1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Paul considered the church his family. We know this because in verses 2:1-12 he compared his relationship to the Christians at Thessalonica to the relationships between family members. He called his fellow Christians brothers and sisters, and that makes sense considering all Christians acknowledge that God is their father. We all started out estranged from our father, but we were reconciled to him through faith in our brother Jesus Christ.

When Paul talked about how he worked among the church at the very beginning of his ministry in Thessalonica he reminded them that he did not flaunt his authority as the founder of the church, but rather he went among them like a young child. By that he meant that he was humble and did not Lord his authority over them. Those in the world get puffed up with pride and act like they’re the boss, but Christians are supposed to be holy, and act other than that.

Paul said he cared for and gave of himself to the young Christians under his watch like a nursing mother cares for her baby. Paul did not just give them the gospel, but he gave them a part of himself. He poured out his life into the church. He worked and endured hardship so that he would not be a burden on anyone. He reminded them that they had been witness, along with God, that he lived holy, righteous and blameless among them.

He then compared his ministry among them to the way a father deals with his own children. A good father encourages his children when they need encouragement. He comforts his children when they need comfort, and he urges them to do what is right when they need to be pushed in that direction.

Paul was right; the church is our family. New Christians sometimes have trouble fitting into church family dynamics; they grew up without family role models. As we grow in Christ, our lives began to be models of right relationships within God’s family.