Small group questions

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Small group questions –

How Can God Send Good People to Hell?

How Can God Send Good People to Hell?

Scott Parker May 5, 2013 - 0018

“Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.” Matthew 25:44–46 (NLT)

1. A God of judgment can’t be a God of

1. What is your picture of hell? What does it look like, feel like, etc.? 2. Interact with the following objection: “People can accept the idea of a loving and forgiving God – but cannot accept a God who would knowingly send people to hell. Hell seems incompatible with the idea of a loving God.” What are your thoughts? 3. If your group is using the RightNow video resource, go ahead and watch “How Can God Send Good People to Hell?” and then discuss. Which person’s objections did you most relate to and why? What new insights did you discover? 4. Have someone read Revelation 20:11-15 and 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10. What do you learn about the nature of hell from these passages? Who seems to end up there?

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“The LORD is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. . . The LORD protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked.” Psalm 145:17 & 20 (NLT)

5. Why is God waiting until the Second Coming to punish these people? Who benefits from the delayed justice? 6. How can you reconcile God being a God of love and yet also a God of wrath? 7. Read Mark 9:42-49. What four things does Jesus say are better? What is His point in using this illustration? 8. What characteristics of hell does Jesus describe?

2. A loving God would not allow __________________________

“And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10 (NLT)

9. Some have suggested that at any given moment on this earth, you could experience either heaven or hell. In what ways might this be true? What problems do you have with this view? 10. Interact with the following thought about hell: “God, according to Romans 1, lets people have what they most want – and hell is simply serving yourself, going on forever. Hell is God giving you the life you want, on into eternity.” What are your thoughts? 11. If you attended Sunday service, what insight from pastor Scott’s teaching impacted you and why? 12. As you think about the concept of hell, which people in your life come to mind because you care about them? Spend some time praying together for them.