Do you think God likes rivalry? Why or why not? Do you think there will be competition on the new earth?
Verse 3: What are some indicators that a church is healthy? How can we tell if someone is growing in their faith? What would Paul look at?
Verse 4: Before a business delivers a product, it is common for the product to undergo some sort of testing to determine if it’s going to fail in usage. If we are the product that God wants to deliver, in what ways would we expect God to want to test us? Does the amount of testing/severity of the tests increase with the expected durability of the product?
“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”Hebrews 12:3-7 ESV
Verse 5: If you were going to pick someone to be the leader of an organization, what would be some key qualifications? Would you pick someone without any experience? What experience would you look for?
If you were going to pick someone to lead others in becoming disciples of Christ, what would be the qualifications you would look for? Do you have those?
Verse 6-8: Do you think it’s fair/reasonable that God waits til the day of judgment to unleash His wrath on evil people? Wouldn’t it make more sense to give rewards and punishment now in this life?
If God is love, why would he ever inflict his vengeance at all?
How are we to respond to those who persecute us?
“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”Romans 12:14-21 ESV
“When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Proverbs 21:15 ESV
Verse 9: Is it fair for people to receive eternal punishment for mistakes made over the course of a few years?
Got Questions.org,
“The Bible says that hell is eternal (Matthew 25:46). Many people struggle with the justice of that. They question how it is just for God to punish a person for eternity in response to only a human lifetime of 70, 80, 90, or even 100 years of sin. How does a sinner’s finite lifespan merit an infinitely long punishment?
There are two biblical principles that clearly declare eternity in hell to be the just punishment for sin, no matter how long one’s earthly life lasted.
First, the Bible declares that all sin is ultimately against God (Psalm 51:4). The extent of the punishment depends, in part, on the target of the crime. In a human court of law, a physical assault against an individual will usually result in a fine and possibly some time in jail. In contrast, a physical assault against the president or prime minister of a country will likely result in a lifetime in prison. And this is the case despite the fact that the crime was a one-time offense, not a continual, ongoing action. God is infinitely higher and greater than any human being. How much more are our crimes worthy of a great punishment in light of the fact that our sins are against God (Romans 6:23)?
Second, the idea that we cease sinning after death is not taught in the Bible. Are those who go to hell suddenly sinless and perfect? No. Those who go into eternity without Christ will be confirmed in their wickedness. The hard-hearted will be eternally hard-hearted. There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in hell (Matthew 25:30), but no repentance. Sinners in hell will be given over to their own nature; they will be sin-infected, evil, immoral, and depraved beings for all of eternity, forever unredeemed and unregenerate. The lake of fire will be a place of eternal rebellion against God—even as that rebellion is judged (Revelation 20:14–15; cf. Revelation 16:9, 11). Unsaved people do not only sin for 70, 80, 90, or 100 years. They sin for eternity.
What it comes down to is this—if a person wants to be separated from God for eternity, God will grant that desire. Believers are those who say to God, “Your will be done.” Unbelievers are those to whom God says, “Your will be done.” The will of the unsaved is to reject salvation through Jesus Christ and remain in sin; God will honor that decision, and its consequences, for eternity.”
Verse 10: Do you look forward to the day when Jesus returns? What do you imagine that will be like?
Verse 11-12: On what ways has God prepared you to fulfill his calling? Do you think you are fulfilling his calling for you?
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’”Matthew 25:23 ESV