We invite you to this coming week's episode of "GoodTheology," a podcast ministry of the GoodTheology project—a mission of ministry to seek, sow, and spread God's kingdom of love here on Earth. We cannot wait for someone else to do later what God has already called us to do here and now. To learn more about the GoodTheology project, visit us online at GoodTheology.life
Centering Prayer:
Almighty and Everlasting God: Our Ears to hear you. Our Eyes to see you. Our Behavior to share you. Glory be to you God, Source of All Being, Jesus the Incarnate Word, and Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Scripture for this Episode: Wisdom 3:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; John 5:24-27 (Common English Bible) [from Biblegateway.com]
[Wis] 3 The souls of those who do what is right are in God’s hand. They won’t feel the pain of torment. 2 To those who don’t know any better, it seems as if they have died. Their departure from this life was considered their misfortune. 3 Their leaving us seemed to be their destruction, but in reality they are at peace. 4 It may look to others as if they have been punished, but they have the hope of living forever.5 They were disciplined a little, but they will be rewarded with abundant good things, because God tested them and found that they deserve to be with him. 6 He tested them like gold in the furnace; he accepted them like an entirely burned offering. 7 Then, when the time comes for judgment, the godly will burst forth and run about like fiery sparks among dry straw. 8 The godly will judge nations and hold power over peoples, even as the Lord will rule over them forever.9 Those who trust in the Lord will know the truth. Those who are faithful will always be with him in love. Favor and mercy belong to the holy ones. God watches over God’s chosen ones.
[1 Thes] 13 Brothers and sisters, we want you to know about people who have died so that you won’t mourn like others who don’t have any hope.14 Since we believe that Jesus died and rose, so we also believe that God will bring with him those who have died in Jesus. 15 What we are saying is a message from the Lord: we who are alive and still around at the Lord’s coming definitely won’t go ahead of those who have died. 16 This is because the Lord himself will come down from heaven with the signal of a shout by the head angel and a blast on God’s trumpet. First, those who are dead in Christ will rise. 17 Then, we who are living and still around will be taken up together with them in the clouds to meet with the Lord in the air. That way we will always be with the Lord. 18 So encourage each other with these words.
[John] 24 “I assure you that whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and won’t come under judgment but has passed from death into life.
25 “I assure you that the time is coming—and is here!—when the dead will hear the voice of God’s Son, and those who hear it will live.26 Just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. 27 He gives the Son authority to judge, because he is the Human One.
