The End Game

End Game – Week Five

 

2 Peter 3:1-7

 

 

What is your biggest takeaway from this Sunday’s message?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary.

 

 

Read 2 Peter 3:1-2 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them, I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,

 

What is Peter’s strategy here in both of his letters? (Don’t over think it!) In what ways does how we live cause the need for reminders?

 

***For Leaders – Peter’s strategy is to simply give reminders to the essentials that are easy to forget. Thinking about unfulfilled prophecy is something we need to be reminded to do. Why? Because the most natural way to live is to focus on what is in front of us rather than having our eyes on the horizon to see what is coming! It highlights the inner struggle of doing what we want most vs what we want now. We need to take care of what is in front of us, but we can’t be myopic about it either. Kingdom work is happening all around us and we don’t want to miss it.

 

 

Why do you think that Peter refers to the “sincere mind”?

 

*** For Leaders – It’s easy to be hard on people and say it’s for selfish reason that we don’t look at unfulfilled prophecy and the End Times. Peter doesn’t do that. He’s gentle by saying he “is stirring up our sincere mind”. The sincere mind wants to focus on God’s overall kingdom work but it gets knocked off track by distractions all around us. Our best response to this is to be honest that is happening and ask the Holy Spirit to help us.

 

 

 

Read 2 Peter 3:3-7 Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, ⁶ and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. ⁷ But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

 

What is a “scoffer”? Why is it important to be prepared for them when discussing the End Times?

 

***For Leaders – The definition from the Cambridge Dictionary is “someone who laughs and speaks about a person or idea in a way that shows that they think that person or idea is stupid or silly.”  Answers will vary, but overall, scoffers have no answers themselves. Everyone agrees that the earth had a beginning so it’s not outlandish or absurd to say that there will be an end (vv5-7). It’s rational to say God knew how to birth the creation and bring about its end. Sir Francis Scott Key, who penned the Star-Spangled Banner, responds to scoffers with this saying, “Men have argued for centuries against our faith, but what can they say in defense of their own?”

 

 

Why is it important to regularly examine what is happening in our imagination?

 

***For Leaders – There is an old cliché that “the mind is an excellent servant, but a terrible master.” What does that mean? We’ll start with an example. We can know the truth that the Bible says to be prepared to share your faith to anyone (Acts 1:8). But if we just imagine being humiliated by a scoffer then we won’t say a thing! This is an example of the mind being our master and filling it with half-truths to scare us. We process life in our imagination! So we make our mind our servant when we don’t let it run away from us with half-truths. The whole-truth is that we overcome the evil one by the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11), so we can then imagine being victorious rather than at the mercy of scoffers! Our testimony is our best weapon for God and it’s difficult to attack what God has done for us.

 

This is ultimately how we prepare for scoffers because they can beat us in our imagination before we ever get face to face. A scoffer can beat you before you open your mouth by having you be too afraid to speak. When you understand that your testimony is bullet proof, you will be more bold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

End Game – Week Four

 

 

You were asked in Week One, “What kind of emotions does discussing the return of Christ and the “End Times” illicit from you?” How has that changed now that we are in week four of the series?

***For Leaders – We want to start to discovering what people have taken from the series in its entirety. Answers will vary.

 

What has been the most challenging message for you personally during the Four-week series about the End Times?

***For Leaders – Answers will vary

 

Do you think you have the perspective that God wants you to have on the End Times? Why or why not?

***For Leaders – This is probably not a question that your participants have asked themselves yet. Another follow up to this question can be “Do you think your perspective is now changing the way that you live?”

 

Read Matthew 24:32-34. What are some realistic ways we can “keep watch” in the fast-paced culture that we live in?

***For Leaders – use this time to have people answer this question for themselves. We all face different obstacles in our lives to do this well.

 

How can our response to the question above have us prepared for verses 36-39?

***For Leaders – Keeping watch is our way of demonstrating in the physical how much we care about the return of Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

End Game – Week Three

 

 

Here are some of the signs that point out that the End Times could be closer by looking at prophecy. The point of reflecting on the texts below is to heighten our knowledge and awareness that the fulfillment of prophecies could be happening right now.

