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AUTHENTIC CHURCH | Hurting with Hope | 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
SERMON RECAP: Some of us have recently felt the tearing pain of separation by death. Some of us have recently buried family members and friends. Some of us have received difficult news about our own health. Others of us are walking alongside those dealing with the grief of loss. We’re all touched by death in one way or another and we’re all going to face our own death one day. In light of this, we need God’s word. We need God’s people. And we need crystal clarity concerning our hope. This passage is critical because it clarifies the distinctly Christian hope that’s found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s in the gospel and only in the gospel that we have the resources we need to hurt with hope. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Read the passage and consider the following questions. Use the text to back up your answers. 1. What is your experience with death and grieving? Re-read 1 Thessalonians 4:13 and then discuss the following questions. 2. Who is Paul describing when he mentions “those who are asleep?”
Re-read 1 Thessalonians 4:14. Sunday’s teaching said that Jesus’ death and resurrection are the foundation of the believer’s hope. 3. Why is Jesus’ death foundational to the believer’s hope?
4. Why is Jesus’ resurrection foundational to the believer’s hope? Re-read 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17. Sunday’s teaching said that Jesus’ return is the consummation of the believer’s Hope. 5. What will happen to those who’ve died in the faith when Christ returns?
6. What will happen to those believers still alive at Christ’s return? Re-read 1 Thessalonians 4:18. 7. What is the straight-forward application for us in this passage?
8. Are you grieving right now? Or, are you walking alongside someone who’s grieving?
9. In John 16:20-23 Jesus explains that his followers will grieve unto life so that our hearts will rejoice and we will have everlasting joy. “We grieve unto life by bringing our hurt and pain, sadness, anger, and loneliness to the Lord. We seek Him in Prayer and the Promises in His Word. As we cry out to God he enables us to hold the hope of His promises in one hand and hurt in the other AND by God's grace we will grieve unto life!” How can we at River Market Community Church help each other grieve unto life? PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT.
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AUTHENTIC CHURCH | The Gospel and Holiness | 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 SERMON RECAP: We live in a sexually charged culture—sex is everywhere. We respond by either making too much of sex or too little of it. Sex is not just physical; it’s a deeply spiritual act; it’s the mingling of souls. God’s will for our sexuality is crystal clear in this passage: that every follower of Jesus would be sanctified (or set apart) in their sexual purity. Followers of Jesus are to abstain from sexual immorality and learn to control their bodies in holiness and honor. Sex is a good gift when enjoyed in the context of marriage between one man and one woman. BIG IDEA: God changes our lust into love so we can please God and love others. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Read the passage and consider the following questions. Use the text to back up your answers. 1. How does the gospel help us understand the purpose of sex? 2. Define sanctification, holiness, and sexual immorality. 3. How does sexual immorality harm you? How does it harm others? 4. What are some practical ways we abstain from sexual immorality?
6. What’s the role of the believing community in learning to control our bodies in holiness and honor? “The love of God and the love of the world, are two affections, not merely in a state of rivalship, but in a state of enmity—and that so irreconcilable, that they cannot dwell together in the same bosom. We have already affirmed how impossible it were for the heart, by any innate elasticity of its own, to cast the world away from it; and thus reduce itself to a wilderness. The heart is not so constituted; and the only way to dispossess it of an old affection, is by the expulsive power of a new one.” --The Expulsive Power of a New Affection, Thomas Chalmers PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT. FURTHER READING On gendered beings:
On gender roles:
On marriage:
On singleness:
AUTHENTIC CHURCH: A Discipler’s Prayer
Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. Read the passage and consider the following questions. 1. An authentic church is faithful even when persecution arises. Paul is very concerned about the young believers that comprise the Thessalonian church. He learns through Timothy's report that they have doubled down on their faith; "their grip on the cross has squeezed tighter." Can you think of a time when God has allowed persecution or suffering to increase your faith and dependence on him? Is there someone in your life who is in much need of encouragement? How can you take a step to point them to hope in Jesus? 2. An authentic church comforts brothers and sisters in the faith. If Paul lived in today's society, he wouldn't run to pornography, alcohol, busyness, or Netflix to escape his problems. Instead, he was comforted by the faith he saw in believers like the Thessalonians. Where do you run to find comfort? There are many things in this world that cause us to feel sadness which often turns into self-pity. Our greatest need at this time is to be comforted by the Lord. What three scripture passages can you run to when finding yourself needing comfort? Name a way you can comfort your brothers and sisters in the faith. 3. An authentic church is prayerful. Paul has repeatedly mentioned his desire to see the Thessalonians in person. However, he submits this desire of his to the Lord. How do you deal with unmet desires of yours? Is there something you hope for, but have stopped praying for? PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT. AUTHENTIC CHURCH: Keeping the Gospel Central
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5. Discuss some or all of the following questions.
PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT. AUTHENTIC CHURCH
A Discipler’s Aim Read 1 Thessalonians 2:9-12 Discuss some or all of the following questions.
Paul, Silas, & Timothy began their relationship with the Thessalonians through evangelism. They were compelled by the gospel to share the gospel—and their lives—with the Thessalonians. Finish your time together by asking God to grow you as evangelists and disciple-makers. Prayer is an essential discipline—not only to grow in our relationship with the Lord, but also to develop the habit of deliberately thinking about others’ interests. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT AUTHENTIC CHURCH
A Discipler’s Heart Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8. Discuss some or all of the following questions.
