03/03/24 Afterlife: What is the Final Judgment?

OPENING QUESTION

1. Have you ever been judged in a competition? What was it like?
2. Have you ever been a judge in a competition? Tell us about it.

We're discussing a sermon series from church called "Afterlife." This last Sunday, Pastor Jim answered the question, "What is the Final Judgment?"

​​DISCUSSION

1. Read John 5:24-30.
   1. Jesus says that a time is coming "when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned." This is known as the Resurrection of the Dead.
   2. Have you heard of this teaching before?
   3. Jim said he doesn't really know how that's going to work but thinks of Star Trek and the transporters they use ("Beam me up Scotty!") to disassemble the particles of our bodies and reassemble them again. If Star Trek can do it, God can do it! How do you think it's going to work? 
2. Review the Afterlife chart that Jim made to help visualize it. What are your thoughts about it?
3. Read Ephesians 2:8-9; John 5:24; and James 2:16-17, 26.
   1. On what basis are we judged? Why?
   2. What role does "faith" play in the judgment?
   3. What role do "actions" play in the judgment?
4. Read Matthew 25:45-46.
   1. What is the punishment and who is it for?
   2. What is the reward and who is it for?
   3. We often think of a reward as if it's "I do this and get that." For example, "I run the race and get a ribbon" or "I win the game and get the trophy." But the Christian hope is different. It's "I'm chasing after Jesus and my reward is being with Jesus forever!" or "I'm pursuing the kingdom of God on earth and my reward will be living in the kingdom of God forever!"
      Why is this significant to understand?
5. Do you have any closing thoughts or comments about this series or this message?

PRAYER
Take some time for people to share prayer requests. Then pray. First, thank God for the promise and hope of heaven. Then pray for each other's prayer requests.