Group Guide

6. Is the Bible God’s Word? Jesus proved He is God by rising from the dead and said the Old Testament was God’s Word and gave authority to the Apostles to write the words of the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, so that all the words of the Bible are God’s Word.
(Matthew 5:18; Luke 24:27, 44; John 14:25-26, 15:27, 16:12-13, 17:20; Acts 2:42; Ephesians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21)

What do you hope your life looks like in 10 years? 

• As believers, we have the promise of Jesus coming back to make things right, once and for all. This weekend we looked at some prophecies from Jesus about the days leading up to His return. We are to be waiting on Him with great anticipation, watching for the signs of His coming. How often do you think about the day Jesus returns? What emotions does it stir up in you?
  
  
• Jesus begins by predicting the end of the old age in verse 5. He tells them of the coming destruction of the temple. Then he talks about signs that the end is coming. He speaks of false teachers that will rise up in the last days. He warns us not to listen to them. This means there is right doctrine and wrong doctrine. Jesus warns against easily trusting teachers and prophets. In fact, He seems to be telling us to be skeptical of them. We need to test and discern every teaching we let into our ears. Are you careful about which teachers/preachers/churches you follow? Do you think very often about making sure the teaching you are hearing is sound and biblical? Or are you more likely to trust anything you hear that comes from a preacher?
  
  
• Jesus says wars and natural disasters are coming, and in verse 12 that a time of great persecution is coming. He tells us to expect it, but to not fear. He says when we're dragged in to stand trial to not worry because this will be an opportunity to tell people about Jesus. He is saying things are going to get extremely difficult before He returns. Jesus says plainly that suffering goes hand in hand with the preaching of the gospel and He tells us to stand firm despite the cost. How prepared are you to withstand actual physical persecution? What are you doing now to ensure you have a strong enough faith later?
  
  
• The days of suffering Jesus is describing in verse 20 is the wrath of God being poured out on the earth. Jesus tells us plainly that these will be days of God's vengeance. God hates sin, and because He is holy and just, He MUST punish sin, rebellion and evil. God's holiness, justice and wrath are something we don't really like talking about. If we were living our lives looking forward to His coming wrath and punishment of sin and rebellion, how would that affect our day to day lives? Our behavior? Our relationships, especially with those who are far from God?
  
  
• The big idea from Sunday was, "I don't know the future, but I know the one who knows the future!" Looking towards the unknown can fill us with worry or uncertainty, but we can rest in the fact that the One we follow is in control and He wins in the end. As the people of God, we aren't the planning committee, we are the welcoming committee. He just expects us  to continue to long for Christ's return and to expect that it could occur any time.  In 1 Corinthians 16:22 we see a new greeting that replaced the traditional "shalom". It's "maranatha", which means, "Our Lord, come!" Do you truly long for Christ's return? What dynamic would it create if we actually expressed that sentiment every time we greeted one another? How might that affect our hearts, actions and priorities?