The session will assist students deal with the loss of loved ones and understand the hope for resurrection and eternal life through Jesus Christ.

 

Form four groups and give each group a piece of poster board and markers. Assign each group a season (spring, summer, autumn, and winter). Have the groups draw a depiction of their season. They can be as creative as they wish. After they have designed their posters, have each group present them.

 

Take some time to talk about each season of the year – about what you like about each season and what you find unappealing about each season. Talk about the progress of the seasons; how spring is the start of new life that lasts through the summer. Then, the beauty of autumn comes as things progress toward winter, a time for nature to rest. Then, point out that there are also “seasons” in life. There is the season of new life when an infant is born. There is the season of growth in childhood. The season of exploration that we all go through as teenagers. Then there are the seasons of adulthood: the first job, getting married, having children, etc. Eventually we all face the season of death.

 

Explain to the students that Colton Dixon’s really great new album closes with the beautiful song, “The Other Side.” This song deals with death. Specifically, it deals with the death of a loved one and how we as followers of Christ should approach that kind of loss. Instruct the students that as they watch the video, they should write down on their Student Guide the expressions of hope that Colton Dixon sings about.

 

Discuss the expressions of hope that are present in the song.

 

Explain that Paul wrote the book of Thessalonians to one of his favorite groups of Christians in order to encourage them in their faith. For the most part, that church actively pursued Christ and did many things right. But, based on a report from Timothy, Paul gave them some specific instructions in how to handle their faith and live for Christ. One of those had to do with how they dealt with the loss of loved ones. They were particularly concerned with those who died before the Lord had come back, as they felt strongly that Christ would be returning soon.

 

Have the students answer these questions based on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

Have the students consider those loved ones whom they have lost in the Lord, or have them consider people who have lost loved ones in the Lord. They should now compose a prayer of thanksgiving to God for the hope that we have through Jesus Christ.