Sermon Notes from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Sermon by Jim Scott Orrick.

[The following notes were taken by Abby during the 10:45AM service this morning at Kosmosdale Baptist Church.]

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

I. Eschatology: the study of last things; what happens to people when they die, and what happens at the end of the world.

A. There is room for considerable disagreement concerning matters of eschatology within orthodox Christianity.

B. We must interpret the difficult in light of the simple; if you learn the simple things (for example, first grade math), you will eventually understand the more complex things (fourth grade math).

II. Comfort

A. There is no lasting comfort apart from God's Word.

B. What happens to Christians when they die?

1. We will continue to be conscious (as seen with Lazarus and the rich man).

2. We will be with Christ ('absent from the body... present with the Lord').

3. We will not be able to communicate with the 'awake' world (like 'sleepers').

4. What happened to Jesus (in being raised from the dead) will also happen to those united to Christ who die (we will be raised to be with him).