Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
5. Why do I follow Jesus? I follow Jesus because Jesus rose from the dead proving that He is the way, the truth and the life.
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
(Matthew 7:24-27; John 14:6)
Ice-Breaker:
No ice-breaker this week. If you notice, there are fewer questions. We want do devote as much time as needed for the challenge at the end. Pass out some index cards or paper and some pens to be used at the end.
Discussion Questions:
Have someone read Luke 16:19-31 aloud.
- Sunday's message was a heavy one! In Luke 16, Jesus teaches about hell. Clayton started with the doctrine of hell and challenged us to see both sides. It is both terrifying and also shows the profound righteousness and justice of a holy God. Hell can be defined as the eternal, conscious punishment of the wicked. "It is a beginning without a middle, a beginning without an end. After millions of years passed in it, still it is beginning." Jesus describes it in Mark 9 as the unquenchable fire. People that are there will be alive, awake, thinking, feeling, in tremendous physical and emotional pain, remembering, broken and full of regret. It will be physical punishment. People will be in torment, in anguish as they burn. How often do you think of hell? Why do you think we don't like to consider people we love going there? Why might it be healthy to do so?
- Needless to say, hell will be a terrible, terrible place to be. But why would a loving God send a "good" person to hell? The fact is, no one is good. We have all broken God's law and must be punished to satisfy his justice. Not only should hearing of the horrible truths of hell make us REALLY not want to go there, it should also stir up in us worship for God. It's extremely sobering to truly consider what we've been saved from. Our faith in Jesus doesn't just make our life better. It LITERALLY saves us from experiencing the horrors of hell. God is just, but he is also infinitely gracious. How grateful are you for God's saving grace? What passions does it stir up in you?
- Now that we know the truth about eternity, we should be broken over it. When Paul thinks of how lost people in his life are in Romans 9, he says, "I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart." It should be the same for us. We should be broken over the lostness of people we love. That should drive us to want to sacrifice and do everything possible to reach them. We must remember that we are in their lives for a reason. If we don't reach them, who will? Spend some time thinking of people in your life that need Jesus. Allow your heart to break over the thought of them spending eternity in hell. Write their names down and look at them. Then we'll spend some time praying for each of them in a little while.
(Encourage them to put the list in a place where they'll see it every day. Each time they look at it, tell them to pray for opportunities to share Jesus with them.) - Easter is coming up and it's a great time to invite someone to church. Everyone get your phones out and text any or all of the people on your list and invite them to church! Here's an example text...
"Hey _______! I'm not sure if you have plans for Easter yet, but I'd love for you to come with me to The City Church! I really think you'll love it!"
Prayer Topics:
For the prayer time, encourage each person, if they are comfortable, to pray for the names on their list and ask God to give them opportunities and boldness to share the love of Jesus with them.
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