The Return of the King Series

Look Ahead! Scott Engebretson November 29-30, 2014 The Return of the King Series 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

Attention Leaders!

Be prepared for God to speak to your group. The Holy Spirit is with you as you prepare, as you open Scripture, and as you lead discussion. Prayerfully consider the needs of your group; who will be there; and what God has done recently in your group. Remember, aim for balancing discussion and teaching; more sharing than answering; and more listening than telling.

Sermon Summary (Time Suggestion: 5 minutes)

These notes are to help you give your group a quick recap of the weekend sermon in your own words. If God spoke to you personally through the message, be sure to share that, as well.

This week Scott Engebretson continues this year’s Advent series by focusing on Paul’s discussion of Christ’s return in I Thessalonians 4 and 5. He opens his sermon by reflecting on things he has always looked forward to, including the invention of the “hoverboard,” which Scott first encountered in a Back to the Future movie when he was 11. Citing examples of other things we often look forward to – our wedding day, job promotions, having kids or grandkids – Scott points out that few of us, however, look forward to the day of our death or to the day of Christ’s return, or even think about these things. But the Bible speaks a great deal about death and about Christ’s return, and urges us to think on these things, as well, and to be encouraged. This week’s primary text, I Thessalonians 4:13-18 (along with I Thessalonians 5:1-11), focuses on precisely these things.

Scott goes on to remind us that the foundation of our future hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and notes (along with N.T. Wright) that the New Testament writings, and those of the church fathers, are full of references to the resurrection, whereas the birth of Christ is mentioned much less often. He encourages us to first look back on the accomplished fact of Christ’s resurrection, as this fact forms the backbone of our Christian faith and hope. Without Christ’s resurrection, Scott reminds us, our faith is truly in vain, and our hope is lost, as the Apostle Paul so straightforwardly points in I Corinthians 15.

Scott then points out that Paul encourages us to Iook ahead to Christ’s return as we consider both what will happen to those who have died in Christ, and those who remain

1 when He returns. On the one hand, we are encouraged to look forward to an event – the triumphant return of Jesus Christ – which he compares to the spectacular annual celebration in Louisville, Kentucky surrounding the Kentucky Derby. On the other hand, we are to look forward to a reunion, where those who have died in the faith and those who remain when Christ returns will be reunited with the coming King. We are encouraged to remember those we have lost in the faith, and to know that both they and we will one day be reunited to Jesus when He returns.

Finally, Scott focuses on how we live today in light Christ’s resurrection, in light of His return, and in light of our own resurrection. Scott focuses on three dimensions of how we are called to live, and says that we are called to encourage differently, to grieve differently, and to live differently. As encouragers, we are to sometimes say less to those who grieve, and sometimes more than we often encounter in the world. As those who grieve, we are called to genuinely mourn those who we lose – even those who die as believers – but to mourn in ways different than those who have neither hope nor faith. Scott mentions the sensitivity with which we are called to approach the tragic events unfolding in Ferguson, Missouri in recent months, and encourages us to grieve with those who are experiencing great grief and loss in these things, and to guard our words, that they may bring grace and not harm to those who hear. Finally, Scott encourages us not to ask what we would do today were we to die tomorrow, but rather to focus on how, if we live tomorrow, we might do so more fully for Jesus.

OUTLINE:

I. Look back

II. Look ahead A. We look forward to an event B. We look forward to a reunion

III. Live today A. We grieve differently B. We encourage differently C. We live differently

Link to the Sermon

 In preparation for this week’s study, describe a situation where you or someone close to you faced grave sickness or death, or where you experienced the loss of someone close to you, and share a little bit about how that encounter with death changed the way you view your life. Did that experience draw you closer to God or did it turn you further away from God? Why do you think that is?

2 This Week’s Bible Study

Text: I Thessalonians 5:1-11

Background and Context

The First Epistle to the Thessalonians was the first of all Paul's letters and was likely written from Corinth in A.D. 52. At the time of its writing, Timothy had just returned from Macedonia with news from Thessalonica regarding the state of the church there. Though Paul had likely only spent a short time in Thessalonica, the church was firmly established, and Paul spends much of his letter encouraging the church and instructing them in the practical basics of holy living. He reminds the Thessalonians of the difficulty he had endured to establish the church among them (see Acts 17:1-10), and tenderly assures them of his love, his prayers, and his confidence in them. While the letter is not primarily doctrinal in nature, Paul does address the issue of Christ’s return, which there had been some discussion and confusion about, and which Paul points the church to as an important part of encouraging them to continue living faithful and devoted lives for Christ’s sake.

