This small group discussion guide draws directly from the sermon “Showcase - One Harbor MHC | Sunday Service” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.

Small Group Discussion Guide

"Setting the Record Straight on Hell"

Based on Revelation 19:11–20:15 | One Harbor Church

A Note to Facilitators: This week's sermon covered some of the most debated — and most misunderstood — territory in all of Scripture. Your group doesn't need to resolve every theological debate. Your goal is to help people engage honestly with what the Bible says, connect it to their real lives, and leave with a deeper appreciation for God's justice and his mercy. Trust the questions, trust your group, and trust the Holy Spirit to lead the conversation.

OVERVIEW

This week's message from Revelation 19–20 tackled one of Christianity's most challenging doctrines: hell. Rather than presenting God as a cruel punisher, Pastor Brian showed that hell is best understood as God's ultimate act of mercy — the removal of all evil from his renewed creation so that heaven and earth can finally be reunited. The sermon invited us to see that God's judgment and God's love are not opposites; they are two sides of the same coin, both flowing from his character as a just and deeply loving Father.

PREPARATION FOR LEADERS

Before your group meets:

Read Revelation 19:11–20:15 in full
Review the sermon if helpful (available online)
Pray specifically for any group members who may be processing difficult emotions around this topic — abuse, addiction, loss, or fear of judgment
Have a plan for sensitive moments: this topic may surface real pain, doubt, or even anger toward God. That's okay. Create space for honesty without pressure to resolve everything in one sitting.

Sensitive topics to be aware of:

The sermon referenced a real murder case (Caleb Flynn). Use pastoral discretion about whether to reference this in your group.
Some group members may have loved ones they fear are not in Christ. Approach questions about hell with compassion and gentleness.
The baptism stories — especially Ryan's testimony about prison and redemption — are powerful illustrations of grace that you may want to reference.

ICEBREAKER (5–10 minutes)

Choose one of the following to open your time together:

Option A (lighter, good for newer groups):

"If you could ask God one question and get a straight answer, what would it be?"

Option B (slightly deeper, good for established groups):

"What's one thing about God or Christianity that you used to think was one way, but now you see differently? What changed your mind?"

[Leader Tip: Don't rush this. Icebreakers build the relational trust that makes deeper questions possible later. If someone shares something vulnerable here, acknowledge it warmly before moving on.]

SCRIPTURE READING (5–10 minutes)

Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. You don't need to read all of them — choose the one(s) most relevant to your group's needs.

Passage 1 — The Return of the King Revelation 19:11–16

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."

Passage 2 — The Final Judgment Revelation 20:11–15

"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Passage 3 — A Supporting Passage on God's Heart 2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Brief Context for Leaders to Share:

The book of Revelation was written to Christians who were suffering under Roman persecution. John's visions weren't meant to be a detailed timeline of future events so much as a dramatic, symbolic declaration that God wins, evil loses, and Jesus is King. The images of fire, darkness, and judgment draw heavily from the Old Testament — especially the prophet Ezekiel — and from the way Jesus himself talked about hell using a real place called Gehenna, a valley outside Jerusalem with a dark history of idolatry and destruction.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (30–45 minutes)

Work through as many of these as time allows. Questions are organized to move from observation to interpretation to personal application. You don't need to cover all of them — choose what fits your group best.

SECTION 1: WHAT DID WE HEAR? (Observational)

1. What stood out to you most from Sunday's message — something that surprised you, challenged you, or that you're still thinking about?

[Leader Tip: This is your "temperature check" question. It tells you where people are emotionally and theologically before you go deeper. Let several people respond briefly. Don't evaluate answers — just receive them.]

2. Pastor Brian described a common way people picture heaven and hell — like two destinations on opposite ends of a spectrum, with God rewarding the good and punishing the bad. How familiar does that picture feel? Where do you think most people get that idea?

[Leader Tip: This question normalizes the "wrong" view before correcting it. Most people in your group — including longtime Christians — probably hold some version of this picture. The goal isn't to shame anyone but to open up curiosity about a better way of seeing it.]

Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "Did anything in Sunday's message shift or challenge that picture for you?"

