3ded9dc45d4d2e6e882e …



INTERACTIVE TEACHING/LEARNING GUIDE

Until He Comes – Week 12

Session Title: Take Comfort in the Promise

Focal Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Central Teaching/Learning Aim: Today learners will understand that Jesus’ death and resurrection provide hope and assurance that all believers will spend eternity with Jesus after we die.

I. Hook

A. An Interview with Steven Curtis Chapman

Location:

Start: 5:41

Stop: 9:26

Synopsis – On the evening of May 21, 2008 an unthinkable tragedy fell upon the family of Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman when five-year-old Maria Chapman was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by her brother, Will.

Wrestling with the pain of his daughter's death and the anguish of the son who was at the wheel, Chapman says, “Every lyric I've ever written has been tested beyond what I ever imagined.”

In this interview Chapman talks about Maria’s profession of faith and his hope that he will see her again in heaven.

Ask – What do you think happens to our Christian friends and family when they die?

State – Today Paul tells us that believers will spend eternity together in heaven.

B. Optional Method – “Hope” Scripture Search

Divide your class into groups of 4 or 5. Tell learners that you would like for them to search the Scriptures for the word “hope.” Class members can use their Bibles, smartphones, tablets or an internet-enabled device to do this Scripture search. The group should choose 3 or 4 of their favorite passages about hope and be prepared to share them with the group. Debrief.

Ask – What does “hope” mean? Which of the following do you believe is the best definition of “hope?”

1. A wish

2. To desire very much

3. To anticipate, expect, have confidence in

State – In our New Testament the Greek word translated “hope” actually means “to anticipate, expect, or have confidence in.” Let’s think about that for a minute. I’m going to read some excerpts from recent newspapers and I’d like for us to decide which definition of hope fits the story.

Share the following excerpt from USA Today.

Steelers Hope for Reinforcements

Ben Roethlisberger took a break from changing his newborn son's diapers to throw a few passes with his sprained right shoulder on Monday.

The Pittsburgh Steelers saw enough to ask their franchise quarterback to throw a few more over the next few days, hoping he can recover in time to salvage a season in danger of slipping through their fingers.

Calling the session "a step in the right direction," Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday there's "a chance" Roethlisberger could play on Sunday in Baltimore.

Staff, “Steelers Hope for Reinforcements,” USA Today, 27 November, 2012.

Ask – What do you think? In this article what does hope mean?

1. A wish?

2. To desire very much?

3. To anticipate, expect, have confidence in?

State – Here is our second article. Which definition of hope fits this story?

US Stocks Snapshot: Wall Street Ends Higher on ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Hope

U.S. stocks rose in volatile trade on Wednesday after comments from the top Republican in Congress on a possible compromise to avoid the "fiscal cliff" gave investors some reason to hope and turned the market around.

The Dow Jones industrial average gained 106.90 points, or 0.83 percent, to end unofficially at 12,985.03. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 10.99 points, or 0.79 percent, to finish unofficially at 1,409.93. The Nasdaq Composite Index advanced 23.99 points, or 0.81 percent, to close unofficially at 2,991.78.

Staff, “US Stocks Snapshot: Wall Street Ends Higher on ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Hope,” Reuters, 28 November 2012.

Ask – What do you think? In this article what does hope mean?

1. A wish

2. To desire very much

3. To anticipate, expect, have confidence in

State – In today’s passage of scripture Paul talks about hope. He would not agree that “hope” is simply a wish or desire. He would say that “hope” means to anticipate and expect something that was promised. This kind of hope brings comfort and encouragement when a believer dies.

C. Optional Method – I Hope That There Is a Chocolate Center in These M&Ms!

Ask – Which of the following do you believe is the best definition of “hope?”

1. A wish

2. To desire very much

3. To anticipate, expect, have confidence in

State – In our New Testament the Greek word translated “hope” actually means “to anticipate, expect, or have confidence in.” Let’s think about that for a minute.

Produce a bowl full of M&Ms.

Ask – What do you know about M&Ms?

State – In 1954 television ads, the tagline, “melts in your mouth, not in your hand,” was introduced. M&Ms are “milk chocolate with a colorful candy shell.”