Study & Discuss

1. Have someone in the group read verses 1-5 below out loud, and someone else read verses 6-11.

1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self- controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

3 2. In verses 1-4, what two metaphors does Paul use to describe the return of Christ?

 A thief in the night  A woman suddenly going into labor

3. What are some words you might use to describe the coming of a thief in the night? How might you describe a woman going into labor?

 Secret, stealthy, unexpected, quiet  Sudden, intense, urgent, an emergency

4. In verse 4, what does Paul encourage the Thessalonians not to do?

 He encourages them not to be surprised or caught unaware by Christ’s return.

5. In verses 4 and following, Paul uses two more metaphors to describe different attitudes and orientations toward Jesus. What are these two metaphors?

 Paul refers to night and day, darkness and light, waking and sleeping

6. Think about walking around a dark, unfamiliar city at night. How might you feel? Why? What might you fail to notice in the dark?

 You might feel afraid, confused, and disoriented. You might get lost. You might fail to notice holes in the road, or be unsure about who to trust. You might feel this way simply because you can’t see your surroundings very well, and because you don’t have any personal knowledge of where to go or how to act in that place.

7. Think about being fast asleep when an intruder comes into your home. How might you feel once you wake up and discover that someone unexpected had come?

 You might feel surprised and disoriented. You might feel frightened or angry.

8. Think about walking around a familiar place on a sunny day after a good night’s sleep. How does it feel? Are you less or more likely to make an error in judgment or get yourself into trouble in a light familiar place when you are rested, or in a dark, unfamiliar place when you are sleepy? Why?

 You feel confident and secure. You feel sure of yourself, of where you are going, and of who to trust.  You are much less likely to make an error in judgment or get yourself into trouble in a light familiar place when you are rested.

4 9. In verse 6, what does Paul specifically tell the Thessalonians to be and do?

 He tells them to be alert and self-controlled

10.Think about trying to follow Jesus in your current life. In practical terms, what does it mean for you to be alert and attentive to God? If you are waiting with alertness for Him to return, how might that change the way you live every day?

 To be alert to God means paying attention to what he says in the Scriptures. It means putting yourself in situations where you might encounter him personally (i.e. prayer and worship, etc.).  To wait with alertness for Jesus to return means I am thinking about what He finds me doing when He returns.

11.Verses 6 and 8 both encourage us to be self-controlled (literally sober, free from the effects of alcohol). Give some practical examples of things you can do to ensure that you are self-controlled?

 Resist anger, don’t eat or drink too much, get adequate rest, be aware of the ways you are behaving toward other people, consider how Jesus might look upon what you are doing or saying if He were physically present.

12.In verses 8 and 9, would you say Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to look back to the past or forward to the future? Why?

 He encourages us to look back to Christ’s death  He encourages us to look forward to our future salvation  He affirms that we are with Christ in both the present and in the future  He encourages us to look both backward and forward so we better know how to live in the present, and so we can maintain hope and vision for doing so.

13.What do you think Paul is referring to in verse 10 where he talks about “whether we are awake or asleep?” In this verse, what is the most essential thing, whether we are alive or dead?

 He is referring to wheter we are alive or dead.  That we are with Jesus

14.Finally, does verse 11 indicate that we can best be alert and self-controlled alone, or with the help of others? How do you know this?

 With the help of others. We are told to encourage one another, as it is much harder to remain alert and self-controlled if we lack the encouragement and assistance of our brothers and sisters trying to do the same.

5 Ministry Time

Take some time at the end of your group to welcome the Holy Spirit and seek Him for direction as you pray for one another. When we make space for Him, God is pleased to come and show Himself to us in our groups, and to genuinely touch and change us, often in powerful ways.

 Ask if anyone in the group is feeling particular challenges or discouragement as regards alertness to God and self-control going into the holidays (if you are using this study outside of the holiday season, simply consider the next several weeks of people’s lives). Take some time to listen for God and pray for those who respond.

 Break into groups of two or three, and then ask God to show you specific ways to both encourage one another and to pray blessing over each other for the weeks ahead. Be particularly sensitive to relationship challenges if it is the holiday season.