 

Is there a point that God covered today that leapt out to you the most?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary. If a point that Josh shared is covered further below in the guide. You can get a synopsis and then go back to that person when we cover the point below. We won’t hit all the points in the guide but a few.

 

 

Read Ezek 34:13 & Isa 66:7-8

 

How much have you previously thought about the fact that Israel did not exist for 2000 years and was put back on the map in one day in 1948? Do you think it is a fulfillment of the prophecies in Ezekiel & Isaiah? Why or why not?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary.

 

 

Read Daniel 12:4 (Many will go here and there. This Hebrew word is to run to and fro -implication of “to travel”.)

 

Pastor Josh talked how knowledge is growing at an exponential rate and A.I. has added tremendously to that. How has this affected you in your daily life? How has it affected you in knowing what sources you can trust?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary.

 

 

Read Phil 3:12-14 Review of Josh and Lisa’s story tubing on the river. Josh had to let go of his tube (what was comfortable) to go after Lisa (the prize). In the context of the End Times, what things make you comfortable that you feel the Spirit is telling you to let go off?

 

What do you think the “prize” is for your life?

 

What has God been saying to you since Week One of End Game?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary.

 

Read Esther 4:14 Esther was a queen in the Old Testament that faced a situation that if she spoke up to the King, it could cost her her life. If she didn’t speak up then her nation of Israel would get wiped out.

 

If we are in the End Times then how should it affect us knowing that we were born in this moment of history for “such a time as this”? How do you think God will equip a generation of people who he decided will live in the End Times?

 

***For Leaders – Bottom line. We have what it takes to be born at such an amazing time in history. There is a gear that each of us have that we may not know because we have not been tested. The joy of fulfilling our call needs to be remembered here far more than any challenges of what may make us comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

End Game – Week Two

 

Matt 24:3-14

 

If you had one month to live, what specific areas of your life would see the most change? Why?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary. A grim medical diagnosis is a foreshadow of what is to come in someone’s life. The good news is that they are not always correct! There are countless testimonies of people who have survived grim medical diagnosis. Prophecies in Scripture are different as they are 100% accurate. What Biblical prophecy says about Jesus’ return will ultimately happen so those prophecies can be taken seriously so life changes can be made.

 

 

Pastor Josh shared a story about geese meandering through traffic as if there is no hurry and no threat. (Assuming this is NOT your first-time hearing about End Times). Have there been changes that you were going to make the last time you heard “End Times” being preached? What was said on Sunday to reignite an urgency to change?

 

***For Leaders – The first question above had to do with areas that we identify that need to be changed. The second question above has to do with our urgency to change. There are more prophecies about Christ’s second coming in the clouds and there was about his first coming to Bethlehem.

 

 

Pastor Josh shared that a sign is not the thing itself…but it points to something. For example, an exit sign is not the exit itself, but it points to the location of the actual exit. What do you think is our appropriate response as we see more “birth pains” or signs of the second coming of Christ?

 

***For Leaders – Our first response is to keep watch! As the earth’s “birth pains” or signs come with greater frequency and greater intensity so our prayer life should be with greater frequency and greater intensity.

 

 

Read Matt 24:3-4  Signs of Deception: People will come point to themselves rather than Jesus so we have to ask ourselves if we are following a person more than following Jesus. How can we be prepared to discern the truth from the lie?

 

***For Leaders – People learn to identify counterfeit money by studying real money. We have to be a people who study the Word of God and use it as our plumbline in life. So when you read an article, see a social media post or a video, or even have a friend that says something that seems right but slightly off, you’re able to identify it as off because you know what is right.

 

 

 

Read the Scripture and the rest of the possible signs listed below. Discuss among each person which of the signs are the biggest challenge for you to maintain peace in your spirit.

 

Read Matt 24:6-8  Signs of Devastation – Famine & Earthquakes

• Since 2020 the number has doubled in terms of those who are in a high level of food insecurity (famine) and approximately 1/10 of the people on the planet have no idea where their next meal will come from.
• From 1900 to 1969 major earthquakes on earth averaged 6 every 10 years. After 1969 they average more than 12 per year.

