Reading: 1 Thes 1:1-10

Key Verse for this discussion: I Thessalonians 1:7
“So that you became a pattern to all the believers…” (Amplified Version.)

Historical Context:
Apostle Paul was writing to the Thessalonian church about Jesus’ return and consequently discussed the concepts of death and resurrection as well as preparation for the coming of Christ. The birth of this particular church was by no means peaceful. Read the account of the apostolic team’s first visit in Acts 1:1-17. There is a reason that Paul mentions the example this church became to others who believe throughout the region.

Word Study:
The specific word “Example” has some significance in our study:
Tupos = Thayer Definition: the mark of a stroke or blow, print; a figure formed by a blow or impression; of a figure or image; of the image of the gods; form; the teaching which embodies the sum and substance of religion and represents it to the mind, manner of writing, the contents and form of a letter.

an example: in the technical sense, the pattern in conformity to which a thing must be made; in an ethical sense, a dissuasive example, a pattern of warning; of ruinous events which serve as admonitions or warnings to others; an example to be imitated; of men worthy of imitation; in a doctrinal sense; of a type, i.e. a person or thing prefiguring a future (Messianic) person or thing

Within the scripture reading there are some apostolic patterns that will cause your church to leave an imprint (tupos) of Christ on society:

Apostolic Patterns:
1. Teachability:
“And you set yourselves to become imitators of us and through us of the Lord Himself, for you welcomed our message in spite of much persecution,” (Amplified Version.)
The church members imitated Christ in the apostles. God uses people in our lives to set an example. True disciples of Christ leave an impression of Christ wherever they go, whatever they do. This does not mean that they are perfect in every way. Try to find Christ’s “tupos” in someone. Where has Christ left his mark in their life? Imitate that mark of Christ you see in mentors, leaders and shepherds. IN this case, the apostles made their mark to such an extent that the disciples clearly represented Christ even in their absence.

2. Strong Faith
To “have faith” is to “adhere to; trust in; rely on” God. In this case of the Thessalonian church, the report of their faith spread throughout the surrounding region.

3. Bravery
These believers welcomed the apostle’s message in spite of persecution. That is a mark of an apostolic church that will set an example to other churches.

4. Joy!
Jesus endured the shame of the cross for the joy that was set before Him. You can only function together as an apostolic reformational church if real kingdom joy is present in all your activities. This type of joy does not come from circumstances but from the Holy Spirit within. The God of hope must fill you with all joy and peace in believing by His supernatural Spirit that is poured on all flesh. All you have to do is ask!

5. Inspiration
To be inspired from within is the key. Church members should not need to be psyched up every Sunday morning to live powerful lives and reach the lost. There should a fire within that is unquenchable that releases a continuous passion for God and His work. There are moments when we grow weary and disillusioned, but then we need to wait on the Lord to renew our strength. Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and with fire. When someone has this kind of inner motivation, they see what needs to be done in situations and do it boldly like Peter and John. When people saw their boldness they perceived they were with Jesus. Our communion with Jesus in prayer and corporate worship should infuse us and inspire us with that boldness. Enthusiasm has to come from within. “Enthuse” means “inspired by God” according to the Oxford dictionary.

6. Proclamation
Any Christian worth his salt has to participate in some form of proclamation of the Word of God, specifically the good news of the Gospel of Christ.
“The Word of the Lord has resounded forth from you unmistakably…”
When we speak about Jesus Christ, there should be no mistake about what we mean and how much we are consumed by God. Doctrine is a vital component to today’s apostolic reformational church. In order to bring about a change in society, paradigms have to be re-aligned to the original intents and purposes of the New Testament writings of the apostles. This is a daunting task, because some say that the conditions of the early church were different, so how could those principles apply to us today? However, we face similar problems, just in a different context. The truth principles of the Bible still work, we just have to wait on God to give understanding to implement His Truth in our daily lives. Listening to testimonies of believers who walk according to the Truth in the Bible is enough evidence of the living Word shaping and changing lives today. That is what we should proclaim: Jesus is alive and working in our lives!

7. Representation of Christ
When people come to your church, did they leave with an indelible imprint of Christ in their soul?

When apostle Paul complimented the Thessalonian Church saying:
“but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to speak anything” it doesn’t mean that Paul did not preach anymore. It meant that the patterns of Christ were so accurate in the church, that their example supplied others with full understanding of the Gospel.
God uses apostles that way: He calls them and reveals Christ to them in such a way that they can take Christ to others. This pattern of Christ in true apostles is then imprinted into churches and individuals who become disciples, who “welcome the message” and imitate Christ in the apostles. Once an accurate pattern of Christ is in a believer, in a church, then that church can imprint that pattern of Christ on their community.

If we look at Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we realize that He was marked and wounded on our behalf. The patterns of our sins were beaten and torn into His flesh. The patterns on his back created by cruel blows of a Roman whip are for our healing. Believing in the Word “by his stripes we are healed” allows the pattern of healing to be formed in our lives.

Calling on the name of the Lord invokes the salvation power of Jesus Christ into our spirits and our old nature of sin is replaced with a pattern of a new creation in Christ.

As an apostolic reformational church we follow the example of the churches in the Bible and allow Christ’s image to be formed in us. We allow apostles to instruct us in the Word and imitate Christ in them. In so doing, the pattern of Christ is replicated and the areas we reach out to see Christ’s pattern formed. Praise God for His wisdom and His ways!