I’d like to challenge you to read the book of Thessalonians this week. Then I’d like you to read chapter 1 in 3 different versions – it is only about 10 verses – so it should take you about 45 seconds per version. You need to take it beyond Sunday morning – you need to go deeper. I urge you to take the time to really get to know your Bible. It is what we are supposed to base our lives on – we need to know it. Some versions are ‘word for word’ – which is really a misnomer – formal equivalency, because you can’t really have word for word translations. Then some are thought for thought (functional equivalency) and others are paraphrases . You can use BibleGateway.com to read in many translations – or blueletterbible.org I will be emailing out how to go deeper in the word – and will include some links. Tim Keller does an interview with Christiana from CNN(?) - “The gospel will question and confront every culture at its roots.” I’d like to give some background. We’ve had lots of maps, so here is another one. Thessaloniki is at the top – it is in northern Greece, near Philippi. Acts 16-18. Called Therma until about 315 BCE by General Cassander – Thessaly Victory (nike = victory) It was an important trade route - Via Egnatia – most important port in the area – Let’s pray: Lord, I thank you for Eric and his trip – use that time – we ask that students in China would come to Christ. Thank You for the work You are doing in China – it is amazing how the underground church is thriving – we have much to learn from them here. We pray for their support, that you would help to provide for them. May Your words in this book become real in our lives and make us different people as we study and apply your word to our lives. May we have ears to hear – to make the most of these days we have here on this earth. We pray for those in the South who have been hit by tornadoes – may the Chistian witness serve them well. May Your grace, mercy and comfort go out to those people as well. May we live to honor You. Paul gets a call to go to Philippi – then he is chased out of the city – and comes to Thessalonica. 17:1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying,] "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ." Paul would go to the synagogue – because the gospel was first for the Jews. Luke – and Acts – are together – the Gospel is part 1 and Acts is part 2 of one large book. There is almost identical working to last week… Luke 24: 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Paul reasoned from the Scriptures – that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again. These Jews hadn’t heard yet – it was the first they were hearing of this. At first they couldn’t understand – How could this be the Messiah? We are not victorious under a new leader and new government. So in this gospel message, there is a proclamation of something different. As we move on – Acts 17 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a great multitude of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women. Reasons/Explains/Proves/Persuaded We think we proclaim things and God does this miracle. But we have a responsibility to reason/explain, prove/persuade people to come to faith in Christ. We need to take the time to do this! Do you have the ability to persuade someone why it is important to come to Jesus? Are you able to share why Jesus is the answer to the question of what they need? I challenge you to get to know your Bible and to learn how to share your faith. Then when God give s you the opportunity – you can share it – and share it clearly. First understand your faith – then share it. Lee Strobel has written a number of ‘The Case for…’ It is all of our responsibilities to communicate our faith. For the Jews, He had to explain why The Christ had to suffer. First, people need a Savior. Most don’t even realize they need a Messiah. They have most what they need – and we need to be able to show people that they need someone to save them from their sin. Technology won’t work, education won’t work, the government won’t work – those things don’t change the world. Second, we need to be able to persuade that God’s justice demands the cross. There is a penalty for sin and rebellion. There is judgment comin