Be Encouraged (part 2)

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 ESV

1. Icebreaker: What years of grade school would you most and least like to go back to? Why?
   

2. Why is it important to understand both the joyful and terrible aspects of the Day of the Lord? (v. 2). How would having a balanced view of these help you to live as a Christian?
   

3. In what ways are you tempted to be like the people of verse 3 who are blissfully unaware of what is at stake when Jesus comes back?
   

4. Why will Jesus’s return not be like a thief in the night for Christians? (v. 4) How does this help you understand how you should think about/await His return? (Vv. 6-8)
   

5. What are some specific parts of your life that could be re-prioritized in light of Jesus’s return? Where are you sleeping and in need of waking up? (v. 6)
   

6. How does understanding Noah’s ark help you understand salvation in Christ? (v. 9-10) What are some other ways you can think of that the Old Testament helps us understand Jesus? (This is called Biblical Theology)
   

7. Which aspect of verses 9-11 is most encouraging to you right now? Why?