20231106 The Other Side - Encourage Each Other With Truth

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The Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
The One Thing: Encourage each other with truth
Growgroup Discussion Starters
Know
K1 What did God say to you through today’s teaching?
Grow
G1 Revelation 11:15 talks about this world becoming the kingdom of Jesus. Do you think we take verses like this seriously enough? Why or why not?
G2 Discuss the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven being wherever Jesus Christ reigns, rather than a place where we go to when we die. How does this impact your outlook on life?
G3 Paul roots his encouragement of an anxious church in two things: the Cross (v14) and the Bible (v15). Why are these two so fundamental to staying encouraged? Why do we so often overlook them?
G4 Dan explained that meeting Christ in the clouds (v17) does not mean “go away to heaven forever”, instead it means “meet Jesus there as his welcoming party, get transformed (1 Cor 15:52) and come back to the New Earth with Jesus forever”. Do you find this image compelling?
G5 If the New Earth is our forever home, how should this impact how we live now? Do you think the New Earth will be recognizable? How might things have changed?
G6 What does it mean to “encourage each other with these words” (v 17)?
Show
S1 For further reading: Surprise by Hope (NT Wright) or really anything by NT Wright (check out his podcast – “Ask NT Wright anything”). Heaven / Heaven for Kids (Randy Alcorn). The Heaven Promise (Scot McKnight). The Unseen Realm (Michael Heiser). Also check out his other book Supernatural which is a more popular version of The Unseen Realm. What If Jesus Was Serious About Heaven (Skye Jethani) – this is a great summary and introduction to this topic.