Session 3 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Confronted

FOCUS ATTENTION

BEGIN:

think of ways people prepare for the future.
(Responses might include education, medical care, or savings plans.)

Ask:

• How does the way the future is portrayed by the news, books, movies, and television affect the way people prepare for and view it?

DISCUSS:

Point out that society offers us all kinds of predictions about the future.
Some portray the glass as half-full while others as half-empty.
The predictions can change overnight. The only thing that seems to be certain is the uncertainty.

Ask:

• Do you tend to view the future as half-empty or half-full?
• What is something you wish you could know about the future right now? (p. 29)

TRANSITION:

Despite uncertainty about the future,
we can know for sure that God created each of us as eternal beings
with an eternal destination beyond this life. That eternal future hinges on one question:

What are you going to do with Jesus?

EXPLORE THE TEXT

INTRODUCE:

Call attention to Pack Item 2 (Outlines of 1, 2 Thessalonians) displayed on the wall,
to indicate where we are in our study of 1 Thessalonians.
Remind the group of last week’s session, which focused on sharing the gospel with compassion and grace.

Use Understand the Context (p. 29) to introduce today’s session.