1 Thessalonians | Living With Eternity in Sight
How to use it: After watching/listening to this week’s message, from February 26, 2023, use the questions to go deeper into the message, with your group…or on your own. The questions will introduce you to the topic, reflect content from the sermon, go ‘Beyond the Message’, & get you thinking about practical applications for your life.
Does your view of eternity impact the way you live? In what way? Think of someone you know who holds a different view of eternity, how is the life they currently live different?
In 1 Thess 5:2, Paul mentions “The Day of the Lord.” Look up the following Scripture passages to create a definition for “The Day of the Lord” and “The Day of Jesus.”
a. Day of the Lord: Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18-20; Obadiah 1:15; 2 Peter 3:9-10
b. Day of Jesus: John 6:37-40; 1 Cor 1:4-8; Phil 1:3-6
Read 1 Thess 5:3-11. What do these verses tell us about “children of the day” and those who “belong to the night.” Read 1 John 1:5-10 to determine the core difference(s) between those of the day or night.
Read 1 Thess 5:8-10. Define the phrases “faith and love as a breastplate” and “hope of salvation as a helmet.” Using these passages – Prov 4:23-27; Matt 5:14-16; James 2:14-19; 1 John 3:19-24 – what aspects of our relationships with Jesus and others do these pieces of armor metaphorically protect?
Read 1 Thess 5:12-15 and define each type of relational experience Paul mentions. Pick two of these and share an example of how they can bless or wound a church family.
Paul finishes this letter with an encouragement to experience the fullness of Christ in our lives and churches (v.16-24), followed by a prayer (v.25-27). Read these verses as a group, and then spend a moment reflecting upon what sustains and keeps us; “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (v.28). As you close in prayer for one another, keep these in mind that we may faithfully live with eternity in sight.