March 27 , 2022
Today ➔
Good morning, Cornerstone family! We’re so glad you’ve joined us for worship today, whether it be in-person or online. Today, Christian Burkhardt (Elder & Equipping Pastor) is continuing our series through the book of 1 Thessalonians (you can find sermon notes & questions below).
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sermon notes & questions:
“Hopefulness: The Coming of the King, Pt 4” | Christian Burkhardt, Elder & Equipping Pastor
Synopsis: Last week, Bob Kreycik walked us through 1 Thess. 5:1-3, explaining the biblical theme of the “Day of the LORD,” when God will bring decisive judgment on his enemies and bring salvation to his people. For those apart from Christ, this destruction will come suddenly, with no way of escape (v. 3). However, as we saw this week in verses 4-11, Paul explains that the Day of the LORD will be a very different experience for those who have been united with Christ by faith: Though we cannot know the exact day or time of Jesus’ return (Matt. 24:36), Paul assures us that it will not surprise us “like a thief in the night” because we are no longer “of the night or of the darkness” but have become “children of light, children of the day” (v. 5). For those in Christ, the Day of the LORD will not bring sudden destruction but rather our salvation from God’s wrath and our forever union with Jesus and his people (vv. 9-10).
Therefore, Paul exhorts us to “keep awake and be sober” (v. 6) – to conduct ourselves with a sense of watchfulness and readiness for Jesus’ return by living lives that are characterized by faith, love, and hope (v. 8; see also 1:3).
QUESTIONS (20 Minutes)
What was one thing from this passage that encouraged you with the hope of Jesus’ return?
What was one thing from this passage that challenged you with your need to be ready and watchful for Jesus’ return?
In v. 11, Paul says that our role is to both “encourage one another” and “build one another up,” To build up (or edify) each other includes both teaching and learning from one another by practicing the watchful readiness, faith, love and hope described in this passage. Can you share stories of how you are already encouraging and building each other up in these ways and/or ideas for how you can do this more and more?
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