I. INTRODUCTION
A. In 1Thessalonians 2:1-12, the apostle Paul gave his account of his initial visit to the city of Thessalonica.
1. These events are recorded in Acts 17:1-15, which we will notice shortly.
2. Paul’s account gives us insight into the way Paul approached the Thessalonians with the gospel of Christ and the tender relationship he developed with the believers.
B. Paul used the figures of a mother and a father to describe the way in which he ministered to the Thessalonian Christians.
1. Notice 1Thessalonian 2:7 – "But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”
2. Also notice 1Thessalonians 2:11 – "…just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children”
C. The purpose of this lesson is to make an application of Paul’s approach in preaching to our own personal ministry to others.
II. PAUL’S EXPERIENCE IN THESSALONICA
A. According to Paul’s custom, he preached to the Jews first when he went to Thessalonica (Acts 17:1-4).
1. After being jailed and released in Philippi of Macedonia (Acts 16:11-40), Paul, Silas, and Timothy made their way to Thessalonica.
a. Thessalonica was the capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia.
b. It was the chief port city of the region and was located along the Via Egnatia, which was the main road from Rome to the east.
c. Therefore, the city was a major commercial and cultural center.
2. For three Sabbaths, Paul reasoned from the Scriptures with the Jews in the synagogues of Thessalonica just as he had done in other cities (Acts 13:5, 14; 14:1).
3. Some of the Jews were persuaded by Paul, but his greater success came with the God-fearing Greeks who also heard the word of God (see also 1Thess. 1:9; 2:14-16).
B. As usual, the Jews resented Paul’s preaching and took measures to stop him (Acts 17:5-15).
1. Being jealous of Paul’s success, the Jews stirred up a mob against Paul and the other Christians.
2. This persecution caused Paul to go to Berea.
a. Paul preached to the Jews of Berea, who "were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica” and "received the word with great eagerness.”
b. When the Jews of Thessalonica heard of Paul’s success among both Jews and Gentiles in Berea, they came to Berea to stir up a crowd against Paul. Therefore, the brethren sent Paul far away to Athens while Silas and Timothy stayed behind.
C. Paul later wrote 1Thessalonians during the same preaching journey as a fond recollection of his time there and a loving exhortation of faith.
1. After spending some time in Athens, Paul went to Corinth and settled there for more than one and a half years (Acts 18:11). From Corinth, he wrote this letter to the Thessalonians after Silas and Timothy had rejoined him (see Acts 18:5; 1Thess. 1:1).
a. It appears that Timothy actually came to Paul in Athens, returned to Thessalonica, and then joined Paul in Corinth (1Thess. 3:1-6).
b. It was the good report of Timothy about the Thessalonian church that prompted Paul to write this letter.
2. Notice how Paul had such affection for Thessalonian Christians despite the trouble he endured there.
a. It may appear that Paul’s trip to Thessalonica was a disaster based on Acts 17, but Paul rejoiced for the success of those who had believed and were constantly working in the Lord (1Thess. 1:2-3, 6-10; 2:13-14, 19; 3:6-7).
b. Paul longed to return to Thessalonica to see these Christians even though he suffered such persecution there (1Thess. 2:17-18; 3:10).
c. The caring attitude of Paul for the Thessalonian Christians is the main point of this present lesson.
i. How can we, like Paul, look beyond any adverse circumstances and view those to whom we minister the gospel with love and affection?
ii. How can we devote ourselves to them and the Lord in the likeness of Paul?
III. PREACHING LIKE A MOTHER AND A FATHER
A. Paul said that he treated the Thessalonian believers "as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.” How would a mother minister to her own child?
1. The term "tenderly cares” in 1Thessalonians 2:7 is translated from the Greek word thalpō, which means to warm, keep warm, or cherish with tender love.
a. This is the same word that is used in Ephesians 5:29 in regards to how a man cherishes his own flesh and, therefore, his own wife.
b. The idea is that Paul genuinely cared for these believers with a sincere, warm, and tender affection.
2. If we follow Paul’s example by ministering to others with the care of a mother for her child, then:
a. We will not…
i. …waste our time with them, for our work will be fruitful (1Thess. 2:1-2);
ii. …exhort them from error, impurity, or by way of deceit (1Thess. 2:3);
iii. …attempt to please men at their expense (1Thess. 2:4);
iv. …use flattering speech or have a pretext for greed (1Thess. 2:5);
v. …seek glory from them or others (1Thess. 2:6);
b. We will…
i. ...speak with great boldness (1Thess. 2:1);
ii. …speak to please God (1Thess. 2:4);
iii. …prove to be gentle among them (1Thess. 2:7);
iv. …have affection for them, impart the gospel to them, and impart our own lives to them in service (1Thess. 2:8).
3. Such a ministry is not possible without a sincere mother-like concern for the souls of others. Unconditional affection of this nature cannot be feigned.
B. Paul also said that he spoke to the Thessalonian Christians "as a father would his own children.” How would a father minister to his own child?
1. Paul identified three parts of his ministry to the Thessalonians that he performed in the likeness of a father.
a. Exhortation – This literally means "to call to one’s side” (Gr. parakaleō). A father calls his child to his side to teach, guide, warn, admonish, and persuade him.
b. Encouragement – This is speech that gives comfort, courage, strength, and confidence. A father encourages his child to overcome the difficulties that hinder him.
c. Imploration – This literally means "to cite or call a witness.” The idea is to affirm by appealing to an esteemed witness as a solemn declaration (see 2Tim. 4:1 – "I solemnly charge you...”). A father implores his child regarding the most important responsibilities of life.
2. A preacher of the gospel will imitate Paul’s fatherly ways of imparting the truth with firmness, discipline, diligence, and patience.
a. This aspect of preaching is evident in Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2Timothy 4:2 – "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.”
b. Just as fathers are not to provoke their children to anger, but are to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Eph. 6:4), so also gospel preachers and teachers should nourish their hearers with the unadulterated word of Christ’s gospel.
IV. CONCLUSION
A. Attributes of both a mother and a father are needed to effectively teach the gospel of Christ.
1. The gospel is a living and personal message that must be administered with the same tender care, gentleness, and love that a mother has for her child. It cannot be coldly delivered from an uncaring heart.
2. The gospel is also a firm message of instructions and principles that must be applied with the same firmness, diligence, and patience that a father gives to his child.
B. These attributes are best learned from the Lord Jesus, who loves us with the tenderness and compassion of a mother, and exhorts, encourages, and implores us with the firmness and patience of a father.