We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  1 Thessalonians 1:2-6

The Apostle Paul opens up his letter to the Church of Thessalonica , telling and reminding them, he is praying for them always. This should be the model for all of us and the Church, we should be praying for one another continually, especially the Pastor. If the Shepherd of the Church is not praying individually for every person under their watch, they should step down as the Pastor. And as fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we should be praying for one another without ceasing

The next thing Paul mentions is the Churches, work of faith and labor of love. This means the Church was actively busy fulfilling the Great Commision (Matthew 28:19) being the hands and feet of Christ , helping the poor, administering to the sick, sharing the gospel of Christ. The Church is not dead, just sitting on their couch waiting for the Rapture to come. They are the light of the world and the salt of the Earth (Mathew 5)

Also Paul reminds the Church, you are here because you are the elect of God. These believers not only heard the gospel, but were baptized by the Holy Spirit (John 3) They were Christians because they answered the call from the Great Shepherd Jesus Christ (John 10) Even though the Church is being persecuted and afflicted, they had the joy of the Holy Spirit inside them, because they are Born Again

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 7-10

Paul gives the Church of Thessalonica a great compliment, he says “You have become an example to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia”  The other Christians around the Asia Minor noticed the Church of Thessalonica, they were not fake Christians, they not only talked the talk but they walked the walk. Other people could see the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) in the Christians of Thessalonica.

We as Christians need to be a good example for others around us also, whether you realize it or not, others are watching you including non-believers. When you declare yourself a Christian, the microscope is on your life. Jesus said “You will be known by the fruit you produces” (Matthew 7:16) So how do you become fruitful? You need to become Born Again in Christ through the Holy Spirit (John 3) A dead Church is often indicator of the Holy Spirit is missing. Just like the Church of Thessalonica, we need to be good examples to the world, the body of Christ, Amen!