SECTION 2: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? (Interpretive)

3. The sermon described hell not primarily as a place God sends people, but as the place where evil is ultimately contained and removed from God's renewed creation. In other words: God isn't bringing us out of earth into heaven — he's bringing heaven down to earth, and cleaning house in the process. How does that reframe change the way you think about judgment?

Related scripture to reference: Revelation 21:1–3 — "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them...'"

4. Jesus often used the word Gehenna — a real, physical valley outside Jerusalem — when he talked about hell. It was a place of fire, idolatry, and eventually garbage. What does it mean to you that Jesus grounded his teaching about hell in something real and present, not just a future abstract concept? How does that change how you understand phrases like "hell on earth"?

[Leader Tip: The sermon made the point that hell isn't just a future destination — its seeds are already present wherever sin, destruction, and separation from God exist. This question helps people connect that idea to what they already observe in the world and in themselves.]

Optional follow-up: "Can you think of examples from everyday life — or from the news — where you see the destructive pattern of sin taking something good and burning it to the ground?"

5. The sermon used a powerful image: God as a surgeon removing cancer. The surgery hurts, but it's an act of love, not cruelty. How does that image help you — or not help you — make sense of God's judgment? What does it get right? What does it leave out?

Related scripture: Hebrews 12:11 — "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

6. The sermon made this striking claim: "Hell will be a place of torment precisely because it will be the place where people get exactly what they asked for." And it quoted C.S. Lewis: "There will be two kinds of people at the end — those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'Thy will be done.'" What do you make of that idea? Does it change how you think about human freedom and God's justice?

[Leader Tip: This is one of the deeper questions in the guide. Give it room. Some people will find this idea freeing — it makes God seem less arbitrary. Others may push back, feeling it lets God "off the hook" too easily. Both responses are worth exploring. You don't need to resolve the tension.]

Optional follow-up: "If hell is ultimately people getting what they chose, what does that say about how seriously God takes our freedom and our choices?"

SECTION 3: WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR US? (Personal & Community)

7. The sermon pointed out that many of us have desires and loves that, taken to their extreme, look like "hell on earth" — money, power, comfort, approval. What are the things in your own life that you're most tempted to love more than God? How do you see those things affecting you when they're out of proportion?

[Leader Tip: This is a vulnerable question. Model honesty yourself if you're the facilitator. The goal isn't confession for its own sake but self-awareness that leads to gratitude for the gospel. Keep the tone grace-filled, not shame-inducing.]

8. The sermon offered this encouragement to Christians: the doctrine of hell means that one day you will be entirely safe — from evil done to you and from the evil within you. For those who have experienced real harm, or who struggle with persistent sin or addiction, what does it mean to you that God's plan includes the complete removal of evil — not just its management?

Optional follow-up: "Is there something you're carrying — something done to you or something you keep doing — where you need to hear that God's plan includes full healing and freedom, not just coping?"

9. We heard Ryan's testimony at the baptism — a man who had been in and out of prison, facing 36 years, who heard God say "Thy will be done" and surrendered his life to Christ. What does a story like Ryan's tell us about the reach of God's grace? Is there anyone in your life — or in your own past — where you've been tempted to think they're beyond God's reach?

[Leader Tip: This question can be deeply personal. Some group members may be Ryan's story. Others may have a family member they've given up on. Receive whatever is shared with care. The point of the question is not to produce guilt but to expand our sense of God's relentless pursuit of people.]

10. The sermon ended with this: "The only thing you have to do is ask." For those who are already followers of Jesus, what does it look like to keep "asking" — to keep returning to God in humility rather than trying to earn your way? For those who are still exploring faith, what would it mean for you to ask?

PERSONAL APPLICATION (10–15 minutes)

Take a few minutes — either as a group or in pairs — to reflect on the following questions. These don't all need to be shared aloud, but encourage everyone to engage with at least one.

