Christ is the crisis-point of salvation and judgment for the entire world, and for your hearer this week.
Paul unabashedly engages in wordplay at 1 Thessalonians 5: On the one hand, the epistle pericope is dealing with the “Day of the Lord” the Yom Yahweh, the great and terrible day of judgment, the last battle, the ultimate day of salvation for those in Christ. On the other hand, he uses “day” in its association with “light” to identify his hearers as children of the light, children of the day, not those who do deeds of darkness. This sets up a sermon for you as a meditation on “light,” and several to work with and organize to proclaim Christ as the center. You can use ideas like describing your listeners who are also “children of light,” “children of the day” (see Matthew 5:14-16), the light that will dawn on the “day of the Lord,” and Christ as, indeed, the “light of the world” (see John 3, 8, and 9). The clever preacher will weave in how the days are shorter (and, in fact, seem all the shorter through most of the United States with the days darker even sooner since Daylight Savings ended two weeks ago!), which is also reflected in the liturgical season as well (this is the second to last Sunday of the Church Year). The time of the end is nearer now than it has ever been, so let us shed some light on it!
Paul comforts the Thessalonian believers with resurrection hope by calling them “children of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:5, 8). “Day” here carries two meanings. On the one hand, it is “light,” the identity of his audience, in contrast to darkness, which is used to describe both ignorance or foolishness as well as works of vice (1 Thessalonians 5:4, 5, 7). On the other hand, it refers to the Day with a capital-D, the Day of the Lord which has not yet come (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), so do not worry, and it is coming soon (1 Thessalonians 5:2-3), so, again, do not be afraid! Your hearers need to hear they belong (1 Thessalonians 5:8) to both senses of that word. They are enlightened now and they are destined for the final Day.
Enlightenment language is baptism language (refer to Ephesians 5:8-14). The early church called baptism “the illumination.” We still light candles and present “this burning light” to baptizands in the traditional liturgy of baptism. How different than the language your listeners are used to hearing in contemporary culture, where enlightenment is about “self-realization.” The enlightenment Paul describes is not mystical self-discovery, but divine revelation. His light/darkness talk echoes the Johannine dualism we hear in Jesus’ own preaching:
“This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God” (John 3:19-21).
The enlightenment Paul describes is not mystical self-discovery, but divine revelation.
Christ is the crisis-point of salvation and judgment for the entire world, and for your hearer this week. This reminds you that your responsibility as a preacher is not only to wax on about the final day, but to demonstrate clearly to your listeners the Christ dead and raised for their salvation and deliver Him. Linking this enlightenment talk with the Christ your hearer can take with her all the time is a salutary pastoral move. With that in mind, do not hijack the 1 Thessalonians 5 pulpit with a sermon solely devoted to baptism. Rather, let the promised baptismal identity of life from death, light from darkness, and new Adam emerging from old, rest as a foundation and takeaway for a message that invites your hearers to greet the Day with their prayers, eagerness, and ever-confident hope.
The following is an outline to consider as you proclaim God’s Word in Christ to your congregation on this second to last Sunday from 1 Thessalonians 5. God bless your preaching this week!
1. Children of the Day: Two Lights, One Identity
A. Paul comforts the Thessalonians with resurrection hope and calls them “children of the day.”
B. “Day” carries two meanings:
i. Light (identity in contrast to darkness).
ii. The Day (the coming Day of the Lord).
C. Christians belong to both: Enlightened now, and destined for the final Day.
2. Light #1 – Enlightened by Christ
A. Not mystical self-discovery, but divine revelation.
B. We belong to the day, not the night (genitive of belonging).
C. John 3: Light has come into the world; Christ is the crisis-point of salvation and judgment.
i. Baptism (Romans 6): An assault on the grave – buried with Christ, raised with Him.
ii. Ephesians 5: “Awake, O sleeper... Christ will shine on you.”
iii. Enlightened = “in-lightened” (the light of Christ has broken into the tomb of sin and death).
iv. Identity: Forgiven, renewed, sober, and alive.
3. Light #2 – Children of The Day (Capital D)
A. Belonging to Christ means belonging to the future.
i. We live in the “not yet” as surely as in the “now.”
ii. Romans 8: Creation groans; we groan for redemption.
iii. We await the Day, not with terror but with longing: Maranatha.
B. Armor imagery (1 Thessalonians 5)
i. Breastplate (thorax) of faith and love.
ii. Helmet (perikephalaia) of the hope of salvation.
C. Not destined for wrath, but for salvation through Jesus.
4. The Heart of It All – The Light of Jesus
A. Jesus is the Light of the world (John 1:4-9 and others).
i. The darkest week revealed the brightest glory.
ii. At the cross:
a. Glory in degradation.
b. Triumph in humiliation.
B. Light in deepest darkness.
i. The judgment that fell on Him means salvation for us.
ii. The cross defines the Gospel.
a. The sinner dies in Christ’s death.
b. The saint lives in Christ’s resurrection.
5. The Light in You – Carriers of the Gospel
A. “God... has shone in our hearts” (2 Corinthains 4:6).
i. We carry treasure in jars of clay.
ii. We always carry the death of Jesus, so His life is manifested in us.
iii. We are a letter read by all (2 Corinthians 3:2).
B. The aroma of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
C. Lights shining in a crooked generation (Philippians 2:15).
i. Descriptive simile: The moon reflecting the sun.
ii. Like the sun and moon, we reflect Christ’s light.
6. Encouragement Until the Day Dawns
A. The darkness is passing; the true light is already shining.
B. Whether awake or asleep, we live with Him.
C. Therefore:
i. Encourage one another.
ii. Build one another up.
iii. You belong to Christ.
iv. You belong to the Day.
D. Children of the Day – live in His light until the Day arrives in full.
Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you preaching 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
