Acts 17:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 1:1

From Luke’s account in Acts 17 we are able to trace the contours of the Thessalonian church which led Paul to write this letter. This was a young church filled with new Christians needing encouragement in knowing how to grow in their faith in Christ, so Paul writes to that end. This was also a church which right from the start faced hostility and needed to be strengthened by remembering where their strength to endure comes from—God himself and the hope of the future return of Jesus. The needs of the Thessalonian church are no different from our little church which makes this letter ring with importance. Just as the Thessalonians needed to know, so we need to know and remember that—God longs for His people to grow and He will protect that gospel growth.