Riverton Cornerstone Community Church

In this message, we return to 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 to explore what Paul means when he says Christians are not to “grieve as others do who have no hope.” This sermon speaks directly to seasons of loss, especially during times like Christmas when grief can feel heavier and more present.

Paul does not forbid grief for believers. Instead, he teaches us how to grieve rightly—with hope rooted in truth. Death feels final, oppressive, and overwhelming, even for people of faith. While we may know the promises of God intellectually, our hearts often struggle to feel their full weight in moments of sorrow. This message addresses that tension honestly, acknowledging the doubts, fears, and emotional weakness that can surface when we face death and loss.

Drawing from Scripture, we see that grief itself is not sinful. There is a holy, God-honoring way to grieve and a hopeless way to grieve. Hopeful grieving tells the truth about God—His promises, His power, and His future restoration. Hopeless grieving, by contrast, preaches a lie by treating death as final and God’s promises as distant or irrelevant.

The sermon connects grief to the larger biblical story of redemption, contrasting Christ’s first Advent with His promised second coming. At His first coming, Jesus made comfort possible through forgiveness and reconciliation with God. At His second coming, He will make comfort permanent—wiping away every tear, removing death forever, and restoring all that sin has broken. Because Jesus died and rose again, those who have “fallen asleep” in Him are not lost. God will bring them with Christ when He returns.

This passage reminds us that real hope must be anchored in the resurrection of Jesus. False hopes—whether sentimental platitudes, self-made beliefs, or cultural fatalism—cannot sustain the soul in grief. Only the living hope given through Christ’s resurrection offers lasting comfort and assurance.

Hopeful grief does not deny pain, suppress tears, or pretend loss doesn’t hurt. It weeps honestly while longing confidently for God’s promised resolution. Our grief becomes a witness to the gospel when it reflects a deep expectation that everything sad will one day be made untrue.

This episode encourages believers to grieve faithfully, to preach the gospel to themselves in sorrow, and to anchor their hearts in the promise that Christ will come again. Until that day, we wait, we work, and we grieve—but we do so with real hope.

Episode Description: Advent Again (1 Thessalonians 4:13–14)

In this message, we continue our series in 1 Thessalonians and explore Paul’s comforting words in 4:13–14. The Thessalonian church was anxious and grieving because they were unsure what happened to believers who died before Christ’s return. Paul responds not with speculation or fear, but with truth designed to bring stability, clarity, and hope.

Paul reminds them that Christians do not grieve like those who have no hope. Our sorrow is real, but it is shaped and limited by the resurrection of Jesus. Since Christ died and rose again, death is not the end for anyone who belongs to Him. Those who have “fallen asleep” in Christ are safe with Him now, and when He returns, God will bring them with Him. The dead in Christ are not behind or missing out; they will share fully in the glory of the second coming.

Paul also writes with a pastoral heart shaped by his deep concern for this young church. Forced to leave Thessalonica after only a short time, he feared their faith might falter without further teaching. When Timothy brought back a good report, Paul said, “Now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.” Their perseverance renewed his own strength. But he also knew there were still gaps in their understanding, especially concerning death and Christ’s return.

To address their fears, Paul gives them what they need most: truth. Truth steadies the soul, clears confusion, and produces real hope. Jesus Himself said that truth sets us free and sanctifies us. Paul gives the Thessalonians truth about the future so they can endure faithfully in the present.

This passage also reframes our understanding of Advent. The first Advent was Christ’s humble arrival in Bethlehem to save His people from their sins. The second Advent will be His glorious return to judge evil, raise the dead, and make all things new. The first coming was quiet and largely unseen; the second will be visible to the whole world. The first removed sin’s penalty; the second will remove sin’s presence forever.

Because Jesus rose, we have a hope stronger than death. Because He is coming again, our grief is not final, our losses are not permanent, and our future is secure. The return of Christ is not meant to create fear or arguments among believers, but comfort, courage, and endurance. The Advent we celebrate each year points us forward to the greater Advent still to come, when Christ will gather all His people—living and dead—into eternal life with Him.

Introduction to James

Before entering the text, Pastor Matt explains how study Bibles provide context on authorship, date, themes, and literary features. Most scholars agree the letter is written by James, the brother of Jesus, likely in the early–mid 40s A.D.

He highlights that James writes in the style of a Greek diatribe, which features sharp address, vivid metaphors, and imaginary dialogue—explaining why James’ tone feels abrupt compared to Paul’s more linear style.

Pastor Matt emphasizes James’ challenge:

• Are we doers of the Word or only hearers?

