HAVE HOPE – Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We know from this letter from Paul to the believers in Thessalonica that, like most of his letters to believers as a group, or individuals close to him, he often answers questions or concerns that come to him. Such seems to be the case in today’s passage. And at least in this first passage at the end of Chapter 4, the question seems to be about what happens to believers who have died. Pastor Jeff opened today by reading the full passage with us, and because Paul references it, asking us to consider what the notion of Jesus’ ‘second advent’ or second coming entails. And in the text of the passage today, Paul provides some insights into the nature of Jesus second coming. Some interpret this language at the end of Chapter 4 as indicating a ‘rapture’ or ‘catching up’ of believers, both dead and alive, preceding Jesus’ actual second coming. Others see this language concurrent with Jesus’ second coming. What do you see in this opening passage of today’s message?
Paul uses the Greek word for the second coming of Jesus, parousia, multiple times in both first and second Thessalonians (1 Thess. 2:19, 3:13, 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thess 2:1, 2:8, 2:9), but only once does he use a different word, harpozo, here in verse 17, which means to be ‘caught up.’ Along these lines, Jeff shared a quote from our own Pathway facilitator Marcia Johnson, “While the […] 1 Thessalonians, 1 Corinthians, and Philippians texts speak of the resurrection of the dead when Messiah returns, only the Thessalonians text mentions being caught up in the air. The apostles were not innovators. When they taught a concept, they supported it with ample testimony from Scripture. The NT rarely, if ever, presents a completely new idea or institution that is not rooted in the Hebrew Bible.” And Jeff continued this important contextual perspective with a quote from scholar Gene Green, that helps us here: “In v. 15 Paul referred to the coming of the Lord as his parousia, a term that commonly meant the glorious ‘coming’ of a deity or the official visit of a sovereign to a city, who himself was often honored as divine. An imperial visit was an event of great pomp and magnificent celebrations, with rich banquets, speeches that praised the imperial visitor, a visit to the local temple, rich donations, celebration of games, sacrifices, statues dedicated, and arches and other buildings constructed. Money was minted to commemorate the event, crowns of gold might be given, and at times a new era was inaugurated. As we will see in the exposition of v. 17, the officials and a multitude of people would head out of the city to receive the one who came, all dressed with special clothing. In v. 16 the apostle describes the glory and the pomp that will accompany the parousia of the Lord, while assuring the Thessalonians that all Christians, both the living and the dead, will participate in this grand event.” Jeff summarized it this way: “Paul’s focus was not on a ‘rapture’ that zipped us up to heaven. Rather, he was writing about the glorious return of Jesus where we are caught up to meet Him and escort Him down as He establishes His reign at the Second Coming.” Does this ring true for you? How so?
But importantly, Jeff points out for us that Paul is actually focusing on a much more direct and pastoral need that this group of believers had – the loss of some in their congregation and what to make of that loss, as they grieved about it. And in verse 13, what is the key aspect that they are to hold onto, even in the midst of their loss? And why do they have this hope (Hint: verses 14-17)? Do you see that they can endure grief with the hope that is found in the resurrected Jesus, and that one day, that will be theirs as well? How does verse 17 end? And how does this passage end in verse 18? Gene Green helps us again here: “The passage was clearly not designed to satisfy idle speculative curiosity about the last things; its purpose was to encourage those who were facing the most profound grief that a human could experience.” Does this ring true for you? How so?

BE PREPARED – Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-7; Matthew 24:36-37; 42-44

And in these first verses of Chapter 5, Paul continues this line of thinking about hope and encouraging one another, and once again, reminds these believers that they are secure in their faith, and therefore, have no need to know about or question the timing of Christ’s return, but rather, to be prepared at all times. Do you see this in these first seven verses? How so?
And as Jeff shared with us, see how Jesus Himself describes this in the Matthew 24 passage…what does He say? What does He mean? What does He say in verse 44? Is this for us today? How so? Are you prepared? Are your family and friends prepared?
Also, back in Chapter 5, notice how Paul contrasts those in the darkness and those in the light…which are these followers in Thessalonica? And if His followers are those in the light, then what does Paul say about them? Another reference to ‘being prepared’, yes? Again, are you in the light, and prepared? How so?

DON’T MISS THE POINT – Read: 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11; Acts 1:6-11; Matthew 28:19-20; Matthew 25:34-40

In these final four verses in Chapter 5, what does Paul say? Notice that in verse 8, this entire 8-11 passage is for those ‘in the light’. Why is this important? And what is the outcome for those ‘in the light’? And what are those in the light to do? Notice the reference in verse 8 to ‘faith, hope, and love’. Paul used similar language in his first letter to the Corinthian church: 1 Corinthians 13:13. Also, very importantly, how does Paul conclude this thinking in verse 11 with how he concluded Chapter 4 verse 18? Why is this repetition important?
Jeff concluded with four applications for us from this lesson today:

a. Don’t be so hyper-focused on the details that you miss the point. The main point is that Christ, in His Glory as King, is going to return, and ‘make all things new’, including all believers, dead and alive – and in that, we place our hope, yes? Read the Acts passage – what is Jesus saying to His closest disciples just before He leaves them? And He has already commissioned them to do His Will and His work before He comes back – read the Matthew 28 verses. What are we to do based on our hope in Him?

b. We need to train ourselves and abide in the love of Jesus so that the resurrection of Jesus informs and shapes everything about us. We are to ‘train our brain and our hearts’ to abide in the resurrection of Jesus, and what that means for us and for those to whom we share the Gospel.

c. Use this passage to primarily encourage those who are grieving and need hope. Paul intends for his words to provide hope and encouragement so that these believers can do the same for others in their community – and so the same for us today.

d. Take what the Lord has given us, join His ongoing mission, and go and show the world the love of Jesus. Jesus’ own words of teaching from the Matthew 25 passage give us what we need to know and do, for His mission.

The bottom line? As Jeff said, “We are His church, living out Acts 1:8, and may He return and find us in that way.” Amen!

Prayer: In prayer this week, ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to a deeper understanding of His Will and mission for your life, in ways that may be new and fresh, particularly as it applies to sharing the Gospel of the Resurrection with others who need to know. Also pray for guidance in sharing the hope you have with others who have lost hope or are grieving with life’s struggles, and therefore, ‘caring for the least of these.’ And ask Him to show you how you can also be His witness in the lives of others around you, that through you, they can be strengthened and encouraged too. And as always, pray that the Holy Spirit would give you ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to respond to His call to you, in order to be His hands and feet in this world, sharing the hope and ‘good news’ of Jesus and His ultimate return, all for God’s Glory! Amen.

Sermon Discussion Questions July 5, 2026