 

Read Matt 24:9-10 Signs of Persecution

• more than 340M Christians lived under high levels of persecution and discrimination in the world.
• Since Christ’s life there have been approximately 70 million martyrs.
• Christians will even get angry with each other in the way they live out their faith

 

Read Matt 24:10-11 False Prophets and False Religions

• A false prophet is someone claiming speak on behalf of God or to know a “new religious way”. Is this happening?
• Nearly 4000 more religions in the last 100 years claiming a new religious “way”.

 

Read Matt 24:12-13 Increased wickedness and love growing cold

• -the acceptance of sin and wickedness is so prevalent.
• And the acceptance of wickedness is often flown under the banner of love. But that version of love…sounds like this, “I won’t judge you, if you won’t judge me.”  “what you do in private is not my business”. That’s not love. That’s tolerance.

 

After discussing which of the signs are the most challenging to your peace in our spirit. Read the following verses on peace and discuss WHY we CAN have peace while we get closer to the End Times:

 

• “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”Psalm 46:1-3
• Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”John 14:27
• “…For he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5b-6

 

 

 

 

 

Apostles knew (Matt 24:3) (Josh’s thoughts on the signs. Don’t overact, but be concerned.)

 

• Sign of deception (v.4)– People will start pointing to themselves as the thing that will save instead of Jesus. ***Study real money so when the counterfeit comes, it will feel off. Our hearts are tethered in the right situation
• Signs of disputes among nations (v.6) – Why can we say that it’s going to be OK when there is war? Because Jesus is the Lord of lords. 50% of all research scientist are involved in arms development. 7 year peace treaty with Israel will be the beginning of tribulation.
• Sign of Devastation – Global famine #1 problem – War is the number one driver to famine. Famine has doubled. Large scale earthquakes are major with frequency and intensity

Signs of Persecution – (v.9) In 2021 World Watch List:

-more than 340M Christians lived under high levels of persecution and discrimination

Voice of the martyrs- they say approx. 100,000 every year.

Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary estimates that since Christ’s life there have been approximately 70 million martyrs.

-4500 churches and Christian facilities were attacked

-4,000+ Christians were detained with trial, arrested, sentenced or imprisoned.

 

***(v.10) At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other. We’ve got teachers here.  What is you had to teach something, you believed was Biblically wrong.  What if another Christian teacher, disagreed with your position and betrayed you or hated you for it.  Oh…now that actually doesn’t sound to outlandish.

• False Prophets and False Religions – A false prophet is someone claiming speak on behalf of God or to know a “new religious way”. Is this happening?
• Increased wickedness and love growing cold – (v.12) We will be the few to love those who hate us.
• Increased gospel reach – 97% of the people have gotten the message.

****We need to be ready. Example of Geese walking through traffic.

Look for the signs of the birth pains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

End Game Week One

 

What kind of emotions does discussing the return of Christ and the “End Times” illicit from you?

 

***For Leaders – answers will vary. What you are looking for is insecurity in salvation. Press more into the source of their fears with questions like: Why does that frighten you? How are the Bible verses on peace still significant during our last days on earth? What perspective does God want you to have? Remember as a leader that our perspective precedes our attitude 

 

Do you think the Return of Christ should give us peace? Why or why not?

 

*** For Leaders – Read 1 Thess 4:16-18 – The early believers were not afraid of Christ’s return and we can learn from them. The thought of Jesus’ return means that the evil on this earth is coming to an end. That is why they greeted one another with ”Maranatha” which means our Lord is coming.

 

What are some things that can interrupt the encouragement that we are supposed to feel when reflecting on the idea of Christ’s return? Read 1 John 2:15-17

 

***For Leaders – The Scripture from John should trigger discussion. Be specific in pointing out that placing too much emphasis on goals and hopes that are temporary will upend the peace that comes when reflecting of Jesus coming back.

 

Read John 14:1-4. Once again we see Jesus begin by telling us not to have our hearts troubled. How many minutes each day do you think about your eternal home and what it will be like to live there for eternity?  How much do you think we should be thinking about it?

 

***For Leaders – Answers will vary