Bible Readings:
Matthew 24
Sermon Outline:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 (NKJV)
13But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18Therefore comfort one another with these words.
I A naturalistic cyclical worldview
II The Bible’s teaching is that there will be an end to this world
III The Thessalonians’ concern
IV The promise of the resurrection of the body
According to Thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember Thee.
And when these failing lips grow dumb,
And mind and memory flee,
When Thou shalt in Thy kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.
Safe in the arms of Jesus,
Safe on His gentle breast,
There by His love o’ershaded,
Sweetly my soul shall rest.
“Forever with the Lord!”
Amen, so let it be;
Life from the dead is in that word,
’Tis immortality
Here in the body pent,
Absent from Him I roam,
Yet nightly pitch my moving tent,
A day’s march nearer home