Christ, our infinite God, is the only One who can quench that infinite longing in us to be known completely, be safe, and be made whole. His promise that He will come back for His people and we will be with Him always is not meant to function as a bandage but as a balm to provide deep healing. Verses such as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 should not be used as a rebuke or to stifle the grief journey. They are meant to be clung to in the valleys of deep pain as emotions and issues are addressed and worked through. Christ is with us now as we do the hard work of healing from abandonment in this life. And when He returns for us, we will no longer have to endure the sting of loneliness.
It is never too late to trust in Christ. No one knows for certain who has or who hasn’t, except the Lord. Although we can judge someone’s actions, we are not capable of judging a person’s heart. Nor is that our job. It is God’s. Our job is to be faithful and obedient to the command Jesus gave us to share the gospel.
As indicated in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3, a right understanding of the times and the seasons doesn’t produce a naive laziness, permitting the Christian to console themselves with the thought, “Well, as long as they repent and believe right before they die, they’ll be ok; so it’s not that serious.” Rather, recognizing the coming Day of the Lord should produce an urgency within us. For how can they believe in a gospel they’ve never heard (Rom. 10:14). And just as death can strike at any moment without warning, so too the return of Christ will be sudden and inescapable.
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults
Every week for Volume 4: From Captivity to the Wilderness, Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s director of Sunday School, will offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Adults.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Students
Every week, student ministry leaders offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Students. Listen in as he shares:
- The main point of the session
- Any challenges and opportunities for additional discussion that may arise during this session
- Encouragements for leaders
Podcast (studentsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
A Final Reminder
Don’t forget, you can find tools to help you prepare and lead the discussion in the Additional Resources for this volume. We hope these are a blessing to you as you walk through this session together.
*This week’s leader devotional is written by Tiffany Cato. It is adapted from the daily devotions for Unit 33, Session 4 from The Gospel Project for Adults’ Daily Discipleship Guide.
