Living in Hope: Preparedness for Christ's Return
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we delved into 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, focusing on the return of Jesus Christ and the hope it brings to believers. We began by addressing the difference in sorrow between those who have hope in Christ and those who do not. For believers, the death of a loved one is not the end but a transition to being with the Lord. When Christ returns, He will bring with Him those who have died in faith, and their bodies will be resurrected and glorified. This event will be followed by the rapture of living believers, who will also receive glorified bodies.
We then moved to 1 Thessalonians 5, where Paul speaks about the "times and seasons" and the suddenness of the Lord's return, likening it to a thief in the night. This return will bring sudden destruction to those who are not prepared, but believers are called to live in readiness, as children of light. The message emphasized the importance of being spiritually awake and sober, living in a state of readiness for Christ's return.
We also discussed the dual nature of Jesus as both the greatest uniter and divider. Faith in Christ unites believers into an eternal family, but rejecting Him results in eternal separation. The sermon concluded with a call to live in readiness, to be sober and vigilant, and to share the gospel with urgency, knowing that the return of Christ is imminent.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Hope of Resurrection: Believers have a unique hope in the face of death. When a Christian dies, their body may rest, but their spirit is immediately with the Lord. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, assuring us that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Christ when He returns. This hope should comfort and encourage us in times of loss. [21:00]
2. Living in Readiness: The return of Christ will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night. Believers are called to live in a state of readiness, being spiritually awake and sober. This means living a life that reflects our faith, being vigilant in our walk with God, and avoiding complacency. [45:07]
3. The Dual Nature of Christ: Jesus is both the greatest uniter and divider. Faith in Him unites us into an eternal family, but rejecting Him results in eternal separation. This duality underscores the importance of sharing the gospel and living out our faith authentically, as our lives can be a testimony to others. [29:43]
4. The Urgency of the Gospel: The world is often apathetic, believing in a false sense of peace and safety. However, the return of Christ will bring sudden destruction to those unprepared. This urgency should drive us to share the gospel with others, knowing that the opportunity for salvation is limited. [47:52]
5. Encouragement and Edification: Believers are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. This assurance should lead us to comfort and edify one another, building each other up in faith and love. We are called to live in the light, encouraging one another as we see the day of the Lord approaching. [57:49]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:59] - Introduction and Prayer
[20:30] - The Hope of Resurrection
[21:29] - The Return of Christ
[24:55] - Times and Seasons
[25:28] - The Dual Nature of Christ
[29:43] - Jesus as Uniter and Divider
[31:17] - God's Plan for Nations
[35:56] - Divine Intervention
[39:09] - The Day of the Lord
[45:07] - Living in Readiness
[47:52] - Urgency of the Gospel
[53:43] - Children of Light
[55:13] - Spiritual Vigilance
[57:49] - Encouragement and Edification
[01:00:01] - Two Groups of People
[01:01:19] - Call to Salvation
[01:02:15] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
### Observation Questions
1. What is the difference in sorrow between those who have hope in Christ and those who do not, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13? [20:30]
2. How does Paul describe the return of Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17? [23:13]
3. What analogy does Paul use to describe the suddenness of the Lord's return in 1 Thessalonians 5:2? [24:55]
4. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6, how are believers called to live in anticipation of Christ's return? [53:43]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the hope of resurrection provide comfort to believers in times of loss? [21:00]
2. What does it mean to live in readiness for Christ's return, and how can believers avoid spiritual complacency? [45:07]
3. How does the dual nature of Christ as both uniter and divider impact the urgency of sharing the gospel? [29:43]
4. Why is it important for believers to encourage and edify one another as the day of the Lord approaches? [57:49]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced the loss of a loved one. How did the hope of resurrection influence your grieving process? [21:00]
2. What specific steps can you take to live in a state of readiness for Christ's return? Are there areas in your life where you feel spiritually complacent? [45:07]
3. How can you actively share the gospel with urgency, knowing that the return of Christ is imminent? Identify one person you can share your faith with this week. [47:52]
4. In what ways can you be more vigilant and sober in your daily walk with God? Are there distractions or habits that you need to address to stay spiritually awake? [45:54]
5. How can you contribute to the unity of your church community while also standing firm in your faith? Are there situations where you need to lovingly address sin or false teachings? [29:43]
6. Think of a fellow believer who might need encouragement. How can you reach out to them this week to build them up in faith and love? [57:49]
7. How does understanding the dual nature of Christ as both uniter and divider affect your relationships with non-believers? How can you approach these relationships with both love and truth? [29:43]
Devotional
Day 1: The Hope of Resurrection
Believers have a unique hope in the face of death. When a Christian dies, their body may rest, but their spirit is immediately with the Lord. This hope is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, assuring us that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Christ when He returns. This hope should comfort and encourage us in times of loss. The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith, providing a guarantee that death is not the end but a transition to eternal life with God. This assurance transforms our sorrow into hope and our mourning into anticipation of a glorious reunion.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul emphasizes that we should not grieve like those who have no hope. Instead, we are to find comfort in the promise that Jesus will return, bringing with Him those who have died in faith. Their bodies will be resurrected and glorified, and we who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air. This event, often referred to as the rapture, is a source of immense hope and encouragement for believers. [21:00]
1 Corinthians 15:52-54 (ESV): "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'"
Reflection: Think of a loved one who has passed away in faith. How does the promise of resurrection and reunion with them in Christ bring you comfort and hope today?
