Week 7 - The New Testament
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Fun Small Group Warm Up Question:
What is your favorite Christmas activity or childhood memory?
New Testament
Revelation 18 ~ Revelation 19 ~ Revelation 20 ~ Revelation 21 ~ Revelation 22
1. What modern day wars have caught your attention in your lifetime? What does it feel like to see enemy victories? What does it feel like to see allied/friendly victories? As you have read Revelation, how might you see this future battle playing out? What are the best ways we can prepare ourselves and the next generations for any such battles happening in their lifetimes?
2. What do you think life was like for Christians under Roman (“Babylon”) persecution? How do you think Romans treated their government and rulers as “gods”? Do we see people looking to modern day governments and political leaders as “gods” today? If so, how?
3. What does a balanced Christian perspective on governments look like? Why do you think the Lord allows evil governments to exist? Why do you think he allows evil governments to be overturned?
4. Fallen “Babylon” is described as a “dwelling place for demons” (Revelation 18:2). What do you think that means? Biblically speaking, what do demons do? How do think demons are actively working in our cultures and governments today?
5. As you read about the final battles in Revelation 19 & 20, what stood out to you? How did you feel in seeing the vindication of the martyr’s deaths? (Revelation 20:1-7). If you were in a situation where your life was threatened unless you disowned Jesus & Christianity, what struggles would you face? How hard would it be to see your loved ones (parents, spouse, kids, etc.) threatened or tortured for your faithfulness to Christ? How can we prepare now for the ongoing and increasing reality of Christians being persecuted? How do we stay faithful to God to the end?
6. What do you love about the description of Jesus in Revelation 19:11-16?
7. What is Jesus’ weapon in this final battle (Revelation 19:15)? How does that connect with Isaiah 11:4 “he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked” and 49:2 “He made my mouth like a sharp sword”? How is that our weapon already today? What does it look like practically to wield the “Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Ephesians 6:12)?
8. What is the coolest invitation you have ever received? What would be an amazing invitation you wish you received? Consider that Christians are “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9). What does this feel like?
9. What connections do you see between Revelation 20 and Daniel 7?
10. How important is it to you to understanding whether Jesus comes before the millennium (1,000 year kingdom, premillenial), after the millennium (postmillennial), or whether the millennium is symbolic and has already begun (amillenial)? Do you have any views about the future rapture of believers in relation to the tribulation (pre-tribulation, post-tribulation rapture)? Should these differing views impact and change how we live our lives now?
11. How would you summarize the main point of Revelation in your own words?
12. Why is this such an important an encouraging reminder: “Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just” (Revelation 19:1–2)?
13. What gets you excited about New Jerusalem (Heaven) described in Revelation 21-22? What descriptions stood out to you? How is it similar to the Garden of Eden? How is it better?
14. If you were watching a movie, would you fast forward to the end to see how it finishes? If you might do this, in what cases would you do this? Why? Why do you think God gives us all of these details about how His story finishes? How did this give hope to the first century churches? How does this help us now?
15. Consider Isaiah 65:17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.” and Revelation 21:5 “Behold, I am making all things new.” Why do you think God does this? How does this get you excited? Make you marvel at the greatness of God?
16. Sometimes people think of heaven more as a reunion with deceased loved ones than they do of being in the presence of God. Why is this so? How does Revelation 21:3 summarize the purpose and reality of Heaven? “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Why is this so much more incredible than being with deceased loved ones? How amazing is it to you that God always keeps His promises?