Ask – If I use the biblical definition of hope, what do I mean when I say “I hope that every one of these M&Ms has a chocolate center?” Must I eat all of the M&Ms in order to have this hope?

State – In our Bible study today Paul talks about the hope that believers have.

D. Optional Method – Heaven Is For Real

Location:

Ask – What happens to believers when they die?

State – In today’s Bible study Paul answers this question for the believers at Thessalonica.

E. Optional Method – “Here’s What Happens to Your Facebook Account After You Die”

Share the following excerpts from Time Magazine:

Here’s What Happens to Your Facebook Account After You Die

Facebook just made death a little less scary.

Facebook announced Thursday a policy that allows you to designate a “legacy contact,” who’ll be allowed to “pin a post on your Timeline” after your death, such as a funeral announcement. The contact won’t be able to log in as you or read your private messages, but will be allowed to respond to new friend requests, update your cover and profile photos, archive your Facebook posts and photos.

The “legacy contact” policy was established after families of the deceased had told Facebook they wanted to download and preserve the user’s photos and also post funeral announcements or other news. “By talking to people who have experienced loss, we realized there is more we can do to support those who are grieving and those who want a say in what happens to their account after death,” Facebook said.

Jack Linshi, “Here’s What Happens to Your Facebook Account After You Die,” Time Magazine, February 12, 2015.

State – Well, it’s good to know what happens to your Facebook account after you die! It does appear that Facebook cares about those who are grieving. In today’s study Paul addresses the questions of hope and grief for believers. He addresses the question, “What happens to a believer when he/she dies?”

II. Book

A. Write the following outline on the marker board:

Take Comfort in the Promise

1. Grieve with hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

2. What happens to believers when they die? (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)

3. Encourage one another. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

B. Utilize the discussion guide to examine the Scripture passages.

III. Look

A. Provide copies of the Case Study handout for everyone. Work through the handout together.

IV. Took

A. Steven Curtis Chapman

Remind your class of the interview with Steven Curtis Chapman that we watched at the beginning of the session.

Ask – In what ways did Steven Curtis Chapman and his family live out 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 when little Maria died? What does the Chapman’s family teach us about the nature of Christian hope? How might this help us as we face the grief related to the death of a friend or family member?

Remind learners that all of us, regardless of age or life station are called on to deal with death.

Close in prayer, asking that God remind us of these things when we experience grief and loss.

B. Optional Method – M&Ms

Provide each learner with a fun size pack of M&Ms.

State – This week as you see (and eat) these M&Ms remember the definition of hope.

Read – (John 14:1-3).

State – Remember this promise of Jesus and the hope that it provides. Share your hope with someone this week.

Close in prayer, asking that God provide opportunities for you to encourage someone this week with these words.

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Teacher Copy

1. What information did Paul want to share with the Thessalonian believers? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

[Paul wanted to clarify with the Thessalonian believers what happens to believers who “fall asleep” and encourage them not “to grieve like the rest of men who have no hope.”]

2. What do you think Paul meant when he talked about “those who fall asleep?”

3. How should a believer mourn the death of another believer?

4. What is the meaning of the word “hope?” What hope do believers have that non-believers do not?

5. Paul reminded the Christians at Thessalonica some of the things that they believed. What are those things? (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they believed that:

a. Jesus died and rose again

b. That God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him

6. Why is it important for believers to remember these things?

7. Where did Paul receive his teaching about what happens to believers who die? (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

[Paul indicates that his teaching reflects the Lord’s own words.]

8. What is the sequence of events in the return of Christ? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

a. The Lord will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God.

b. The dead in Christ will rise first.

c. Those who are still alive will be caught up in the air to meet the believers who have died.

d. All believers will be with the Lord forever.

9. What was Paul’s final word of instruction in today’s passage? (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

[Paul says that believers should encourage one another with these words.]

10. Why would believers find these words comforting?

11. What is significant about being a member of a church and a Bible study class when someone loses a friend or family member to death?

DISCUSSION GUIDE

Student Copy

1. What information did Paul want to share with the Thessalonian believers? (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

2. What do you think Paul meant when he talked about “those who fall asleep?”

3. How should a believer mourn the death of another believer?

4. What is the meaning of the word “hope?” What hope do believers have that non-believers do not?

5. Paul reminded the Christians at Thessalonica some of the things that they believed. What are those things? (1 Thessalonians 4:14)

Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they believed that:

a.

b.

