The End Week 1 Study

Perhaps one of the greatest promises we have in Scripture is the promise that one day Jesus will return. We can cling to this promise on our hardest, darkest, and best days. Jesus is coming back. Because of this promise, we can have hope. Today we will begin studying what Scripture teaches about His return, where we will look into what Scripture teaches about His return and be reminded of the hope we have if we have placed our faith in Him.

BREAK THE ICE

What comes to mind when you think of the end times?

SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS

Bible Study Questions

1. What are some misconceptions people have had in the world about the end times?

WATCH SERMON RECAP

2. Read 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. What do we learn about what happens to believers when Jesus returns?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 "Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words."

3. Read 2 Corinthians 5:8. How does this verse shed light on what happens to believers when they die?

2 Corinthians 5:8

 "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord."

4. Read 1 Corinthians 2:9. What is the promise given in this Scripture?

1 Corinthians 2:9

 "However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—"

Application

1.  As you think about the return of Jesus, what sort of feelings come up? Why?

2. Answering the question honestly, are you ready for Jesus’ return? Why or why not?

3. What steps do you need to take this week to get ready? How can your group help?

MOVING FORWARD

Every single person who has placed their faith in Christ can be confident that Jesus will come back and that they will live with Him one day. This is the message that the world needs to hear of those who are far from Christ. Take a moment to evaluate if you are putting yourself in circumstances where you are around people in need of Christ. Talk about this with your group. If you are not consistently surrounded by those in need of Christ, how will you put yourself around people looking for the hope of Jesus? Share this with your group and follow up next week with each other to see how you put yourself in places where you will be around people who are far from Christ.

Going Deeper

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” It is true, we were made for another world, one where we live with Jesus, where there is no sin or pain, and we can worship Him and enjoy Him without anything holding us back. Jesus’ return is a sign that we will one day experience this world that we were created for. Because of this, followers of Jesus do not have to have fear when we think about the end times. In our next few minutes together, we will look at several passages of Scripture that help us understand what Heaven will be like and why we can have peace as we think about the return of Jesus and the end times.

Read John 16:33.

1. What are the promises that Jesus gives in these verses?

2. Is the promise in this verse past, present, or future tense? What difference does the tense of this verse make as you think about the end times?

3. Why can we have peace even in the middle of struggles and trials?

Read Revelation 21:1-4.

1. What will the new Heaven and new Earth be like?

2. What is going to be absent from the new Heaven and new Earth?

3. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to this new Heaven and new Earth? Why?

Read Revelation 21:5

1. What promise do we have to claim in this verse?

2. Why was John, the writer of Revelation, told to write down the truth in this verse? How does this give you confidence as you think about the end times? 

Reflect:

1. In the past have you felt more fear or excitement when it comes to the end times? Why?

2. How do the passages of Scripture that we have studied impact your view of the end times?

3. Who is someone you know in need of the hope of Jesus? What is one way you will reach out to them this week?

Pick one verse from the passages of Scripture that we have studied today to memorize this week. Then, share with your group the verse you chose. Let this verse remind you of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, and share that hope with the people around you.