Prepare your heart for the Sermon by looking through these suggestions that will assist you in making the most of our time together hearing God's Word.

You will find suggestions for thinking more critically through the passage, meditating more intently on the text, and prayerfully seeking wisdom to deepen your understanding of the passage to be preached this Sunday.

Carefully Think

• Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15. What is the author’s stated intent for his audience?
• Why specifically does he want to make sure they are correctly informed?
• How is this audience different from “the rest”?
• What does he state about those who have “fallen asleep”? What about those who are alive?
• What event does Paul look forward to? On whom and what event does Paul point to for the basis of hope?
• Describe in your own words the order of events that are given.

Prayerfully Meditate

• What mindset is Paul correcting in this passage? What could be the implications of not correcting it?
• Who is he referring to as having “fallen asleep” How do we know?
• What are some views among secular culture of those who have died?
• How has the hope you have through Jesus shaped how you think about believers who have died? What about nonbelievers who have died?