Leader Guide Week of 11-18-07

Small Group Leaders Guide
November 18, 2007

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It And I Feel Fine
Making The Final Cut: The Judgment

Getting Started:

1. What’s your favorite “crime” show? (ie: CSI, Perry Mason, Quincy, Law & Order, etc.)

Going Deeper:

2. On the “Day of Judgment”, who gets judged?

• Believers
• Unbelievers
• Angels
• Satan
• The dead
• The living

3. If it’s true that Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of believers, why is it that believers also get judged with unbelievers on the “Day of Judgment”?

• See BLOG post below
  

4. Read Matthew 11:20-24. Why will the judgment be more “unbearable” for Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum?

• The answer is in verse 20. They did not repent.

5. The word, “judgment” can be a legal term. What is the “legal” status of believers before the Day of Judgment? What is the “legal” status of unbelievers before the Day of Judgment?

• John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
• Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

6. Will the punishment of the devil be different than the punishment for unbelievers?

• Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

7. What would you say to someone who says: “It seems unfair to punish someone eternally in hell just because that person didn’t believe in Jesus.”?

• See BLOG post below
  

8. Read 1Corinthians 3:11-15. This passage refers several times to something a person “builds” or “has built.” What is being referred to by those figures of speech? Practically speaking, what would you suggest to someone who wants to build something that “survives” (verse 14)?

• What Bible passages or parables might help to answer this question?
  

Putting it into practice:

1) What are you building right now that you think is going to survive? Pray about any changes that would need to occur in your life to focus more on building what lasts.

Quote Of The Day

I shall tell you a great secret, my friend. Do not wait for the Last Judgment. It takes place every day.
--Albert Camus