In times of contemporary unrest and apocalyptic rhetoric, Pastor Nancy briefly outlines the misguided popular rapture theology in the United States and then moves on to examine the rich context of Paul's letter to the Thessalonian church.
By examining Paul's melding of ideas from Jewish traditions and Roman imperial imagery, the sermon emphasizes a nuanced understanding of the Day of the Lord as a transformative and restorative event, not a destructive one. Pastor Nancy draws connections to the prophetic vision of Amos, highlighting the biblical concept of justice as a restoration of what belongs to the oppressed, contrasting it with retribution-focused understandings of justice.
She encourages listeners to seek hope beneath the metaphors, understanding Paul's vision as a call for the transformation of social and political realities in the present world.
Sermon: Past, Present, and Future Hope
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Amos 5:18-24
