The Invisible Enemy

6 Weeks

Big Idea of the Series

In a world filled with invisible enemies—death, disease, and evil—how are we to face what feels like an unknowable future? What do we do with our anxiety regarding the days ahead? This 6-week series guide is based on the books of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and provides comfort and reassurance to those living in uncertain times. These letters discuss the future of Christ’s Second Coming, and what believers should do while awaiting his return. Paul encourages believers to be prepared, to cling to the truth of what they have been taught, and to live responsibly in light of the future. How can we take these words to heart, and face the future without fear?

What is the Series Guide?

Included in each guide is:

A sermon series outline that breaks up the teaching set into a specific number of weeks.
A "big idea" of the series.
A passage, "big idea" of the sermon, topic list, and a number of illustrations and talking point ideas are included in each weekly section. The "Sermon Ideas and Talking Points" area is filled with observations about the text, relevant applications, creative ideas, and illustrations.
A small group discussion (located in a separate document in this bundle).

What is the Series Guide Not?

This guide isn't a set of sermon manuscripts. While sermon manuscripts can be both useful and a powerful training tool, our sermon series guides are different. Rather than tell you what to say, our aim is for this material to spark your imagination, assist you in planning your sermon, and offer a boost to your study time.
This guide isn't ironclad. While we hope you use our material, the pieces of this document are designed to be moved, tweaked, and altered. As you study the suggested passages, and pray through your message, this guide will hopefully be a launching pad, rather than a landing net.

How Do I Use this Series Guide?

Plan ahead. Our guides are best utilized in advance versus the day or night before. Read over the ideas and illustrations provided, thinking through how you can possibly utilize them in your message. We've purposely kept our guides simple so as to give you the best opportunity to create your own, unique message.
While we give you a passage and "big idea" of the message, take time to study the text.
Utilize the media contained in this bundle to promote and communicate your series message.