Do not Grieve as Those Who Have no Hope (1 Thess 4:13) | When a Child Is Taken to Heaven - Part II

1 Thessalonians 4:13 says, “Do not grieve as those who have no hope.” Last week a child in our church tragically died. This is the second sermon I preached to encourage the family and our church. Paul didn’t want Christians to sorrow as others who have no hope, and that’s my hope for my congregation, and especially the parents. In the previous sermon, we didn’t get to talk much about grief because the parents received their children back. This sermon looks at an account with David, and he didn’t receive his child back. This makes the account very instructive for us regarding grief.

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Here's the accompanying podcast episode: https://www.scottlapierre.org/podcast/do-not-grieve-as-those-who-have-no-hope/

Sermon Lessons for Do not Grieve as Those Who Have no Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

Lesson 1: People ____________differently (2 Samuel 12:15-21; Ecclesiastes 3:4; Romans 12:15).

Lesson 2: We must grieve ________ ________ (1 Thessalonians 4:13 cf. Ephesians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; John 10:10; 2 Samuel 18:33-19:8).

Lesson 3: Believing parents are reunited with _________________ _______________ they’ve lost (2 Samuel 12:21-23 cf. 1 Kings 17:23, 2 Kings 4:36, Luke 7:15).

Lesson 4: The hope we have in Christ ______________ __________ (Job 19:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54).

Family Worship Guide for Do not Grieve as Those Who Have no Hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

Day 1: Read 2 Samuel 12:15-21; Ecclesiastes 3:4; Romans 12:15, and discuss: how did David grieve? How do other people grieve? Can you describe times you grieved differently at different times in your life, and/or saw others grieving differently than you? How should we respond to people grieving?

Day 2: Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13 cf. Ephesians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; John 10:10; 2 Samuel 18:33-19:8 and discuss: who grieves without hope? What is the danger of grieving without hope? What does it mean to despair, or be destroyed? Besides David in 2 Samuel 18, can you think of someone else in scripture who grieved without hope? Why the dramatic change in David’s grief?

Day 3: Read Job 19:25-27 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and discuss: where does our hope come from? What evidence is there in the verses that the Redeemer is a Person, vs. a spirit or force? How is Jesus our Redeemer? What are the wonderful truths Job shared about his Redeemer? How could Job say his skin would be destroyed, and that he would see God in his flesh?

Receive a free copy of Scott's book, "Seven Biblical Insights for Healthy, Joyful, Christ-Centered Marriages": https://www.scottlapierre.org/subscribe/

For Scott LaPierre's conference and speaking information, including testimonies, endorsements, and contact info, please visit: https://www.scottlapierre.org/conferences-and-speaking/

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