Heaven and Hell Eternal Life, Eternal Punishment A Bible Study Course for Adults by Brian R. Keller Leader s Guide Lesson One What Happens at Death... 12 Lesson Two What the Bible Teaches About Hell... 15 Lesson Three A Bible Study of Heaven, Part One... 19 Lesson Four A Bible Study of Heaven, Part Two... 14 Lesson Five You Can Be Sure of Eternal Life!... 19 Lesson Six Common Questions and Answers... 23 The material on this disk may be adapted, printed, and copied by the purchaser of this kit. However, the following notice must appear at the bottom of each page of the student lessons: 2008 Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Ownership of this material belongs to either a congregation or an individual, but not both. Purchase by a congregation: Purchase of this material by a congregation gives Bible study leaders of that congregation permission to adapt and copy this material for use in one or more groups within that congregation. (Dual parishes may purchase one copy for use in both congregations.) Purchase by a pastor or other Bible study leader: Purchase of this material by an individual gives the buyer permission to adapt and copy this material for Bible classes he or she teaches or supervises. Buyer has permission to use this material only in the congregation he or she is currently serving or attending. Scripture is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 www.nph.net 2008 Northwestern Publishing House Published 2008 ISBN 978-0-8100-2069-6
Heaven and Hell Leader s Guide Page 2 Lesson One What Happens at Death (Heaven and Hell, pages 7-37) Goals 1. To learn why people die. 2. To learn what the Bible teaches about what happens at death. 3. To learn to view this life as our time of grace. Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, you created this world to be perfect, but then we fell into sin. Ever since that time, there has been suffering and death. Yet you promised salvation through Christ. Teach us to view this life as our time of grace and to use your Word to increase our faith and remove our fear of death. Amen. Introduction Try to describe what you think it feels like to die. Have you been present when someone died? Share with the class some of your thoughts about what it was like to be there. Answers will vary. The point of these questions is to lead the class into thinking about and discussing the topics of death and dying. Where death came from Genesis 2:16,17 The LORD God commanded the man, You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. What command did God give to Adam and Eve? They were not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they did, they would die. Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return. Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.
Heaven and Hell Leader s Guide Page 3 Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. What happened not long after God gave his command? What effect does this have on all who are born into this world? Adam and Eve fell into sin by disobeying God s command for them. The wages of sin is death. All people die because of sin Adam s and their own. What is death? Ecclesiastes 12:7 The dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. Luke 12:20 God said to him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself? 2 Corinthians 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. James 2:26 The body without the spirit is dead. According to these passages, what happens to the soul at death? to the body? At death, the soul separates from the body. The body decays. Our life now in view of death 2 Corinthians 6:2 I tell you, now is the time of God s favor, now is the day of salvation. Hebrews 9:27 Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. How are we to view this life? What is its purpose? This life is our time of grace. It is the only opportunity we have to hear the gospel and to be brought to faith in Jesus by the Holy Spirit s power. Where people go when they die Mark 16:15,16 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. John 3:16-18 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God s one and only Son. Read Luke 16:19-31. Read Luke 23:42,43.
Heaven and Hell Leader s Guide Page 4 How many destinations are there after this life? There are only two possible destinations after this life: heaven and hell. The souls of unbelievers go to hell. The souls of those who believe in Jesus go to heaven. Appealing ideas What do you think makes the following ideas appealing? The Roman Catholic Church teaches that there is a place between heaven and hell called purgatory. It seems comforting to think that a person would get a second chance after this life. However, this whole idea is based on salvation by works. So, not only is purgatory not taught in Scripture, the idea is contrary to God s Word. Many believe that souls are reincarnated after death, that is, each soul enters another body to live on as an animal or another human being. This idea is also based on a system of works because if a person is good, he or she wins the right to move up to a higher state of being. Bad people, even though they may come back as lower creatures, still have a chance to make up for their evil actions. This idea is contrary to Scripture. Universalists claim that everyone goes to heaven and that there is no such place as hell. Why might these false ideas be very appealing to people? No one likes to think of being in hell or of having his or her loved ones suffering forever in hell. It seems nicer to say that everyone goes to a better place. However, this idea is false and contrary to the Bible. Conclusion When Adam and Eve sinned, there were consequences. Death was one of those consequences. At death, the soul separates from the body. The soul of the unbeliever goes to hell, and the soul of the believer goes to heaven. This life is our only time to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and be brought to faith. May we make the most of this life by hearing the gospel often and by sharing it with everyone. Closing Prayer Heavenly Father, we praise you for providing complete salvation through Jesus, who lived a perfect life for us and died on the cross to take away all our sins. He rose from death so that we could go to heaven through faith in him. Keep us in faith, and help us share the good news of salvation with others. In Jesus name, Amen. During the Week 1. You might wish to review this lesson and the material in Heaven and Hell, pages 7-37. 2. Read Heaven and Hell, pages 39-56. Consider the issues involved in determining the moment of death and what we are to think of near-death experiences.
Heaven and Hell Leader s Guide Page 5 Lesson Two What the Bible Teaches About Hell (Heaven and Hell, pages 57-92) Goals 1. To learn what the Bible teaches about hell. 2. To learn who goes to hell. 3. To learn what it is like in hell. Opening Prayer Dearest Savior, Jesus Christ, as we study what the Bible teaches about hell, we will be moved to feel terror. As we reflect on the fact that we deserve to go to hell for our sins, comfort us with the good news of salvation. Remind us that through faith in you, we will never be in hell. Amen. Introduction What are some common ideas about hell in society today? How is hell often depicted in television shows and movies? Answers will vary. The point is to lead the class into thinking about today s lesson, which deals with eternal punishment in hell. It happens that people will joke about going to hell. Some will even depict it as a big party, though with fire. Television shows often portray hell as a joke. Movies sometimes paint a more horrifying picture. Scripture s description of hell Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers! Matthew 8:12 The subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. Matthew 25:46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment. Luke 13:28 There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting