Five Verses on Preparing for Eternity
Eternity is real, and we will all face it when we take our last breath. These five Bible verses show us how to be ready for that day.
Five Verses:
- Hebrews 9:27 | After you die, you will stand before God to be judged for your actions and choices on earth.
- Romans 3:23 | Every human sins and falls short of God’s standard. This makes judgment day bad news.
- Galatians 1:4 | Jesus went to the cross to rescue us from the coming judgment. As God, he lived a sinless life and died a criminal’s death in our place.
- Romans 10:9 | We’re saved by placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus, not by anything we can do. Every human being is personally responsible for making this faith response.
- Revelation 21:4 | For those who have placed their faith in Jesus, there is nothing to fear in death. Heaven is a place of joy and freedom beyond our wildest imagination.
A Sinner’s Prayer:
“Jesus, I recognize I’m a sinner. I know that you died on the cross and rose from the dead so that I could have life. I’m turning from my sin now, and I’m turning to you in faith. I trust in you alone to forgive my sin and give me new life. Thank you for this free gift. Amen.”
Discussion:
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What do you think will happen when you die? How confident are you in your belief?
- Read Romans 3:23. Do you agree that everyone sins? Why or why not?
- If God were to judge you today based on your actions and choices, how would that go?
- Read Romans 3:22. What does it mean to be made “right with God”? According to the verse, what must we do in order to have that?
- If you haven’t already, are you ready to trust Jesus for your salvation? Talk about getting to your faith moment.
Top 5 Verses Christians Take Out of Context
Have you ever heard someone explain a scripture and wonder to yourself, “Is that really what that scripture means?”
Talking Points:
- Matthew 7:1 “Don’t judge others and then you won’t be judged.” The real message is that in making judgments, we should not be hypocrites. We should not call out others without examining ourselves and being open to changing ourselves Matthew 7:5, 1 Corinthians 5:11
- James 1:2 “Consider it pure joy when you face many trials.” Trials are hard, but with God’s perspective in mind, they will ultimately lead us to be more faithful, committed, mature followers of Jesus. James 1:2-4, Romans 8:28
- Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered in my name.” While there is nothing wrong with desiring the prayers of other believers, we must be cautious that we do not begin believing that God will be more moved to act because we are with more people. Jesus answers all prayer in one way or another, and the most important thing is that we submit our prayers to his will. Matthew 18:15-20, 1 John 5:14-15
- Romans 4:17 “Speak about things that are as though they are not.” This is not offering us a magic formula by which we can get God to give us whatever we want. It is saying that God has the power to speak things into existence, and the point is highlighting that Abraham had enough faith to believe this about God and so should we.
- Isaiah 53:5 “By his stripes we are healed.” The context of the passage indicates that the healing here is a reference to spiritual healing we receive in Christ when we are forgiven of our sins thanks to how he suffered for us on the cross. This is not a catch-all phrase guaranteeing Christians perfect health. 1 Peter 2:24
Discussion:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Have your words ever been taken out of context? What was the result of that mistake?
- Read Matthew 7:1 and 1 Corinthians 5:11. Evaluate what both verses are saying. Define hypocrite in your own words. Why do we need to be careful when we call out others for their sins?
- Read James 1:2-4 and Romans 8:28. Share about a hard season in your life. Looking back, how did you see God work through it all? How did you grow from it?
- Read Matthew 18:20 and 1 John 5:14-15. Why might it be helpful to bring witnesses to a hard conversation? Why do we need to be careful to not take these verses too far? Why should we pray for God’s will, not ours?
- Read Romans 4:17. Why is it important for us to remember that God is on the throne, not us? What dangers do we face when we assume our way is better? How have you tried to force God to do things your way in the past and what happened?
- Read Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24. How does Jesus heal us? How have you seen Christians take verses like these out of context?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
This topic is adapted from the THE BEAT by Allen Parr YouTube channel.
How To Fast For Breakthrough
Talking Points:
- Fasting can unlock breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. When you fast, you reaffirm your dependence on God’s power, not your own. Mark 9:17-18, 28-29
- Fasting is voluntarily depriving yourself of food or drink (or some other good thing) in order to focus on God. You can fast alone or in a group, in crisis or in preparation. 2 Chronicles 20:1-3, Matthew 4:1-2, Acts 14:23
- Fasting is a faith-building exercise. It’s about releasing control to God, not obligating him to give us breakthrough on our terms.
Discussion:
- Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
- Have you ever fasted before whether for spiritual reasons or another reason? How did you do?
- Read Mark 9:17-18. What do you think the disciples were feeling when they were unable to cast out the demon? What was at stake for them when they failed?
- Read Mark 9:28-29. What do you think Jesus means? What does it reveal about the disciples’ view of their own abilities?
- Share a time you relied on your own power to do something and failed. What would it have looked like if you sought God’s power for that situation instead?
- How does denying yourself food or drink impact your focus? Share how a time of fasting strengthened you in a tough time.
- Read Matthew 4:1-2. What do you notice about Jesus’ physical condition? Why do you think Jesus felt the need to fast for forty days and nights?
- Read Acts 14:23. Have you ever fasted before making a big decision? Explain. How could fasting set you up for better decision-making?
- Revisit Richard Foster’s quote, “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us.” What are the things that would be hard for you to give up for a time? What do those things reveal about what you care most about?
- Read Mark 9:21-23. Where do you need a new breakthrough in your life? How can you release control and take hold of God’s power in a new way to overcome it?
See Also:
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