If you have any questions or want to give us some feedback, send us an to

Transcription

1 Thanks for downloading some resources from Adventures in Ministry We are just five guys trying to provide quality, relevant, Biblically-based resources for ministers, youth workers, Bible class teachers, and anyone else trying to spread the Word of God. If you like what you see, tell a friend about us. Thank you for what you are doing. NOT EVERY SERIES IS PACKAGED THE SAME. Here s a few things you need to know about all AIM resources: Each of us prepares and teaches in different ways. So in order to make more resources available at a faster rate, we upload it exactly how we taught it. There may be typos, wrong uses of contractions, and even misspelled words. So if these kinds of things bother you good luck. FEEL FREE TO MAKE EACH RESOURCE YOUR OWN. Feel free to make each resource your own. We never intended for someone to download a resource and teach it verbatim. We want to get your creative juices flowing. GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE. Even though these resources are free, we ask that you do not post our resources on any other website or that the resources on the AIM website be used for financial gain. We encourage you to share these resources with others, but that you acknowledge the author of each series, as well as Adventures In Ministry. QUESTIONS: If you have any questions or want to give us some feedback, send us an to ADVENTURES IN MINISTRY THEAIMSTUFF@GMAIL.COM

2 Heaven Is For Real is a 3 week series by Eric Gray. Eric is the youth minister for the Creekwood Church of Christ in Mobile, AL. You can contact Eric by at ejgray49@gmail.com. Follow him on

3 WHO WILL BE THERE? Class 1 - Heaven Is For Real Series INTRODUCTION: Three friends die in a car accident, they go to heaven to an orientation. They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning upon you, what would you like to hear them say about you? The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor of my time, and a great family man." The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow." The last guy replies, "I would like to hear them say...look, HE'S MOVING Many of us are probably a lot like that last guy afraid of the afterlife. If you ve ever really thought about what would happen to you after you died, then you re probably like me it can shake you up a little bit. And so a lot of people wonder, what is going to happen after this life is over?" In a 2013 study by the Barna Group, 76% of people said they believe that Heaven exists. I m one of those 76%. I believe that heaven is for real. Not like you read about it in secular books like heaven is for real, a story of a 4 year old boy who clinically died and came back to

4 life. But I believe that heaven is for real, the heaven that is described in the Bible. That s what I want us to talk about for the next 3 weeks. The heaven of the Bible. Because if heaven is for real Then Jesus death on the cross really matters Then Jesus really has been preparing heaven for the last 2,000 years Then every decision that we make in this life absolutely matters Then the question, Who will be in heaven is one of the greatest questions we could ever ask. So tonight I want to answer the question Who will be in heaven?" Who will be there The baptized - Mark 16:15-16 Those who have a personal relationship w/ Jesus - Matthew 7:13-14, Those who endure persecution - Revelation 7:9-17 a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues The Lamb God Revelation 21:21-27 The Lord God Almighty The Lamb The nations of those who are saved CONCLUSION: Who will be in heaven? God. Jesus.

5 Those whose names are written in the Lamb s Book of Life. Is your name in that book? Have you been baptized into the blood of Jesus? If not, your name can be added to that book tonight. And you can sleep in peace knowing that if your life ended tonight, heaven would be your home.

6 WHAT WILL HEAVEN BE LIKE? Class 2 - Heaven is For Real Series INTRODUCTION How do you describe a place you've never been and you've never seen a picture? All you've read is one of those travel brochures. That's how I would describe Finland to you. Or Greenland. When we talk about what Heaven will be like, we are trying to describe a place we've never been. All we have is a description of it from an author who basically says it's indescribable. But we will do our best tonight. LESSON 1. What will heaven be like? Lots of crazy ideas. Some people think in heaven they will get to do their favorite thing on earth (sports, eat, sleep, etc.). Some people think we will float on clouds forever. Some people think it will be like an eternal block party. All of that sounds fun. But there's one problem. Heaven isn't earth and all those things are earthy. Heaven is for real. And Heaven is a Spiritual place.

7 So let s read what is probably the most complete portrait of heaven that we have in the Bible: Revelation 21. A NEW BEGINNING - Revelation 21:1-5 When you think about it, we can't have any remembrance of our life on this earth while we are in heaven. Let me explain by reading from revelation. The No s of Heaven - no darkness - no crying - no pain - no sorrow - no death - no sin - no temptation - no evil If you remembered the evil from this world, you would cry. If you remembered people who weren't in heaven, you would cry. If you remembered pain from earth, you would cry. But since there are no more tears or sorrow, there's no way we will remember our life on earth. A DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN - Revelation 21:9-21 Remember these are physical, earthly descriptions of a spiritual place. Notice what resources John uses to describe doors, roads and concrete. The big idea is that there s plenty of room for everyone in heaven, it s safe and it s sturdy.

