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Gateway Church

Apathy

November 17, 2024
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APATHY

November 17th, 2024
Discussion Questions: 

  1. Have you ever experienced a time when you just couldn’t bring yourself to care about something, even though you knew it was important? What do you think caused that kind of feeling?”
  1. What do you turn to for comfort when you are feeling apathetic? 
  2. As a reminder, the Thessalonian church is made up of young converts who are experiencing severe persecution by the Romans for their faith. Paul’s intention in 5:1–11 is to encourage those in the church to live faithfully and expectantly in anticipation of Christ’s return, which was feared to have already happened.  

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.

Make some observations about this passage (What does the text say?):

  • What do you notice and what are you curious about? 

Make some interpretations (What does the passage mean?)

  • What do you learn about God? 
  • What do you learn about humanity? 
  • What do you think it means to be children of the light or children of the day? 

Now make some applications (what’s my response?)

  • How are you encouraged, challenged, or convicted by this passage?
  • What should be our response to this passage?
  1. Read Matt. 24:42-25:13. What do we learn through Jesus’ parables about how we are to live as we await His return?
    1. Just like the Thessalonians, we are still awaiting the return of Christ when He will fully and finally restore the world and us to Him. We all probably have other areas in life where we are experiencing a delay, whether it be waiting on a job, waiting on a relationship, waiting for a child, or waiting on God’s provision in some other way. How are you experiencing delay and what does it look like to live faithfully in the waiting? 

Scripture

1 Thes. 5:1-11

Matt. 24:42-25:13

Prayer

Lord, we are reminded of the promise of Your return and the call to live in light of that hope. We thank You for the assurance that, while we wait, we are not in darkness, but that You have called us into Your marvelous light. Help us to be alert and self-controlled, to live as children of the day, not as those who belong to the night. May we put on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. Let Your truth protect our hearts, and may the hope we have in Christ fill us with peace.

We pray, Father, for the strength to encourage one another and build each other up. In times of uncertainty and challenge, remind us to support and care for one another, to walk together in love, unity, and hope. Let us be vessels of Your grace, showing kindness and patience, remembering that You are the source of our encouragement.

Thank You, Lord, for the gift of salvation that is secure in Christ. In light of this great hope, help us to live lives worthy of the calling You have given us, that we may point others toward the hope of the gospel.

We ask for Your wisdom, strength, and guidance as we await Your return. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Practice

Which of these four practical steps do you need to step into today to resist apathy in this time of waiting.  

1. Remember Who You Are

“You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.” vv5-6 reminds us that we are children of light, which means that we belong to God, and because of that we are to be alert and stay awake.

2. Stay Spiritually Awake

Paul warns against being spiritually asleep (v 6). Apathy creeps in when we stop being vigilant in our faith. Being spiritually awake means actively committing to regular prayer, worship, and engagement with God’s Word. 

3. Encourage One Another

(v 11) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Verse 11 emphasizes mutual encouragement. Apathy can begin to take root when we isolate ourselves from the rest of the community. Encouraging others in the faith builds them up and stirs up a zeal for God in our hearts.

4. Put on Faith, Love, and Hope

Remember, Paul says, in verse 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.