6. Why is it important for believers to remember these things?

7. Where did Paul receive his teaching about what happens to believers who die? (1 Thessalonians 4:15)

8. What is the sequence of events in the return of Christ? (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

a.

b.

c.

d.

9. What was Paul’s final word of instruction in today’s passage? (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

10. Why would believers find these words comforting?

11. What is significant about being a member of a church and a Bible study class when someone loses a friend or family member to death?

Case Study

John was a businessman. He was a humble man, a man of integrity and was fair in all of his business dealings. He was well-loved by both his vendors and customers.

John was a believer and an active member of his church. If there were ever a person who followed God wholeheartedly it was John. It was obvious that John had a relationship with God that was both real and personal. He taught a Bible study class on Sundays and made an annual trip overseas to serve and share the gospel. He was also active in ministry projects in his town.

John was diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. He suffered greatly, but only for a short time. John died and the family has gathered to plan his memorial service. As a member of John’s family you meet with other family members to talk about the service. As you meet you remember last week’s Bible study when your class talked about 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. With these things in mind consider these questions.

1. What are some things that you can suggest to your family that would help express the grief of the family, while incorporating the hope we have in Christ?

2. A family member asks, “Is it OK for me to cry? What does the Bible say?”

3. What will you include in the memorial service? What music will you use? What will you tell your pastor about what you would like to include? What do you think John would like to have included in his memorial service?

4. If people share testimonials how would you decide who to ask and what to ask them to talk about? Would John be comfortable with people talking about what a wonderful person he was? What do you think John would want shared?

5. If the pastor asked, “What one word would you use to describe the memorial service you want for John?” how would you respond?

THEE WORD FOR THE WEEK

Wait in Sober Expectation

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Monday - Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

• To what day or time is Paul referring? Notice the translation does not say "a day" but "the day." The point is that he is referencing to a specific time, not just any day. How do the following verses describe “the day”? Joel1:15; 2:10-11; Amos 5:18-20; and Zephaniah 1:14-18.

• What type of attitude should we have concerning the day of the Lord that will come like a thief in the night when many are saying peace and security, and then sudden destruction will come? 2 Peter 3:10-13

Tuesday - Read 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5

• What does Paul mean when he says “you are not in darkness”? Ephesians 5:8

• Will believers be subject to the day of the Lord? Colossians 1:13

• How do the “children of light” live compared to those in darkness? John 8:12

Wednesday - Read 1 Thessalonians 5:6; 8

• What type of conduct does Paul expect from believers in v. 6 and when he says, “let us not sleep, but let us keep awake and be sober”? Romans 13:11-14

• Why does Paul picture the Christian life in military terms: “putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation”? Ephesians 6:10-13

• Someone has wisely said… “Outlook determines outcome; and when your outlook is the uplook, then your outcome is secure.” What is your outlook?

Thursday - Read 1 Thessalonians 5:9

• “For God has not destined us for wrath.” So who will experience God’s wrath and why? Romans 1:18; John 3:36

• “But to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Take a moment to observe some wonderful truths that accrue “through Him.” John 1:3; 1:7; 1:10; 1:17 3:17, and 14:6. All things are from Him, through Him, and to Him.

• Praise Him today because all things, even your salvation is “through Him.”

Friday - Read 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

• What does Paul mean, “Whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him?” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17- John 14:1-3

• “Encourage and build up one another, just as you are doing.”

• Someone once said, there are two types of people in the world, "those who come into a room and say, 'Here I am!' and those who come in and say, 'Ah, there you are!'" How different are those two approaches! One says, "I'm important"; the other says, "You are important."

• There should be only one kind of Christian: the "love one another kind.” What type are you?

EXEGETICAL ~ THEOLOGICAL ~ PEDAGOGICAL

NOTE: The bold in each point represents the subject of the unit – what the author was talking about, while the bold underline represents the complement – the author was saying about what he was talking about. Together the subject and complement provide the proposition or big ideas of each unit.