8 There aren t angels guarding the gates because there are threats, but to give you a sense of safety and security. Remember who John is writing to people who lived around AD. Not Christians living in We are intercepting their mail. 2. What will we do? Revelation 4:1-11 may be the best glimpse as to what we will do for eternity. Praising God for eternity Gathered around the throne Together with the family of God Heaven will be a lot like this. But with God up front. And us praising Him. Forever. Will there be other things we do? I have no idea. Possibly. But over and over in Revelation it talks about God s people worshipping Him and the Lamb because of the victory won over sin and death. And why would we not want to praise God for eternity? APPLICATION: If you don't like coming to church, you won't like heaven. It s just that simple. If you don t enjoy being in God s presence and with his people today, you won t enjoy being in God s presence and with his people for eternity. And if you don t praise God on earth, why would you expect to spend eternity with God to praise Him in heaven?

9 Your worship matters. If worship doesn t mean anything to you on earth, don t expect to spend eternity in heaven. I know that s harsh, but it s the truth. CHALLENGE: Let your worship become a reflection of your gratitude for your salvation.

10 IF HEAVEN IS FOR REAL, SO IS HELL INTRODUCTION: Class 3 - Heaven Is For Real Series I remember having a conversation with a guy that I worked with at a car wash while I was in high school. We were talking about faith, church, and salvation. He made the statement, Well...it doesn t really matter what I do because I know I m going to hell, and I m okay with that." The fact that he could make that statement meant that he had no concept or real understanding of hell. Anyone who can make a statement like that...i know I m going to hell... and does nothing to change that has no real understanding of hell. Please understand this: tonight's lesson is not designed to scare you into making a commitment to Christ. I want to give you real information about a real place so that you can make an informed decision about your eternal future. If by the end of this class you are terrified of hell, good. It means you understand what hell will be like. But that shouldn't be our motivation for becoming a Christian. Our love for God should always be our greatest motivation. And if you want to go to heaven

11 because you don't want to go to hell, you have the wrong motivation. So let's get into it. Because if heaven is for real, so is hell. LESSON: In my mind, there are two big questions about hell. 1. Why was hell created? 2. What will hell be like? I m going to reference a lot of verses tonight. I will have them all on the screen, but I also want you to look at each of them in your own Bibles if you brought them. (slide) QUESTION #1: WHY WAS HELL CREATED? A lot of people have struggled with the question, Why would an all- loving God create a place like hell? There s a very good answer to that question. Hell was created for the devil and his angels. (slide) Matthew 25:41 Then he will also say to those on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels..." (slide) Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10 And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found

12 for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Hell will be a place of punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel. (slide) Revelation 20:12, 15 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books...and anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire." (slide) 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9...since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power..."

13 (slide) Revelation 21:8 More than just friars and liars. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Hell was created as a place for punishment and torment. Originally it was created for the devil and his angels. But those who do not obey the gospel will also be punished there for eternity. Sidebar: The devil s fate has been sealed and he knows it. That s why he tempts us...to try to take us to hell with him. He is trying to inflict pain on God by destroying as many of God s people as he can. So the next time you re tempted to sin, remember that it s from Satan, and all he wants to do is take you to hell with him. (slide) QUESTION #2: WHAT WILL HELL BE LIKE? For time s sake, I m going to give you some different ways the Bible describes hell. I will reference these if you want to write them down. Eternal and everlasting (2 Thessalonians 1:9) Those in hell will receive God s vengeance (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Separated from the presence of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9) Hell is a place of darkness, weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 25:30)

14 Hell is a place of unquenchable fire (Matthew 3:12) God s wrath will be poured out in full strength on those in hell. They shall be tormented with fire and brimstone. And there is no rest in hell (Revelation 14:9-11) Hell is is worse than reliving your worst nightmare every day of eternity. Hell is worse than anything you could ever imagine. Remember...in the book of Revelation John used physical descriptions to describe heaven, and we all agree it s going to be way more beautiful and awesome than John could describe because heaven is a spiritual place. It s indescribable in earthly terms. Hell is a spiritual place. These are physical descriptions for a spiritual place. It s worse than darkness, unquenchable fire, brimstone, and weeping. CONCLUSION: Why is hell so bad? Because God isn t there. That s why there s darkness. Because those in hell will receive God s wrath in full strength. No one has ever seen that. Not Sodom and Gomorrah. Not Lot s wife. No one.

15 Receiving God s wrath was enough to make Jesus sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane hours before being crucified for our sins. It scared him and it should scare you. (slide) Hell was not created for God s people. But if we don t choose God, then we choose hell. (slide) If heaven is for real, then so is hell. If heaven is for real, we should do everything we can do to make sure we are going to be there. Because our God sent his only son to die on a cross so we could go to heaven. And if that doesn t make you want to go to heaven, then I don t know what will. But I know this...i plan to be there. And I hope you do too. If you need to make some things right in your life or if you need to be baptized so that you can sleep tonight knowing that if you died, heaven would be your home, come talk to me after class. Don t leave here tonight wondering where you will spend eternity.