Notes on “Starting with Why”

This Sunday we begin our Extended Advent celebration! A project recommended by The Very Reverend Wm H. Petersen, PhD, this extended time is intended to remain faithful to our spiritual traditions understanding that our culture has appropriated the pre-Christmas season as a time of shopping and movie-watching. While the giving of gifts and creative inspiration are worthy efforts, these things must take place through the lens of spiritual preparation for the presence of Christ in our lives.

During this time, we will focus for the first three weeks on Epistles (letters from faithful leaders addressed to ancient churches) and then move to the Gospel lessons for the remaining weeks leading to Christmas Eve.

As we consider our text for this week, the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessaloniki reminds us that we—and the world—are not as finite as we often think.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

¹³ Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope. ¹⁴ Since we believe that Jesus died and rose, so we also believe that God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus. ¹⁵ What we are saying is a message from the Lord: we who are alive and still around at the Lord’s coming definitely won’t go ahead of those who have died. ¹⁶ This is because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with the signal of a shout by the head angel and a blast on God’s trumpet. First, those who are dead in Christ will rise. ¹⁷ Then, we who are living and still around will be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet with the Lord in the air. That way we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ So encourage each other with these words.

Consider these questions:

1. Have you ever found yourself mourning like those who are without hope? What did/does that feel like? What or who were you mourning? Are you still mourning?
2. Have you ever felt like you were surprised by some kind of signal of divine presence? If so, what was it like? If not, do you assign any significance to not having that experience?
3. What words have you shared that others have found encouraging? What has been said to you that yo have found encouraging?