Bible Study - Oct. 1

Dear parents,

This was week two of our challenging series on tough questions. There are so many questions that students have about God and faith and the Bible and how it all goes together with living life as a teenager today. This week we looked at the reality of hell.

Heaven and hell are topics we regularly think about, although it’s not comfortable to think about hell. This week’s Bible study was on Matthew 25:31-46. We discussed the reality of heaven and hell—they aren't myth or metaphor. These realities ought to have a significant impact on how we live.

As Christians, we can live in the secure hope anchored in eternity in heaven. This is a great hope! But we also cannot forget that hell is a real place, and it’s the eternal destination for people who don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Compassion and readiness to share the good news of Jesus ought to be a regular part of our lives.

Conversation with your teen on this topic may bring up more questions than answers. That’s OK! If I can help in any way please let me know. I may not know the answers either, but I’ll look into them. Here are a couple of discussion starters that may be helpful:
• Think of a movie, book, or television show that has shown an example of heaven. It might be a picture of the light at the end of the tunnel or an image of angels and clouds. What was it like, where did you see this, and what do you think they were trying to communicate?
• In light of the realities about eternity, how should we treat others?