
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
March 28, 2021
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.
14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13
It seems clear that some believers in Thessalonica had passed away and that this was raising questions among the church. What questions do you imagine the Thessalonians were asking? Why do you think they may have been asking those questions? What questions do you have around the topic of death and dying?
What does Paul describe as the primary difference between the way Christians should grieve and the way non-believers grieve? In view of this, describe what authentic Christian grief might look like? Tell us about a time when you personally experienced grief in this way.
What are some of the specific things Christians look forward to with hope? How do these things impact our experience of grief?
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:14-15
Why is the Christian belief that Christ was raised from the dead so centrally important? Read 1 Cor. 15:16-20. What is suggested by Paul’s use of the word “firstfruits?”
Paul anchors his assertions here by saying they are “according to the Lord’s word.” Can you think of any passages in the gospel where Jesus speaks about His return? How do those passages align with what Paul is saying? What can we legitimately infer from this?
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
What are some of the specific things that will happen at Christ’s return according to this passage?
Christians interpret this passage (and other passages like it) in some very diverse ways. In your own experience, what are some of the different ways you have heard Christians describe the events surrounding Christ’s return?
Why is it important to recognize the difference between the things in the Bible that are unmistakably clear and other things in the Bible that are less clear?
Why would these words be encouraging to the Thessalonians? Do you find them encouraging for yourself?