Beyond the Grave: What happens next? (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

March 9, 2025

Message Listening Guide

Guiding Question: How can we, as the Bride of Christ, prepare for the marriage, not just the ceremony?

The Purpose of Paul’s Teaching (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
  • The Concern: Believers in Thessalonica were dying, and the church wondered—would they miss out on Christ’s return? Would they be disadvantaged in the resurrection?
  • Paul’s Response: "Grieve—but not hopelessly.”
  • Key Truth: Grief is not unchristian. It is a fitting and natural response to loss—but it is qualitatively different because of our hope.
The Foundation of Our Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:14)
  • Hope is Rooted in History: Paul doesn’t comfort with wishful thinking but with historical reality—Jesus truly died and rose again.
  • A Future Secured: If Jesus conquered death, then His people will too.
  • We don’t cling to comforting myths—we cling to a Risen King.
The Picture of the Lord’s Return (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17)
  • First in Line: The dead in Christ aren’t left out—they are first to see Jesus (v. 15).
  • A Royal Arrival: Paul describes a grand procession—Jesus returns as a victorious King, and believers form His welcoming party (v. 16-17).
  • The Focus Isn’t on When—But on What Comes Next: “And so we will always be with the Lord.” (v. 17)

The Point: Don’t stress about the date—celebrate our fate.

Application: Encourage One Another with These Words (1 Thessalonians 4:18)
  • Focus on the Right Thing: Jesus’ return isn’t meant to cause fear or division, but hope and encouragement.
  • Grieve Differently: Grief isn’t a detour from faith—it’s a journey we walk with the Lord.
  • Hold Fellowship Higher Than Speculation: Don’t let secondary debates about the end times divide the family of God.

Connection Group Conversation Guide

Get-to-Know-You Question (Choose One): Share your name with the group and the answer to the question: If you could attend any wedding (past, present, or even fictional), whose would it be and why? OR: For those who are married, if you could redo your wedding day but only change one thing, what would it be?

Review: Last Sunday’s message focused on the return of Christ and how Christians should live in light of this reality. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to reassure them that death is not the end, and that all believers—both those who have died and those who are alive at Christ’s return—will be together with the Lord. The sermon emphasized that our focus should not be on predicting dates or getting caught up in debates about the end times, but rather on the ultimate reality of being with Jesus forever. We are called to grieve with hope and to encourage one another with this truth.

Discuss: In the sermon, we compared a bride obsessing over the wedding day but forgetting about the marriage itself to Christians focusing too much on end-times speculation. Why do you think some Christians fixate on timelines and signs rather than the promise of being with Jesus?

Read: Have someone read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 aloud.

Discuss: What stands out to you most in this passage? What surprises you?

Discuss: Paul’s challenge to the Thessalonians was: Don’t grieve hopelessly. Our challenge today is: Do grieve Christianly. What are some unhealthy ways Christians tend to handle grief?

Discuss: The sermon pointed out that we live in a culture that often avoids pain. Instead of grieving, we distract, suppress, or rush past it. What do you think it looks like to grieve well with hope? How could you personally grow in handling grief this way?

Discuss: Paul urges believers to encourage one another with these words (v. 18). How can we practically encourage one another with the hope of Christ’s return?

Pray: Share prayer requests and close in prayer.