1 Thessalonians is a letter that is littered with important themes for any local church; discipleship, suffering well, evangelism, holiness, unity, etc. Paul is writing to a very young (new) church, experiencing the hardships of rejecting the culture around them, and surrendering their lives to Christ. However, they are not folding the to the culture, but they’re excelling in Christ! Paul encourages them throughout this letter to be filled with love towards others, to promote the hope of the gospel amongst themselves and towards the world, and to walk in holiness as a model of the counter-cultural (but better) way of the gospel. Though they are actually excelling greatly in the faith, particularly considering the circumstances, our King Jesus is worthy, so Paul encourages them over and over to Excel Still More.