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Future hope

Read future hope through comfort, watchfulness and present responsibility.

1. 1. Read and discover - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

   ¹³ But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

   ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

   ¹⁵ For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep.

   ¹⁶ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. 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. So we will be with the Lord forever.

   ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

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   Understanding the passage

   Paul addresses a community worried about its dead; the stated purpose is mutual comfort, not date calculation.

   Reflect

   • How does Paul invite the community to support those who are grieving?

   Put it into practice

   Accompany someone grieving without imposing quick explanations.

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2. 2. Watchfulness without date-setting - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 24:36-44

   ³⁶ “But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

   ³⁷ As the days of Noah were, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

   ³⁸ For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship,

   ³⁹ and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.

   ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.

   ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.

   ⁴² Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes.

   ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

   ⁴⁴ Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.

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   Understanding the passage

   Jesus stresses that the day is unknown; watchfulness calls for readiness rather than invented calendars or alarms.

   Reflect

   • How does Jesus invite people to live when the day of his coming is unknown?

   Put it into practice

   Reject a dated prediction and attend to a present responsibility.

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3. 3. Responsibility for what is received - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Matthew 25:14-30

   ¹⁴ “For it is like a man going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them.

   ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey.

   ¹⁶ Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

   ¹⁷ In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two.

   ¹⁸ But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth and hid his lord’s money.

   ¹⁹ “Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.

   ²⁰ He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents in addition to them.’

   ²¹ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

   ²² “He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents in addition to them.’

   ²³ “His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

   ²⁴ “He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.

   ²⁵ I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’

   ²⁶ “But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter.

   ²⁷ You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest.

   ²⁸ Take away therefore the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.

   ²⁹ For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away.

   ³⁰ Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

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   Understanding the passage

   The parable contrasts responses to entrusted goods during an absence; it is not a promise of financial returns.

   Reflect

   • What do the servants do with what they receive, and how do they account for it?

   Put it into practice

   Identify an entrusted resource and an honest way to care for it.

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4. 4. Why resurrection matters - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   1 Corinthians 15:12-22

   ¹² Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

   ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.

   ¹⁴ If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith also is in vain.

   ¹⁵ Yes, we are also found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up if it is true that the dead are not raised.

   ¹⁶ For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised.

   ¹⁷ If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.

   ¹⁸ Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

   ¹⁹ If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

   ²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruit of those who are asleep.

   ²¹ For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.

   ²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

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   Understanding the passage

   Paul examines the consequences of denying resurrection; he connects Christian hope with Christ and those who have died.

   Reflect

   • Why does Paul regard resurrection as essential to Christian hope?

   Put it into practice

   Summarize Paul’s argument in your own words.

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5. 5. The hope of new creation - Read lesson

   World English Bible

   Revelation 21:1-5

   ¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more.

   ² I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

   ³ I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, “Behold, God’s dwelling is with people; and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

   ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”

   ⁵ He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” He said, “Write, for these words of God are faithful and true.”

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   Understanding the passage

   The vision culminates in God’s presence and the end of tears; it offers hope to suffering communities, not permission to despise the present.

   Reflect

   • What hope does this vision offer to people who are suffering?

   Put it into practice

   Offer an act of care consistent with this hope.