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Small Group Disussion on "Why Would a Loving God Send People to Hell?"

“Right now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim reflection of reality but one day we shall see reality face to face!” 1 Corinthians 13:12 (Amp)

 

RECAP:                                                                                                           

What happens after we die? At some point everyone wonders what happens after our life on Earth is finished. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10 that nothing we see will last forever. The only things that will last forever are things that are not seen.  Listed below are five realities of life with related Bible verses.  It is important to understand these truths to know what happens after we die. Take some time to reflect on these before continuing.

 

THE REALITIES OF LIFE

1. God made you to love you & wants your love back. (Jeremiah 31:3)
2. You were made to last forever. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
3. God has prepared two eternal places. (John 14:2-3, Matthew 25:34, Matthew 25:41)
4. You choose where you’ll spend eternity. (Deuteronomy 11:26-28, Deuteronomy 30:15-19)
5. There is no second chance after you die. (Matthew 25:46)

 

One misconception is that God sends people to hell. On the contrary, people choose to go there by rejecting the free gift of salvation made available through Jesus Christ. Since it is a choice and there is no second chance, it is extremely important to determine your destiny now. We are not guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next hour. It would be tragic to put off securing your future until it is too late. It is simple to decide your eternal destiny as we will see later in this study.

 

Open your group with a prayer. This is only a guide – select the points you want to discuss.

 

1. WHY DOES HELL EXIST?

     1.     BECAUSE EVIL & SIN EXIST

 

According to Genesis 6:5-6, what was the primary focus of humanity?

• There is little question that evil and sin exist in our world. Name several examples of this in recent events.
• Why was God so upset and disappointed with humanity’s evil nature?

 

2. BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY & JUST

 

    Psalm    15:1-2 tells us the kind of person who can dwell with God. What are some of that individual’s characteristics?

• Contrast the description of humanity in Genesis 6:5-6 with the requirements to dwell with God.

 

 

Despite our best intentions, we all fall prey to our sinful nature, putting us squarely in the position of being imperfect. Heaven is a perfect place, because God is perfect. To bridge the gap between imperfect humanity and perfect God, there is Jesus. God also promised that all people would be judged in fairness and righteousness, therefore there will be a place for the just and the unjust, which is heaven and hell. How can you show your appreciation to God for the knowledge that no matter what happens in this life, He will balance the scales in eternity?

1. WHAT IS HELL LIKE? TOTAL SEPARATION FROM GOD.

 

In 1 Corinthians 16:22 how does this verse describe the condition of those who reject God?

 

• In this world believers and non-believers experience the blessings of God equally through His creation. Using the descriptions below in the left-hand column, how does every human experience each of these blessings? 

 

GOD IS…                               WITHOUT GOD, HELL IS…

Love                                        Terrifying & lonely

Light                                        Complete darkness

Good                                        Absolutely nothing good there

Life                                          Eternal death & torment

Gracious                                   A place of no grace

 

 

• Hell is described in the Bible as the only place in the universe God is not. Using the right-hand column above describe what people would feel if they were to exist without any of the benefits of God’s presence?
• People often say jokingly something to the effect, “See you in hell,” as if they expect their earthly experiences to continue in that place, just differently. If the real environment of hell is as described above to the right, would this be possible? What would be a more accurate statement?
• What parts of human fellowship such as fun, family, or work would be possible or not possible?

 

Fellowship – Connecting with others and with God is one of His purposes for our lives. Relationships are part of the blessings of God’s presence. While the total experience of hell may be beyond our capacity to understand, discuss in your group what an eternity with no love and only loneliness would be like. How would you describe this to a non-believer?  

 

1. WHAT’S MY RESPONSIBILITY? TELL OTHERS!

 

Why did God hold Ezekiel accountable for the evil man’s death according to Ezekiel 33:8?

• What is our role in the salvation of others?
• How does our responsibility change once we tell someone about their eternal options?

 

In Romans 10:13-15 how will others come to know the Lord?

• How does God view those who share the Good News?
• What is the sacrifice that we have to make to share God’s love? Compare that to the sacrifice God made for us.

 

God is clear on what He wants us to do. We’re not just taking people to heaven with us, we’re saving them from hell. Who do you know that needs to hear the Good News?

