Closer to Christ St Paul's Lutheran Church, Muskego WI

Since Death’s sudden appearance at the sin of Adam…since Death’s first victory with the bloody hands of Cain…Death has reigned undefeated. The genealogies of the Old Testament read like the results of battle after battle, or boxing match after boxing match. Another name is called, another man stands in the ring with death, but the verdict is always the same: “and then he died.” The referee raises the cold boxing glove of death in victory again and again. But a challenger arises. A challenger who systematically climbs through the ranks, defeating opponent after opponent. He defeats disease, blindness, deafness, disability, and chronic pain. He proves himself more powerful than death—he raises children, raises Lazarus. But he doesn’t stop there, he goes around death and fights the source—sin! He defeats the devil himself. He reigns as the ultimate champion. And now death stands in the ring fighting us. Fighting the undercard. It looks like death is still racking up victories, but death is shaking in his boots because even death knows one truth: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” And when Christ comes again, Death will be forced to vacate all his victories and Jesus will lay his boxing gloves at the feet of the Father to show that the victory is won, and God is “all in all.”

See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica! 
• They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world.
• Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from. 
• Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with the Lord.
• Always, and especially when we mourn those who have preceded us in death, we encourage one another with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Notice that his personal savior name is used here in connection to his death and resurrection.*  
• All of the encouragement and anticipation of these words depends on Easter!
*(Interestingly enough, in all of 1 Thessalonians, the only three occurrences of the name Jesus without any other title such as Lord or Christ are in the immediate context of the death and resurrection—1:10 and the two occurrences here in 4:14. Every other time Paul uses the name Jesus in 1 Thessalonians it is accompanied by either Lord or Christ or both.)

See how thoroughly Endless Easter Encouragement has redefined life and death for the Christians in Thessalonica! 
• They were concerned that those who had died would miss out, not on the things of this world and this life, but that they would miss out on Jesus’ glorious return at the end of the world.
• Death itself has been redefined as a sleep that we will wake from. 
• Death is no longer a permanent separation, but a temporary separation. And the best reunification is that we will all be with the Lord.
• Always, and especially when we mourn those who have preceded us in death, we encourage one another with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Notice that his personal savior name is used here in connection to his death and resurrection.*  
• All of the encouragement and anticipation of these words depends on Easter!
*(Interestingly enough, in all of 1 Thessalonians, the only three occurrences of the name Jesus without any other title such as Lord or Christ are in the immediate context of the death and resurrection—1:10 and the two occurrences here in 4:14. Every other time Paul uses the name Jesus in 1 Thessalonians it is accompanied by either Lord or Christ or both.)

Giving brings joy to the giver, joy to the recipient, and joy to our God as he sees his children live and act like him. What gives you joy as you think about your commitment to Because iT Matters and as you pray about your initial gift on the December 3 Celebration Weekend?

The Macedonian congregation presented the Corinthians and us with a role model of surrendered giving. They did not have much. Paul mentions their “extreme poverty.” What they did have was a “singleness of purpose.” They could only be truly generous if they surrendered their hopes and dreams to Christ and instead focused on the mission Christ had given them. The Macedonian response amazed Paul and encouraged the Corinthians. How might our surrender to God’s mission be evident in our response to Because iT Matters? How might our response encourage others today and in the future? 

As we celebrate the Lutheran Reformation, we remember how much the cross and the mission of God’s church mattered to Martin Luther and the other reformers. They were willing to risk their lives for the mission. What would it look like if I were willing to risk my life (or livelihood) for the mission presented to us in Because iT Matters?