Leader Guide week of 10-5-08

Small Group Leaders Guide
October 5, 2008

Series: One Week To Live
Message 5: Think Eternally

Getting Started:
1. Why do you think the subject of death causes people to think about eternity?

Going Deeper:
2. Read Revelation 20:12-15. What stands out to you most from this passage?

3. In this passage, you see the term “second death.” What is that? Is it possible for a person to die twice? In this passage, who dies twice?

4. What is Revelation 20:12-15 referring to? The “lake of fire” sounds like a bad thing. Can a person know ahead of time whether he/she will end up in the lake of fire or does a person simply have to wait for judgment to take place?

• This passage is referring to Final Judgment.
• John 3:18 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.
• Whoever does not believe stands condemned already. Apparently, a person can at least know if he/she will end up in the lake of fire at the final judgment.
• John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

5. In Revelation 20:12, two sets of books are mentioned. The book of life, and apparently a set of books that recorded what people had done. What is the purpose of these two sets of books?

6. Can a person know that he/she is definitely not headed for the lake of fire? What Bible passages help answer this question?

• John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
• Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

7. Being a good person in this life is all the “thinking eternally” a person needs to do, right? Why or why not? What does the Bible say about this?

8. If someone asked you how to become a Christian, what would you tell that person? If that person did what you said and came back to you later saying; “I did what you said and I don’t feel any different,” what would you tell that person then?

• We spend 2 weeks answering this question and others that are connected to it in Accelerate!
• When a person becomes a Christian, that person receives the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit never comes alone but always brings gifts. After a person receives the Holy Spirit, the fruits of the Spirit begin to form. Maybe not fast, maybe not suddenly, maybe not even big, but fruits cannot help but be manifested. One kumquat is all that needs to be seen to know a kumquat tree when you see one. Jesus said that we are recognized by our fruit.
• Matthew 7:16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
• Matthew 12:33 "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.
• John 15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9. Some people find it easier to talk about God than to talk about Jesus. Why do you think this is? When thinking eternally, why is it important that the name of Jesus is part of your thinking?

• In question 9 there is a list of passages that can help in answering this question.
• What is your hope for eternal life? If it is not Jesus Christ, you have no hope.

10. Read some or all of the following passages and discuss their main points and their significance for thinking eternally: Isaiah 64:6, 1John 1:8-10, 1Peter 3:18, Mark 2:17, Romans 3:20-26, Romans 7:7, Romans 8:3, Titus 3:4-7, 2Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 11:6, Romans 10:13-15, 1Timothy 2:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Romans 5:8, Revelation 14:13.

11. Read Revelation 13:8. From a historical perspective Jesus was crucified in the first century A.D. In what way was Jesus slain from the foundation of the world?

Putting it into practice:
12. If your hope for eternal life is in being a good person or doing nice things for others, then you need to know God’s point of view on these things. Make a commitment to learn more about God by studying His Word.

13. Is there someone close to you who needs to know who Jesus Christ is and what He has done? Pray for him/her in your groups.

Quote Of The Week:
My wife is…a mirror. When I have sinned against her, my sin appears in the suffering of her face…The passion of Christ…is such a mirror. Are the tears of my dear wife hard to look at? Well, the pain in the face of Jesus is harder…Nevertheless, I will not avoid this mirror! No, I will carefully rehearse, again this year, the passion of my Jesus – with courage, with clarity and faith; for this is the mirror of dangerous grace, purging more purely than any other.
--Walter Wangerin, Jr.