Introduction to 1 Thessalonians

Teaching 1 Thessalonians 1:1 (and Acts 17:1-9)

3-5s

Theme: Paul tells them about Jesus, but is only there for a few weeks so writes them a letter to encourage them

Aim: That they understand the need to keep trusting Jesus

Intro: 

Keeping going - give them some harder tasks eg balancing a ball on their heads, making a pencil stand up on its end. Point - sometimes its easier to say 'It's too hard, I'm giving up!' We're going to see today that we need to keep going, keep trying to follow Jesus.

Teaching:

Paul is travelling around on his horse [clip-clop with cups] telling people about Jesus. He travels to a city called Thessalonica and tells them about Jesus. Here is what he said, [have on speech bubbles] 'Jesus is God's King' [crown on speech bubble]. 'God's King had to suffer and die on a cross' [cross on speech bubble]. 'God's King had to rise from the dead' [empty tomb on speech bubble].

He told them this for three Saturdays in a row. But that's all. That's not very long is it? We are told about Jesus Sunday after Sunday after Sunday. But the people in Thessalonica could only listen to Paul for three weeks.

As Paul spoke two things happened:

Firstly, some people became followers of Jesus. A few were Jewish people, the others were not Jews. [put a small pile of 'people' on one side]. This was the new church in Thessalonica.

Secondly, some people became cross with Paul. They started a big fight and got people shouting and being very loud. [have a big group of angry 'people'] The problem was that they had a King already and here was Paul saying that there was a different King called Jesus. So Paul had to be sent away at night. He could not tell them any more about Jesus.

So he decided to send them a letter. [have a big envelope with a letter inside] I wonder what you would say if you were Paul? What would you say to these new followers of Jesus who were in a place where there were a lot of people who were angry with Jesus? [take suggestions]

Here is how he begins: read 1v1. Paul wants them to know they belong to God the Father and His Son, Jesus.

He wants them to know that they are to keep trusting Jesus. We have to keep following Jesus, too. It is sometimes easier to give up and forget about Jesus, but we should keep going and trusting Him.

Craft

• Paul preaching - they stick on three pictures of his message and pictures of believers and the angry crowd
• Old letter - they make a letter by staining it with tea and coffee on sponges. This could be added to each week.

Songs

• Jesus is the Boss (from J is for Jesus)
• Easter Friday (from J is for Jesus)

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5-11s

Theme: Paul starts a church in Thessalonica but only gets three weeks with them so writes to encourage them to keep going

Aim: That the children keep going, trusting and serving Jesus

Intro

Difficult challenges - give them some hard tasks, will they persevere and keep trying or give up?

Teaching

Paul, the apostle, is travelling around telling people about Jesus. He arrives in Thessalonica [show on map]. Here he does as he always does, tell people about Jesus. He opens up the OT and tells them that God's King must suffer and rise from the dead [have in picture form - crown, cross and tomb in a speech bubble].

He does this for three Saturdays in Thessalonica [have one dressed up as Paul]

Week 1 - Paul: 'Jesus is the King who had to suffer and die'

Week 2 - Paul: 'Jesus is the King who had to suffer and die'

Week 3 - Paul: 'Jesus is the King who had to suffer and die'

Then, here is what happened next:

First, some people believe what Paul is saying. [read Acts 17:4]. Good news, a new church is born. [Separate some of the children off as believers.]

Second, many people don't. [Read v5-7]. Do you see what they're saying? If Paul is right then he's saying we have to abandon our King, Caesar! This makes them mad and they start a riot. [Have the others making mad faces and holding placards]

So Paul has to leave at night time and move to the next town. But he's leaving behind a very young church that knows very little as they've only been taught for three weeks.

So he writes them a letter. What would you say to them if you were Paul? [take suggestions and write up].

Read 1 Thess 1v1. Paul wants them to keep going. Like a runner in a race, the end is in sight, but they're to keep trusting Jesus and not give up.

Table Time:

[older ones read passage, younger ones make an old letter using cold tea on a sponge, they can add to it each week]

Knowledge

• What happened to the new church in Thessalonica?
• How long had Paul been with them?

Understanding

• Why did Paul write to them?
• What would you have written?

Application

• How do you keep going as a Christian?
• What do you find helpful?
• Why do you keep trusting Jesus?