Wakeful Waiting

Passage

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Sermon Summary

The promise of Jesus' return is good news for those who believe. Not only will he raise up our bodies, but he will judge the world in perfect justice. Because "he has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord" (v. 9), believers can live life now awake, sober and attuned to the light of reality. In this dusky era of already/not yet, however, we are still tempted to sleepwalk in darkness. So we must "encourage one another and build one another up" (v. 11).

Discussion Questions (choose any—you don't have to answer them all!)

1. [Optional starter question] What stood out or stuck with you from the sermon?
2. Where in the world (art, news, politics, technology) do you detect a longing for God to judge and fix the world?
3. How does knowing that Jesus already took your judgment change the way you think about God’s final judgment?
4. How are you tempted to walk in darkness? In what ways do you experience it as 'counterfeit grace'?
5. What is one specific way you can practice living in the light—with faith, hope and love—today?
6. Describe some specific ways you can encourage and build up other believers. How do you need to be encouraged and built up?
7. Have you wrestled with the question of those who die without faith? How can God's character give you hope?

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Prayer Prompts

• Thank you, Lord, for the hope of __________ (anything related to Jesus' return)
• Forgve me, Father, for turning toward the counterfeit grace of ___________
• Help me, Jesus, to turn from  toward ________ (the light of reality)

Resources Consulted

• Africa Bible Commentary, ed. Tokunboh Adeyemo
• True to Our Native Land, ed. Bryan K. Blount
• The New Testament in Color, ed. Esau McCauley
• Thessalonians for Everyone, NT Wright
• Cornerstone Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, Philip W. Comfort
• The Bible Speaks Today Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, John Stott
• IVP Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, GK Beale
• Tyndale Commentary on 1 Thessalonians, Leon Morris
• The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay, Ashley Lande