Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Reflect What should Christians be doing to make sure that we are ready for the day of the Lord? Why do you always lock the doors to your house before you go to bed? Why do so many people buy expensive camera systems to secure their homes or participate i

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. Reflect When you read today’s passage, what thoughts or feeli

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. Reflect Have you ever been afraid that Jesus would return and you would be left behind? What do you think caused that fear? When I was in elementary school, I rode the school bus home. One afternoon, I went to the bathroom after school and got delayed having to wait my turn. When I was fi

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. Reflect How do Paul’s words encourage you today? Is Jesus dead or alive? This has been a hotly contested question for about 2,000 years. Some people say that His resurrection was impossible and refuse to believe it by creating counter-theories. One theory claims that His body was stolen. But how could it have been stolen

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. Reflect Think about the last funeral you attended. What was the general feeling in the room? I can’t think of anything worse to experience than the death of a loved one. It is devastating and heartbreaking. Death feels so wrong to us. We can’t seem to reconcile the idea of someone being alive and vibrant one minute, bu

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 …and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsides and be dependent on no one. Reflect How can a quiet life be a witness to unbelievers? We know that Jesus said He was coming back soon (Revelation 22:20). But what in the world are we supposed to be doing while we wait? That is what the church at Thessalonica was struggling with. They were so

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more… Reflect What are some ways brotherly love should be demonstrated in Christian communities? If I asked you to name the “City of Brotherly Love,” you’d likely say, “Philadelphia, Pen

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. Reflect According to Paul, what is God’s will for our life and how does He help us accomplish it? One of the greatest tragedies in many of our churches today is the rejection of God’s teaching on sexual matters, even from the pulpit. I have seen Christian leaders who take a stand for a biblical sex

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:6 …that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. Reflect Who is the ultimate judge? Who decides what is right vs. what is wrong? Why? In today’s verse, Paul was continuing a thought, so let’s look back at the previous verses for context. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each