(EXEGETICAL: what it meant for the Thessalonian believers back THEN)

THE CONTENT OF PAUL’S COMMAND TO THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS REGARDING THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD IN CHRIST FIRST AND ONLY THEN THE RAPTURE OF LIVING BELIEVERS, ALONG WITH THEIR RESULTANT UNION WITH CHRIST AND REUNION WITH ONE ANOTHER FOREVER, AT CHRIST’S COMING . . . WAS THAT THEY COMFORT/ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THAT MESSAGE SO AS NOT GRIEVE AS THOSE WHO HAD NO HOPE,

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

Note: Bereavement is a very poignant human experience. However firm our Christian faith may be, the loss of a clos relative or friend causes a profound emotional shock. To lose a loved one is to lose a part of oneself. It calls for radical and painful adjustments, which may take many months. . . . ‘The struggle is to bring our faith and our emotions together.’

Bereavement also occasions anguished questions about those who have died. What has happened to them? Are they all right? Shall we see them again? Such questions arise partly from a natural curiosity, partly from Christian concern for the dead, and partly because their death reminds us of our own mortality and undermines our security. In addition, the Thessalonians had a theological question to put to Paul. He had evidently taught them that the Lord Jesus was going to reappear, in order to take his people home to himself. . . . They seem to have been expecting him so soon that some had given up their jobs, while others were totally unprepared for the experience of bereavement. Relatives or friends of their had now died before Christ’s advent. They had not anticipated this; it took them by surprise and greatly disturbed them. How would the Christian dead fare when Jesus came for his own?” (John Stott, The Gospel and the End of Time: the Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 92-93).

I. The purpose for which Paul and his companions did not want the Thessalonian brethren to be uninformed (“ignorant”) concerning [the status/future of] those [believers] who were dying [present participle] . . . was so that they would not grieve in the same way as those who had no hope [of any future life, reunion, or relationships], (4:13).

Note: “Even though Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was brief, it is clear the Christians there had come to believe in and hope for the reality of their Savior’s return. They were living in the expectation of that coming, eagerly awaiting Christ. They knew Christ’s return was the climactic event in redemptive history and didn’t want to miss it. The major question they had was “What happens to the Christians who die before He comes? Do they miss His return?’” (John MacArthur, 1&2 Thessalonians and Titus, 41-42).

“Paul does not forbid us to grieve altogether. Mourning is natural, even for a while emotionally necessary. It would be very unnatural, indeed, inhuman, not to mourn when we lose somebody near and dear to us. To be sure, it is appropriate at Christian funerals joyfully to celebrate Christ’s decisive victory over death, but we do so only through tears of personal sorrow. . . . What Paul prohibits is not grief but hopeless fried, not all mourning but mourning like the rest of men, who have no hope, that is like the pagans of his day” (John Stott, 94).

“The hopelessness of the non-Christian world stemmed from the one fact they all shared: they did not possess the one true hope, the Christian hope, which Christ validated by his resurrection” (D. M. Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, 144).

II. The reason the Thessalonian brethren had no cause to grieve in the same way as those who had no hope [of any future life, reunion, or relationships] . . . was because if they believed that Jesus died and rose, then they had every reason to believe that God would bring with Him [in resurrection] those who had died [believing] in Jesus, (4:14).

Note: “If God did not abandon Jesus to death, he will not abandon the Christian dead either. On the contrary, he will raise them as he raised him. . . . The apostle’s emphasis is on the unbreakable solidarity which the people of Christ enjoy with him and with each other, and which death is utterly unable to destroy” (Stott, 98).

III. The content of the word/message from the Lord that Paul had for the Thessalonian brethren; another reason for their not grieving in the same way a those who had no hope . . . was that those who were alive and remained until the coming of the Lord would not precede [in resurrection] those who had died, (4:15).

Note: “The revelation of this resurrection came from Jesus Christ Himself. How it came to Paul is not known, but perhaps it was a direct revelation. Not only will the souls of the dead in Christ return with Him (v. 14), but their bodies will also be resurrected at His coming. The bodies of dead Christians will be resurrected immediately before living Christians are conveyed upward” (T. L. Constable, 1 Thessalonians. In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 704).

