The harbor at Thessalonica was one of the major gateways into Macedonia. Ships crossing the Aegean Sea often stopped here. Paul stopped at this busy port during his second journey, and founded a church there.  Shortly after his visit, while he was staying in Corinth, Paul wrote back to the church he had founded.  His letter had four purposes; 

• To assure his friends of his love and concern

• To encourage them in practical holiness -- how to live holy lives

• To ground them in the doctrines of the Christian faith -- especially concerning the last days

• To correct some weaknesses in the church

Every chapter of First Thessalonians ends with a reference to the second coming and relates the doctrine to a practical aspect of Christian living.   The book encourages its readers to “Be Ready” by conforming our lives to the will of God.

Two thousand years later, the encouraging words Paul wrote to the Thessalonians continue to speak to Christians everywhere.  Join us as we spend eight weeks delving into this letter.  It’s themes of holiness, expectancy, the last days, and Christian fellowship are as important to us as they were to the first century Thessalonians.