• Are we deceived into thinking we’re spiritually healthy when our lives show little obedience?

James warns of self-deception, especially among believers who twist the doctrine of salvation by grace into an excuse for spiritual laziness.

Pastor Matt restates the church’s belief: salvation is a gift of grace received through faith (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8–9). Yet James presses us with the question: What good is faith that produces no change?

James 2:14–26 teaches that real faith produces works. Works don’t earn salvation, but they validate or prove genuine faith. Even demons possess correct doctrine, but they don’t trust or obey God.

1. Self-righteous religiosity

2. “Fire insurance” faith — a profession of belief with no transformation

Both are forms of deception.

Paul addresses the same danger in Romans 6:15–23, stressing that God’s grace leads us to become slaves of righteousness, bearing fruit that leads to sanctification.

Pastor Matt shows that this isn’t abstract theology—obedience affects families and communities. Drawing from Nancy Pearcey’s The Toxic War on Masculinity, he notes:

• Committed Christian men have the healthiest marriages and lowest rates of abuse.

• Nominal Christian men—Christian in name only—show worse outcomes than secular men, including the highest rates of domestic violence.

The difference between merely hearing truth and living it out is life-altering.

Sinclair Ferguson warns of vicarious obedience—coasting spiritually because we listen to truth without practicing it. Jesus gives the ultimate warning in Matthew 7:21–23: many will claim His name, but never truly knew Him.

Pastor Matt stresses that genuine believers must keep pursuing holiness. Spiritual life is like standing in a river: stop resisting, and you drift backward. Holiness requires intention and perseverance.

James contrasts two types of people:

1. The forgetful hearer who glances at truth and walks away unchanged.

2. The faithful doer who peers deeply into the “perfect law of liberty” and continues in it.

The second receives the blessings of obedience: wisdom, growth, sanctification, and deeper intimacy with God.

Psalm 119 expresses the heart posture James encourages—delighting in God’s Word, hiding it in our hearts, and meditating on it daily. Yet Pastor Matt acknowledges the challenge: our affections wander, and real study requires discipline. Still, spiritual maturity grows through straining, digging, and persevering in Scripture.

Sermon by Ian McFarland. Working While Waiting, we explore Paul’s practical and convicting words in 1 Thessalonians 4:9–12, where he urges believers to love one another deeply, live quietly, mind their own affairs, and work with their hands. Far from being a call to a small or insignificant life, Paul shows us that a faithful, steady, diligent life becomes a powerful witness to a watching world. When believers choose responsibility over disorder, purpose over passivity, and integrity over self-promotion, they reflect the character of Christ in their everyday rhythms.

We dive into the idea that waiting on Jesus is not passive. Biblical waiting is active, expectant, and purposeful. Paul’s instructions remind us that the Christian life is not defined by dramatic achievements but by consistent faithfulness—doing the work God has placed before us with excellence, humility, and love. Every task, no matter how ordinary, can become an act of worship and a way to reveal the kingdom of God.

To deepen this theme, we turn to Jesus’ Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14–30). In this story, the faithful servants invest what the Master has entrusted to them, multiplying it with joy and courage. The unfaithful servant, however, buries his gift in fear, excuses, and spiritual laziness. Jesus’ message is bold and unmistakable: God expects His people to steward their time, skills, opportunities, and influence wisely. Wasting what He has given us—out of fear, apathy, or distraction—has real consequences, not only for our own lives but for the generations that follow.Throughout the episode, we discuss what it means to honor God with our work, to build habits that reflect His priorities, and to resist the cultural pull toward distraction, comparison, and entitlement. We examine how Christians can live meaningful, grounded lives that quietly influence their families, communities, and workplaces. True faith produces visible fruit: responsibility, love, diligence, and hope.

Paul’s vision of a “quiet life” is not small—it is deeply countercultural. It is a life rooted in God’s love, resistant to needless drama, anchored in responsibility, and committed to playing our part in God’s mission. As we wait for Christ’s return, our calling is to be faithful with what He’s placed in our hands today, trusting that small acts of obedience accumulate into a powerful legacy for the kingdom.

Sermon preached by head pastor, Ian McFarland on 11/16/2025.

Sermon preached by head pastor, Ian McFarland on 11/9/2025.

Sermon preached by Head Pastor, Ian McFarland on 11/2/2025.

Sermon preached by Associate Pastor, Tim Dunn on 10/26/2025.

Sermon preached by Head Pastor, Ian McFarland on 10/19/2025.

Sermon preached by Head Pastor, Ian McFarland on 10/12/2025.