New Testament

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            Last week we began looking at chapter 3, this morning, Lord willing, we will finish it up.  In this chapter Paul models for us the shepherd’s heart for the flock that God has given into his care.  Paul’s example of the model shepherd gives us seven features of a shepherd’s heart for his flock.  Last week we looked at the first four of those features.  First, we saw the shepherd’s love for his flock, then the shepherd’s sacrifice for his flock, third, the shepherd’s lovingkindness for his flock and finally, the shepherd’s watchfulness over his flock.

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            In the first two chapters of 1st Thessalonians Paul expressed the concerns of a shepherd for his flock.  Paul’s words convey to us the true concerns of a pastor, and through Paul’s words we see some of his pastoral attitudes which he had for the church that he had to leave abruptly and prematurely.  He expressed that he was thankful for them, he commended them for their testimony, he expressed that he was encouraged by what he heard about them, he expressed his love and affection for them, and he expressed that he longed to be with them again.

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            This morning we will finish 1st Thessalonians chapter two.  In the closing verses of this chapter Paul reassures the Thessalonian believers of his love and concern for them.  Paul does not want these fairly new believers to believe that he deserted them when the persecution began and that he did so because he did not love them or have concern for them.  Paul, in this final paragraph informs the church in Thessalonica why he has not been back to see them and he again reaffirms his love for them.

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