1. 1 Thessalonians 3 9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. 11 May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. 12 And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 13 May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen.

2. Advent and Parousia / Eschatology Rick Wright Church of the Nations First Sunday of Advent (C)

3. Supermassive Black Holes BBC documentary (2000) How did galaxies form? Supermassive black holes are everywhere! Center of every(?) galaxy! Formed galaxies! 1.Big Bang (beginning) 2.Clouds of gas 3.Black hole forms 4.Makes stars form

4. 1 Thessalonians 3 9 How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. 10 Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. Today = First Sunday of Advent Season => prepare to celebrate birth of Jesus Christ

5. Two faces of First Advent Look back to first Advent (coming) of Jesus Also looks forward to second Advent (coming) of Jesus Second Advent makes difference in the present Old Testament – “Day of the Lord… in those days…” – God will judge and heal Jesus will appears again to judge everyone Parousia or Eschatology (study of last things)

6. Why is this important? Letters (of Paul) have stories – What happened, the present, what might happen in the future 1 Thessalonians – Christian community is struggling – Paul sends Timothy – Timothy brings back a report – Very positive but there are a few issues

7. What Paul does Prays (and rejoices) – That he can visit them and provide what is missing(?!?) in their faith They have faith and love… struggle with hope Something has shaken their hope So Paul prays and talks about the Parousia – “When our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones (saints)”

8. So what about us? Now? Do we face a crisis? Does the world struggle with issues? Terrorism? ISIS? Immigration? Refugees from Syria? Does Paul speak also to us? Now? Prays Sends someone Emphasizes love and holiness Looks forward to the Parousia (eschatology) Somehow encourages us here and now