Religion & Spirituality
The Big Idea: Christians grieve with hope as we face a death that has lost its sting. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 WHAT IS OUR HOPE AND HOW DO WE GET IT? WE FIND BALANCE WITH TWO EXTREME TRUTHS: 1. Death is a terrible reality that is far outside of God’s design. 2. Death’s sting has been stolen and it now provides our pathway to greatness. John 11:35-38 - Jesus wept. THREE FAULTY PERSPECTIVES: 1. Grief is a lack of faith. 2. Death is the end and it’s all over. 3. Death is natural and a part of life and nothing to be afraid of. “If we let him, he will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures pulsating with such joy and wisdom and love as we cannot yet now imagine. A bright, stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly, though of course on a smaller scale, His own boundless power, and delight, and goodness.” - CS Lewis Our Hope is unique in 3 ways: 1. The LOVE you’ve always dreamed of 1 Corinthians 13:12 2. The LIFE you’ve always wanted We will “meet” Him in the air. 3. The FORGIVENESS and RESTORATION you were appointed to receive 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 “If you really are a product of a materialistic universe, why don’t you feel at home in a world where we die and disintegrate? Do fish complain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that not strongly suggest that they were once not purely aquatic creatures? Why are we continually shocked and repulsed by death, unless indeed something in us is not temporal?” - CS Lewis SO, LIVE THIS WAY: 1 Thessalonians 5:5-10 Response: ● Suffer with those who suffer. ● Party on in hope! ● Pray for your Oikos.