To Start
Share with each other about the most recent funeral you attended.
What did you like and dislike about it?
If you could plan your funeral, is there something you want or definitely don’t want to have happen and why?
Read
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Believers Who Have Died
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.
Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What has stuck with you from the passage or the sermon on Sunday?
Discuss
There are at least three ways that Paul describes Christians who have died in this passage.
What do each of the descriptions contribute to our understanding of the death of a believer?
There is a rather complex order of events following the coming of Jesus that Paul articulates in v.15-17.
How does that match up with Jesus’ comment to the thief on the cross that “Today you will be with me in paradise!”?
Sermon Extra
How can we practically encourage each other with the words and promise of 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18?
Share Life
“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.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13
Death is a weighty subject, but it is important that people are prepared to face it.
How can we raise this sensitive topic with people who have no hope?
Go
Use the Go Journal this week to continue thinking about individuals you pray will one day understand the good news of eternal life.
Who on the list could benefit from Share Life this year?
Would it help if you socially reconnected with them this month?
To Close
Paul is concerned that the Thessalonians may not understand death and all its complexity as they wait for Jesus to return from heaven (1:9-10). The return of Jesus was likely though imminent and you can understand that they may have wondered about those who had died before he returned.
The encouragement of this passage is that we will all be with the Lord forever if we trust in Christ.
Why not pray to keep trusting Christ!
Pray
That you may encourage each other while we wait for Jesus return.
That you might be an encouragement to others in the way you grieve.
For those you know who have or are grieving without hope.