IV. The reason those who remained alive until the Lord’s coming would not precede those who had died . . . was because when the Lord Himself descends [cf. John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11] from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, the dead [who have believed] in Christ would rise first and only then would those who are alive and remain be caught up [in Latin – “raptured”] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, (4:16-17a).

Note: “We are probably not meant to imagine three distinct noises (the command, the voice and the trumpet) but rather to understand the variety and repetition as indicating the overwhelming, irresistible nature of the summons” (Stott, 102).

This is the verse in which we find the word and the doctrine of the Rapture. The Greek verb used in verse 17 was used fourteen times in the New Testament and has been translated, “take by force,” “snatch away,” or “catch up” (see Matthew 11:12; 12:29; 13:19; John 6:15; 10:12, 28, 29; Acts 8:39; 23:10; 2 Corinthians 12:2, 4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Jude 1:23; Revelation 12:5). The Latin translation of the term, “raptus,” meant “to be caught up or carried away” as by overwhelming emotion or in a spiritual state. It is from this Latin translation and term that we have come to use the theological term. The word Rapture is, therefore, a biblical term.

“The momentary encounter will lead to an everlasting fellowship. Thus the descending Lord and the ascending saints, heaven and earth, will be united. For this is Paul’s theme. The Christian dead (about whom the Thessalonians were worrying) will be separated neither from Christ (since God will bring them with him, 14) nor from the Christian living (who will be caught up with them, 17a). On the contrary, we will all be always with the Lord (17b). We cannot miss this threefold repetition of the preposition syn, ‘together with’. This is the ultimate reunion, the synagoge or ‘our being gathered to him’, to which the apostle will allude in his second letter (2 Thes. 2:1)” (Stott, 105).

V. The result of both the dead in Christ being raised and the living, remaining believers being caught up [“raptured”] together to meet the Lord in the air . . . would be that they would always [forever] be together with the Lord, (4:17b).

Note: “This emphasis on the unity of the event for the living and the dead stresses two points. First, the living have no advantage over the dead in the end. Both groups will experience reunion with the Lord together. Second, the dead and the living will themselves be reunited—a reunion that will know no end. For “we will be with the Lord forever” (Martin, 152-153).

VI. The content of Paul’s command to the Thessalonian brethren regarding the resurrection of the dead and the living at Christ’s coming and catching up [“rapture”] . . . was that they comfort/encourage one another with that message [truth/doctrine], (4:18).

Note: “The primary purpose of this passage is not to teach a scheme of prophecy, but rather to provide encouragement to those Christians whose loved ones have died” (MacArthur, 43.)

(Theological: What it means for God’s people ALWAYS)

THE CERTAINTY OF THE BELIEVER’S RESURRECTION OR RAPTURE . . . COMFORTS THOSE WHO WAIT FOR CHRIST’S COMING,

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

I. Knowing God’s plan for those who have died in faith . . . softens the grief of death, (4:13).

II. Jesus’ resurrection . . . gives believers hope in their resurrection, (4:14).

III. God’s promise of resurrection and rapture at Jesus’ Coming . . . insures the dead will be raised before the living are raptured, (4:15-17a).

IV. The resurrection of the dead and rapture of the living . . . insures the believer’s union with Christ and reunion with fellow believers, (4:17b).

V. The certainty of the believer’s resurrection or rapture . . . comforts those who wait for Christ’s Coming, (4:18).

(Pedagogical: What it means for us Now)

TAKE COMFORT IN JESUS’ COMING,

(1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

I. Knowing God’s plan for your deceased loved ones can soften your grief, (4:13).

A. Grieving for your deceased loved ones is Christlike (John 11:35).

B. Knowing God’s plan for the future will soften your grief.

II. Jesus’ resurrection is the basis for your hope of resurrection, (4:14).

III. At Christ’s Coming, deceased believers will be resurrected before living believers are raptured, (4:15-17a).

A. Deceased believers will be resurrected first.

B. Living believers will then be raptured.

C. Christ’s return could happen any day.

[“We who are alive and remain” could have been Paul; could be us.]

IV. Resurrection or rapture will unite you with Christ and reunite you with loved ones forever, (4:17b).

A. You will be united with Christ forever.

B. You will be reunited with your loved ones forever.

IV. TAKE COMFORT IN JESUS’ COMING, (4:18).

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download