sermon notes

The last topic in the What's Your Question series at church was Heaven & Hell. It came from the following question we were all asked to submit prior to starting this series.

     Pastor Steve, why don't you preach more about Hell?

Steve made a joke about being the only one among the pastoral staff to have a question directed just to him.

His 5 reasons.

1. "Hell" wasn't allowed in my house. I learned to say H E double hockey sticks instead. Not that us three boys didn't try it at least once but we were all met with a generous squirt of liquid green Palmolive dish soap. Mama wasn't joking.

2. The gospel is good news. It's very composition means good news.

3. Hell is not ever a primary theme in the 4 gospels.

4. No one ever argued anyone into Heaven or scared them into it.

5. Go love.

     God is not an angry God. God is not waiting for me to screw up so He can bring His wrath upon me. The 2nd most popular book in colonial times, right after the Bible, was a book titled Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. The 2nd most popular! Yet that didn't win over the population. 

Hell is used 14 times in the Bible. Heaven is used 628 times. There are 66 books in the Bible. Heaven is used at least 9 times in each and Hell roughly every 4th book. Which do you think is of more importance?

There will never be a vacancy in the Judgement seat so there's no reason to practice down here. 

Steve trusted the Lord with his Mom, you can trust Him too. (his mother passed away the Tuesday after Easter)

God welcomed her by saying He had been preparing for her a long time and was grateful her outward showing of His unconditional love.

Every day of their lives, show your children unconditional love. Love without question, love they do not earn, love that is without fail, love that is freely given without any strings attached. So one day when they're presented with God's unconditional love they won't hesitate to questions it's validity because they have seen unconditional love from their earthly parents. Why question your Heavenly Father? 

Go Love.