Paul and Silas in Thessalonica, endured beatings and jailings, but did not disobey the country's law's, just debated the scriptures of the bible for 3 days and convinced people to follow the Lord.  This disrupted the current culture and was the reason they were put in jail.  Although they had a opportunity to leave Jail, after the earthquate they did not. After the Warden took them home and dressed their wounds, they came back to the Jail the next day voluntarily.  They pressed the Government to answer why they jailed Roman citizens who had not violated the Roman Laws and asked for an appology.

Paul had in mind the interests of the gospel in the Roman world. He knew that quietly enduring this unjust treatment had the potential of establishing a precedent for Roman leaders' treatment of other Christian servants.  He also knew that Christians were the very best citizens and did not want Christians to garner an unearned reputation as subversive to the state or of social 'order'. -" Guy Prentiss Waters".  

This profited the new Christians in Thessalonica, which grew into one of the largest Churches which became important for the growth and spread of Christianity.

What do we as Christians need to do to further the Gospel?

- Christianity and Government - The current government is an upside down culture compared to Christian behavior.  They sometimes depict us as extremests and other terms.  To turn this around, Christians need to teach the Gospel exactly as it has been presented and to follow it's ways, while at the same time following the Government rules, but challenging the Government policies which are contrary to what their laws guarantee us (freedom of religion). 

 - Christianity and Culture -  We need to conform to the Lords love and his word in the Bible and not to the world.  If we love the Lord we will show this love and the current culture will see this and want to know what we have.  We can change individuals path from the current culture towards God.  The current culture is upside-down where now Purity, love, etc are not something to strive for and is a rarity.

 - Christianity and Levittown/LI - Please note that every boat leaves a wake when it is moving.  We need to Distance ourselves from the world and focus on the Lord.  We should not desire or live in the earthly world, but work to save up treasures in heaven.  Are we Reasoning with the world and debating the Bible and word with the worldly people?  Do we love the Church?  Do we give up our comfort to support the Gospel.  If we just present the Gospel to three people over the course of the year our church would have a radical effect on the current culture and start to turn the upsidedown Culture into a Rightside up culture.   Are you willing to lose a friend or get negative feedback from our culture by loving and supporting the Word of God?

This is what the Lord wants us to do!