Throughout this series together, we have established the fact that Jesus is going to return. The question is, what do we do in the meantime? What do we do while we wait? Today we are going to explore the answers to these questions. We will dive into what Scripture teaches us to do as we wait for Jesus to return.
BREAK THE ICE
What is the longest line you have ever waited in?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. Are you generally good at waiting? Why or why not?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10. In your own words, what was Paul trying to communicate with his readers here?
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us. 7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you. 8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow. 10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”
3. Why do you think some Christ followers during this time were tempted to be lazy while they waited for Jesus to return? How did Paul address this attitude?
4. Read Matthew 22:35-40. How does this command speak into how to wait for Jesus’ return?
Matthew 22:35-40
"Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Application
1. Do you ever feel tempted to become “idle” or lazy, as Paul warned about in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7? Why?
2. Who do you know loves God with all of their hearts? What is one thing you can do to follow their example?
3. We are called to reach out to others with love while we wait. What is one way you can personally reach out to others in love this week?
MOVING FORWARD
One of the most important things we can do as we wait for Christ to return is share our faith with others. To share our faith, we must be around people who do not know Christ. How are you surrounding yourself with people in need of the hope of Jesus? If you do not know many people far from Christ, how can you purposefully surround yourself with people far from Christ? Brainstorm the answer to this question with your group. Can you join a gym? You may have intentional conversations with parents at your child’s soccer practice. Share with your group how you will be intentional about engaging with people who do not know Jesus so that you can share your faith.
Waiting is rarely fun or exciting. It often tests our patience and exhausts us. While few of us would choose to endure a long waiting period, there are more than a few good things that happen when we wait, especially as we wait for Jesus to return. Over the next few minutes, take a deeper dive into what Scripture promises about waiting. As you do, you will be encouraged and strengthened as you think about waiting for Jesus to return and other areas of waiting in your life as well.
God strengthens us as we wait:
Waiting can feel exhausting and frustrating. Our patience is often tested, and we may feel weaker each day that we continue to wait. While we may feel weaker while we wait, Scripture teaches us a different story. In fact, it is in these moments of waiting that we actually find strength.
1. Read Isaiah 40:28-31 in the English Standard Version (ESV).
2. How does Isaiah describe God in this passage of Scripture?
3. What happens when we wait on the Lord, according to this passage of Scripture?
4. How have you seen God strengthen you while you were had to wait in the past?
Waiting produces fruit:
Waiting can feel fruitless at times. In the moment, time spent in the waiting room seems wasted. The truth is, however, that God does great work while we wait.
1. Read James 5:7-8 and Galatians 6:9.
2. Based on these two verses, what happens during times of waiting?
3. What kind of fruit does God produce while we wait (both in ourselves and others)?
4. Look back at Galatians 6:9. How are we supposed to live, knowing that God produces fruit while we wait?
God gives us everything we need to wait well:
If I know I have to wait, I do my best to prepare. I bring a book or work to complete along with plenty of snacks. I like to know I have everything I might need while I wait. When we think about the return of Jesus, it is a little bit more difficult for us to know how to prepare while we wait. The good news is, Scripture promises that God knows and provides for what we need as we wait.
1. Read 1 Corinthians 1:4-7.
2. How has God prepared us as we wait for the return of Jesus?
3. What specific spiritual gifts has God given you?
4. How can you use your gifts to have an impact while you wait for Jesus’ return?
Reflect:
While we are all waiting on Jesus to return, we also waiting on God to work in other areas of our lives as well, whether we are waiting on healing, a restored relationship, an answered prayer, or something else. These passages of Scripture that we have studied today apply not only to waiting on Jesus’ return, but also waiting in other areas of our lives and help us learn how to wait well.
1. What are you waiting on right now?
2. How have you seen God has strengthen you during this season of waiting?
3. What are some ways you can use your gifts to point people to Christ in this specific area of waiting?
After everyone has shared, pray together. Pray that God would encourage and strengthen each person in your group as you are all waiting. Commit to praying for each other throughout this next week as well.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8:
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