 

 

 

"Why Would a Loving God Send People to Hell?"

You may not have a tough time with this question, but I promise you ... the people you rub shoulders with are wondering what the answer to this question is.  I mean, think about it.  That is a HUGE question.  I gotta be honest with you.  The very question "not even the answer" seems so unbelievable to people that they will not enter into a growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ just because the very thought seems ... well ... ludicrous.

This weekend, we are taking about hell.  In his book called, "Erasing Hell"  Francis Chan said,  'Don't believe something just because you have to, and don't embrace an idea just because you've always believed it.  Believe what is Biblical.  Test all assumptions against the precious words God gave us in the Bible.'   As we study "hell" this weekend at Victory Church, and more specifically,  "Why Would a Loving God Send People to Hell?"  Remember, God isn't always easy to understand.  His thoughts are above our thoughts and His ways are above our ways.  Keep in mind that the sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all things, has every right to do, "whatever he pleases" (Psalm 115:3 NASB)

 

So, despite what we may want to believe, we've got to figure out what God told us to believe in His Word.  As we read and study God's Word on this topic, here are a couple other books that I think woud be a HUGE help to you:

1. "Erasing Hell - what God said about eternity, and the things we made up." - By Francis Chan & Preston Sprinkle
2. "Is hell for real?" - By Timothy Keller, R. Albert Mouler & J.I. Packer
3. "Four Views of Hell" - John Walvoord

 

Jon us this week, get a mess of your friends to come out to Victory Church in Lancaster, PA or watch us on-line at 9AM this Sunday right here.

 

GIVE ME A PIECE OF YOUR MIND:    What are your thoughts on hell?   Does it exist?  Was Jesus speaking in actual terms or were they metaphors? 

Another Church is Bucking "The American Church" Trend

Churches don't do stuff like this.  Seriously, churches are supposed to be territorial.  I mean, that’s why non-Christians HATE church, right?   According to Dan Kimball, most Americans like Jesus, but they HATE the local church.  It’s an underwritten, never spoken of, rule that too many churches operate by.  They won’t admit it, but they do.  Churches are supposed to be jealous of another churches programs, growth, ministries, facilities, success, pastors … you get the picture.

 

But recently, I read an incredible story by Matt Graybill of LCBC.  It was an eye-opening post on the “selflessness” of an older congregation in our community.   Well, I found another … or should I say, “I experienced another” self-less congregation.

 

Bethany Grace Fellowship and my church (Victory Church) are pretty much different from one another.  Not in a bad way, just different.  We are suburban, they are rural.  We started in 2000, they started in 1957.  Their background is Mennonite, ours is Pentecostal.  We have guitar and drum solo’s … and a hazer … I don’t think they do that. :-)

 

But they lead by example.  I gotta admit, I am super impressed by Pastor Adam Nagle, his leadership team, and his church.  They understand something most younger congregations, in the American church, fail to realize … “The Principle of Sowing Seeds” in the Kingdom of God.  Last week, they decided to sow a seed and bless our young, growing, different-from-theirs, congregation with a cash offering.  You read that right, CASH OFFERING.  Nothing says, "I believe in you" like cash :-)  I couldn’t believe it.  I can’t wait to share this with our tribe this week at Victory.  That mature, God-honoring congregation that meets in East Earl, PA get it.  It's not about ME or my little world, or my little Kingdom, or my little program.   It is about expamding the Kingdom of God.  It's not just about "my interests", it's about supporting and strengthening the p;aces where God is working.  God is so much bigger then my little world.

 

Their selfless act got me thinking,  “What am I doing as a pastor to expand the Kingdom that is NOT under my direct watch??  What am I giving?  Who am I blessing?”  What if we all started a revolution?   What if, instead of tearing down other churches in the Kingdom (and in our back yard), we blessed them?  Just like BGF did for us.   The Lord is working in many places.   Our question should be, “What IS He doing and how can I be a part of it?”

 

Hats off to Pastor Adam and BGF.  We need more leaders and more churches that lead in our communities like these guys are doing.  I pray the Lord blesses Adam and his church in the gracious and abundant way they have blessed us.

 

THINK ABOUT IT:   Where is God moving?  How can you sow a seed into that ministry?  Who is taking risks?  How can you bless them?