‘Our gospel hope: Life after death and the return of the Lord!’ (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

If there’s one thing we all need to survive in this world and in order to ‘keep on, keeping on’ it’s hope. Not a vain ‘pie-in-the-sky’ hope that people have when they believe something that isn’t true to lessen the pain of reality, but a hope that is based on something outside of us, something that is tangible and real. God’s people have such a hope, and in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Paul speaks about that hope – a hope that says ‘we will be with the Lord forever’. How that hope works out in relation to the reality of death and in relation to the Lord’s coming is spelled out in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It’s a great passage and one that should remind us that our hope in Christ is not just something for the present. It’s for tomorrow and every day and for eternity!

Service

00:00 Welcome
Song: O Worship the King
00:16 Introduction
00:39 Prayer
04:56 Bible reading: Acts 1
Song: My Heart Is Filled
07:08 Kids’ Talk
Song: Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled (John 14:1-4)
11:30 Bible reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Song: My Worth Is Not in What I Own
Sermon: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Song: My Faith Looks Up to Thee
12:49 Closing

Outline

Taxes and death!

These believers were wondering …??

The uncertainty of the timing of His return…

Note here that Paul speaks of the Lord’s return and

The role that believers are to play in it (v.13-15)

The certainty we should have of it (v.16)

The comfort we should gain from it (v.17-18)

Clearing away ignorance
Defining our attitude to life and death