Day 2: Living in Readiness
The return of Christ will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night. Believers are called to live in a state of readiness, being spiritually awake and sober. This means living a life that reflects our faith, being vigilant in our walk with God, and avoiding complacency. The suddenness of Christ's return should not instill fear but rather motivate us to live each day with purpose and intentionality, knowing that our actions and decisions have eternal significance.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul urges believers to be alert and self-controlled, living as children of light. This involves putting on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. By doing so, we are prepared for the day of the Lord, which will come unexpectedly. Living in readiness means actively pursuing a relationship with God, growing in faith, and being a light to those around us. [45:07]
Luke 12:35-37 (ESV): "Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure you are living in a state of spiritual readiness for Christ's return?
Day 3: The Dual Nature of Christ
Jesus is both the greatest uniter and divider. Faith in Him unites us into an eternal family, but rejecting Him results in eternal separation. This duality underscores the importance of sharing the gospel and living out our faith authentically, as our lives can be a testimony to others. The message of Christ is one of love and unity for those who believe, but it also brings division between those who accept and those who reject Him.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul highlights the contrast between those who are prepared for the Lord's return and those who are not. Believers are called to live as children of light, while those who reject Christ face sudden destruction. This dual nature of Christ as both uniter and divider emphasizes the urgency of sharing the gospel and living a life that reflects His love and truth. [29:43]
Matthew 10:34-36 (ESV): "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household."
Reflection: How can you share the message of Christ with someone in your life who does not yet know Him, knowing the eternal significance of their response?
Day 4: The Urgency of the Gospel
The world is often apathetic, believing in a false sense of peace and safety. However, the return of Christ will bring sudden destruction to those unprepared. This urgency should drive us to share the gospel with others, knowing that the opportunity for salvation is limited. The imminent return of Christ calls for a sense of urgency in our mission to spread the good news, as we do not know the day or hour of His coming.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul warns that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, bringing sudden destruction to those who are not ready. This serves as a wake-up call for believers to be proactive in sharing the gospel and living out their faith. The urgency of the gospel message is a reminder that our time to reach others with the love of Christ is limited, and we must make the most of every opportunity. [47:52]
2 Peter 3:9-10 (ESV): "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."
Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear the gospel message? How can you intentionally share the love and truth of Christ with them today?
Day 5: Encouragement and Edification
Believers are not appointed to wrath but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ. This assurance should lead us to comfort and edify one another, building each other up in faith and love. We are called to live in the light, encouraging one another as we see the day of the Lord approaching. The community of believers is meant to be a source of strength and support, helping each other grow in faith and remain steadfast in the hope of Christ's return.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul encourages believers to build each other up and live as children of light. This involves comforting one another with the hope of salvation and encouraging each other to remain vigilant and faithful. The assurance of our salvation through Christ should inspire us to support and uplift one another, fostering a community of love and faith. [57:49]
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV): "And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Reflection: How can you encourage and build up a fellow believer today, helping them to remain steadfast in their faith and hope in Christ?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You could actually have a great life in Jesus Christ. Jesus wants us to have an abundant life. The best thing you could ever do is come to know Christ as your Savior as soon as tonight. I hope tonight, if you're here without Christ, that you'll be saved." [23:39] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus Christ is the greatest uniter that has ever stepped foot on this earth. I mean, when you become born again, you become part of the family of God. You are part of a family that can never be severed, never be taken apart. It's forever and ever and ever and ever." [25:53] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Faith in Jesus Christ unites with a unity that can not be compared to anything else. But without faith in Jesus Christ, there is a division that cannot be compared to anything else. It's not a little thing to reject Jesus. It's an eternal thing that matters forever and ever." [30:13] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "There's only one way from earth to heaven. That's through Jesus Christ. Okay. So these times and seasons, when's it all going to happen? Well, we don't know everything. God's word is, God gave us everything we need to know, but not everything that he knows, not even close." [35:24] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We need to make a conscious effort to learn the word of God. I'll give you three more scriptures here. 1 John 3, 1 through 3, talks about this. The Lord's coming back. If you really believe it, you want to live like it. And then chapter 2, verse 28, so that we are confident before the Lord." [58:35] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "There's a different kind of sorrow between the sorrow of a faithful man and a faithful woman. A family who's lost a loved one that knows Jesus Christ as their Savior and the kind of sorrow that happens in a family of a loved one who has no reason to believe that they knew Jesus Christ as their Savior. There's a great difference between those two sorrows." [20:30] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Jesus Christ, though he's the greatest uniter that ever walked the face of God, he's the greatest divider that ever walked the face of the earth. Some of us have been so brainwashed by all this modern teaching all this ooey-gooey that you just, you allow yourself to get sucked in to this everything's good. No, everything's not good." [26:28] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We don't have to live in fear. That is not God's plan. So you can also write down Romans 13, 11 through 13. So, and then lastly, verses 9 through 11, it says, For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." [56:54] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We need to be over here building the ark. In other words, we need to believe. Jesus is coming. We're his children. This isn't going to take us by surprise. We've been hearing about it all our lives. Don't let it take you by surprise. And while we're here believing, let's tell other people about Jesus before it's too late." [01:00:40] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are to live. Ready for Christ to come back. And so that's the title of this message. Are you living ready for Christ to come back? Revelation 3 3. Remember, therefore, how thou hast received and heard and hold fast and repent. If thou therefore shall not watch, I will come as a thief and thou shall not know what hour I will come." [45:07] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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