READ THE FOLLOWING EXCERPT: “Disciplemaking ensures that the gospel is embedded deeply in the lives of mature believers who serve as links to the future. Discipling then is a relationship where we intentionally walk alongside a growing disciple or disciples in order to encourage, correct, and challenge them in love to grow toward maturity in Christ. There are three ingredients necessary to produce maturity in Christ.” #1 RELATIONAL VULNERABILITY: This means honest, self-disclosing and confessional relationships that give the Holy Spirit permission to remake us. #2 THE CENTRALITY OF GOD’S WORD: The centrality of truth is emphasized when people open their lives to one another around the truth of God’s Word and the Lord begins to rebuild their lives from the inside out. #3 MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY: This is authority given to others to hold us accountable to mutually agreed upon standards—“iron sharpening iron.” - Greg Ogden, Discipleship Essentials ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRAY TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY GROUP Paul, Silas, & Timothy began their relationship with the Thessalonians through evangelism. They were compelled by the gospel to share the gospel—and their lives —with the Thessalonians. Finish your time together by asking God to grow you as evangelists and disciple- makers. Prayer is an essential discipline—not only to grow in our relationship with the Lord, but also to develop the habit of deliberately thinking about others’ interests. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT AUTHENTIC CHURCH
The Gospel at Work To get the context read Acts 17:1-9 AND now focus on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. Discuss some or all of the following questions. 1. Re-read 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (Focus on v.3). What’s the difference between the work that strives for God’s acceptance and the “work of faith” that strives from God’s acceptance? (Compare with Ephesians 2:8-10)
2. Can you identify at least one way that you could “labor in love” for someone in the believing community at RMCC this week? Will you commit to putting that idea into action this week?
4. Re-read 1 Thess. 1:8. What needs to change in your heart and in your life for this verse to be true of you personally? 5. Re-read 1 Thessalonians 1:9. Did the Holy Spirit reveal any false hopes/saviors through Sunday’s sermon? Explain. Consider some of the following false saviors common to all people:
PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT  PRAYING FOR GOSPEL MINISTRY
To get the context read Romans 15:14-33. Now focus on verses 30-33. Discuss some or all of the following questions.
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT PRAY OVER THE 5 REQUESTS ON THE FASTING AND PRAYER GUIDE  Read Philippians 1:1-11. Discuss some or all of the following questions.
 LIFE IN THE DESERT
LEARNING TO LAMENT Life in the desert is a theme in the Scriptures woven throughout. Moses lived in the Midian desert for 40 years as an outcast. God's people, the Israelites for 40 years as well. David runs from Saul in the desert. Jesus reenacts the desert journey by fasting for 40 days in the desert while he is tempted by the devil. Nowadays, the desert life we experience is often not physically a desert. It can be anything. A child who has left the faith, a difficult boss, consequences from your own sin. Often for us seemingly unanswered prayers are the deserts we walkthrough. God customizes each desert experience for each of us. And, The truth is that God takes everyone he loves through the desert. He did so with his own Son, Jesus, and he does the same for us. What is a desert? A desert is the gap between hope and reality. There is a way to find God in the desert. It's an old way, that is mostly forgotten. A Hebrew lament is a long-forgotten but deeply biblical way of praying! But the beauty of how God designed us for such kinds of prayers, Through lamenting...the desert becomes a window to the heart of God. A place of deep sanctification and a where we come to know, believe and experience God's rich presence. The only hope we have to live in the desert is to lament. To not lament leads to unbelief = reality wins and hope dies. A lament connects God's past promise with my present chaos HOPING FOR A BETTER FUTURE! Jesus's greatest desert was when he was hanging on the cross. He cries out and laments, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" "I thirst." and "Into your hand I commit my spirit." Jesus believes his Father can act, wants to act, and will act. There is nothing left to do and as death approaches, Jesus says, "It is finished." The Father answers the lament of Jesus with the Resurrection. Jesus is risen from the dead in a new glorified body and we are given a promise of eternal life for all who put their faith in the gospel of Christ. Lamenting works. Lamenting leads to life! Jesus is alive. By God’s grace, we too can lament and find life in the desert. READ ISAIAH 63:17 and 64:1-12
LAMENTING DOES 4 THINGS
Take some time to reflect on the current desert you may be in. How have you responded? Denial, Determination, or Despair? Have you complained to people instead of lamenting to God? If you have lamented what has that looked like? Have you invited others in to lament with you? In light of this passage and teaching on lamenting, what would it look like for you to take your problem to Him and put your faith in His character and promises? How does God want you to grow in lamenting? In what ways can your CG grow to lament together? Be prepared to share with the group. Break into gender-specific groups of men and women and pray for one another. PRAY OVER YOUR OIKOS DOCUMENT PRAY OVER THE 5 REQUESTS ON THE FASTING AND PRAYER GUIDE |
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River Market Community Church
Gathering: 140 Walnut St, Kansas City, MO 64106 Mailing: P.O. Box 411662, Kansas City, MO 64141 rmcchurchkc@gmail.com | Facebook | (816) 533-5907 |