Variety: 1 Thessalonians 1:2,3

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3

While no church is perfect, Paul reminds us that there is such a thing as a model church (1:7) – a community of believers who bring God’s kingdom into everyday life and shape the culture around them.

Thessalonica was a thriving port city which became a hub of commerce, wealth, and influence. Yet it was also saturated with idol worship, cult practices, and competing Greek philosophies. Acts 17 describes the birth of a new community of believers in Thessalonica. Their allegiance to Jesus challenged the authority of Caesar and disrupted the social order, provoking strong opposition. As persecution intensified, Paul and Silas were forced to leave the city. From Corinth, Paul later wrote his first letter to strengthen and encourage the believers who remained.

Despite suffering and pressure, Paul commends the Thessalonian church for their faith, hope, and love (1:3). They became imitators of the Lord (1:6) and their faith resounded through their daily lives (1:8). So compelling was their witness that they became an example for believers far beyond their own city (1:7).

Paul praises this church because their faith was not private or theoretical. Their encounter with Jesus reshaped how they lived, spoke, and behaved. In a crowded and competing spiritual landscape, their lives stood out.

Paul addresses his letter simply to ‘the church’. The word he uses is ecclesia, meaning a called-out assembly. In the Roman Empire, this referred to an assembly of citizens who were called to govern a city, like a local council, making laws and deciding state affairs. For us, this emphasises our call as those chosen by God to represent him in the world. The church is not just a gathering, but a community called to live distinctively, to reflect God’s character, and to shape the world around us.

Each of us carries influence. Sociologists suggest that the average person will impact thousands of people over the course of their lifetime. The real question is not whether we influence others, but how. How do our lives shape our workplaces, families, and communities? Jesus teaches that faith is meant to be seen, not hidden (Matthew 5:14–16). Before our words are heard, our lives must speak – through faith, hope, and love expressed in ordinary, everyday moments.

So let your faith in Jesus ring out this week. Let it be heard as you share hope in an uncertain world. Let it ring out as you choose love toward those you disagree with. Let it ring out as God’s peace guards your heart in moments of pressure – at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

London Institute for Contemporary Christianity