Death of Death - Week 3
Death of Death - Week 3
When Grief Goes Bad
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[fn] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1) Grief without hope = Despair (v.13)
Skepticism/fatalism: “I was not, I was, I am not, I care not.” (Latin: Non fui, fui, non sum, non curo.)
Stoicism/humanism:
“Earth, receive me; fate gave me back to nature.”
Or:
“What I have eaten and drunk, that I have had; what I have not had, I have lost.”
Speculation:
“May the earth be light upon you.” or “Taken to the gods.” (Dis Manibus in Latin, “To the Spirits of the Departed”)
❌ Grief without hope leads to despair.
✅ Grief in Christ leads to comfort—because death is not the end.
2) Grief Without Jesus = Endless Pain (v.14)
❌ Grief without Jesus never ends.
✅ In Christ, their is the promise of life after death.
3) Grief without truth = fear and confusion (v.15)
4) Grief without perspective = false assumptions. (v. 16)
❌ Grief often lies: “It’s over. God forgot them.”
✅ Scripture says: God honors them. They’re not behind—they’re ahead.
5. Grief Without Community = Isolation (v.17)
❌ Unprocessed grief isolates us.
✅ Biblical grief pulls us into the hope of the body of Christ.
6. Grief Without Purpose = Hopeless Mourning (v.18)
❌ Grief without comfort spirals.
✅ Grief with gospel truth leads to encouragement.
📖 SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
- What does “grieving with hope” look like in real life? Share a time you or someone you know experienced grief in a way that was grounded in hope.
- Which cultural views of death (from the ancient epitaphs or today) do you think are still influencing people now? How does the gospel challenge or reframe those ideas?
- Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 again. What part of Paul’s message stood out most to you? Why?
- How can we practically “encourage one another with these words” (v.18)? What does that kind of encouragement sound like when someone is hurting?
- Grief can isolate, confuse, or lead to despair—how can your community group become a safe place for processing grief with gospel truth?
📓 3-DAY DEVOTIONAL
“When Grief Goes Bad: A Journey from Despair to Hope”
Day 1: Grief and the Gospel
📖 Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13
“...that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”
📝 Reflection:
Paul isn’t asking believers to avoid grief—he’s calling us to grieve differently. Grief is not a lack of faith, but faith gives grief its boundaries. You can mourn with deep sadness and still trust in the resurrection. Christian grief says, “This hurts, but it’s not the end.”
🙏 Prayer:
God, teach me to grieve in a way that acknowledges my pain but clings to Your promises. Let my sorrow be held in the arms of hope.
Day 2: The Anchor of Resurrection
📖 Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:14
“For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again...”
📝 Reflection:
Every part of our hope hinges on this: Jesus rose again. Without the resurrection, death is final. But with it, death is defeated. Paul roots our comfort not in good vibes or wishful thinking, but in a historic event that changes everything.
🙏 Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for defeating death. Remind me today that my hope is alive because You are alive.
Day 3: Grief Together
📖 Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
“...and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.”
📝 Reflection:
Grief isn’t meant to be carried alone. God gives us truth and community. Encouragement is part of healing. We speak life to each other when we remind one another of what’s ahead: reunion, resurrection, and eternal joy in Jesus.
🙏 Prayer:
Father, help me be an encourager. Show me someone today who needs to hear that death doesn’t win.