The end of 1 Thessalonians is the practical boots on the ground portion of this brilliant letter. It gives the church both its marching orders and the plan to construct a community that lives into its given righteousness.
The church at Thessalonica was freaked out about the end of days. They were uninformed about both the return of Jesus and what happens at death. In this short section Paul brilliantly clarifies these questions to encourage the church.
In Psalm 119, the Psalmist uses 176 verses on a single subject: the beauty and benefits of God’s word. The Psalmist’s goal is the same as our goal for Edgewater; to be a Church who approaches scripture seeking its greatest benefit.