouth and letter) Gr. par-ad-os-is = transmission, a precept, traditionary law, ordinance, tradition.

  45. The Tradition This word and its derivation is used in the Bible to mean the authoritative teachings handed down from generation to generation, which cannot be violated. The tradition of the Jewish elders: Matthew 15:2,3; Mark 7:3, 5, 8, 9, 13; Galatians 1:14 Colossians 2:8; 1 Peter 1:18

  46. The Tradition Paul (and other apostles too) uses the same root of word, but to mean the authoritative teachings of Christ and His apostles which should we Christians should obey. Romans 6:7 the form of doctrine delivered 1 Corinthians 11:2 the ordinances Paul handed over 1 Corinthians 11:23, the teachings and practice of the Lord’ Supper that Paul received and handed over 1 Corinthians 15:3, the gospel Paul received and handed over Jude 1:3 the teaching delivered to the saints

  47. The Tradition Traditions, Instructions, Commandments, Sound Teachings, Sound Doctrine, Faith, It is not merely what we believe and convinced of. It is what we practice and live. People become rebellious, individualistic, disobeying all sorts of authorities, breaking the rules and laws, assaulting all leadership. Not like to be accountable to others, and not holding accountability of others. People do not want to belong to a church and family.

  48. Questions to Ponder • Why do you think Paul was so serious that he taught the Teachings even from day one at Thessalonica? • According to Paul, what is the meaning and importance of Traditions? Do we need to follow them? • Why do you think people say, “We love Jesus but we do not like churches?” • What may be percentage of the churches that teach such teachings of the gospel today? What are the reasons for it?

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