Honest reflection: Is there a part of the doctrine of hell that you've been uncomfortable with or embarrassed by? After Sunday's message, has anything shifted in how you see it?
Personal inventory: The sermon described idolatry as loving anything more than God — money, approval, comfort, relationships, success. Where do you most consistently feel that pull? What would it look like to bring that specific thing to God this week?
Gratitude practice: The sermon challenged Christians to be grateful for the doctrine of hell — because it means evil will one day be completely removed. What is one specific thing — something done to you, or something in you — that you can thank God for his plan to ultimately heal and remove?
Someone on your heart: Is there a person in your life who doesn't yet know Jesus? How does this week's message about God's desire that "none should perish" (2 Peter 3:9) shape how you pray for and relate to that person?

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

Choose one (or more) of the following:

📖 Read Revelation 21:1–8 on your own this week. Notice what God promises to do with evil, suffering, and death — and let it fuel your hope.
🙏 Pray specifically for one person in your life who doesn't know Jesus. Ask God to give you an opportunity to share your faith naturally this week.
✍️ Write a short, honest prayer to God about one area where your desires feel disordered — where you want something more than you want him. Tell him about it. Ask him to reorder your heart.
💬 Have a conversation with someone — a friend, family member, or fellow group member — about what you found most meaningful or challenging in Sunday's message.
🤝 Follow up on baptism Sunday: If Ryan's story, or any of the baptisms, moved you, consider writing an encouragement to one of those who were baptized, or sharing with someone in your life what you witnessed.

PRAYER FOCUS (5–10 minutes)

Close your time in prayer, using one or more of the following as a guide:

Suggested prayer topics:

Gratitude — Thank God that his plan includes the complete removal of evil, suffering, and sin. Thank him that his judgment is an act of love, not cruelty.
Humility — Ask God to help your group resist the temptation to "know better than God" — to trust his justice even when it's hard to understand.
The lost — Pray by name for people in your lives who don't yet know Jesus. Ask God to soften hearts, open doors, and remind you that his arm is never too short to save.
Personal healing — Pray for those in your group who carry wounds from what others have done to them — that they would find hope in God's promise to make all things right.
Personal surrender — Pray for grace to identify and surrender the things we love more than God — and for the Holy Spirit to reorder our desires.
The newly baptized — Pray specifically for those baptized on Sunday (Georgia, Francancy, Emma, Reed, Payton, Johnny, and Ryan) — that their faith would grow, their community would surround them, and their new life in Christ would flourish.

Suggested closing prayer (for facilitators who'd like one):

Lord, thank you that you are not a God who winks at evil or pretends it doesn't matter. Thank you that you love us enough to deal with sin — in the world, and in us. Help us to trust your justice even when we don't fully understand it. Help us to be people who say "Thy will be done" — not reluctantly, but gratefully, knowing that your will is always for our good and your glory. And for anyone in this room still figuring out what they believe — would you make yourself known to them? In Jesus' name, amen.

OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE (For groups wanting to go further)

These questions are for groups with more time or more theological curiosity. They work well for a second session or for individuals who want to study further on their own.

Deep Dive 1: The Images of Hell

The sermon explored three images Jesus used for hell: Gehenna (fire and destruction), outer darkness (absence of light and life), and Hades/Sheol (the grave). Look up the following passages and discuss what each image adds to our understanding:

Matthew 5:22, 29–30 (Gehenna/fire)
Matthew 8:12; 22:13 (outer darkness)
Psalm 16:10; Acts 2:27 (Sheol/Hades)

Discussion question: What do these different images together tell us about what it means to be separated from God? Which image do you find most sobering — and why?

Deep Dive 2: The Book of Life

Revelation 20:15 says, "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." The sermon said: "The way to discover that your name has been written in the Lamb's book of life is to simply want what God is giving — which is himself."

Read John 10:27–30 and Romans 8:38–39.
Discuss: What gives a Christian confidence that their name is written there? How do we hold together the security of God's grace with the seriousness of human choice?

Optional follow-up: Is there a difference between intellectual belief in Jesus and genuinely wanting what he offers? What does that distinction mean for how we think about our own faith?

Deep Dive 3: Heaven and Earth

The sermon argued that the Bible's main story is about the reunion of heaven and earth — not escape from earth into heaven. Read the following passages and trace that theme:

Genesis 1:1 (creation of heaven and earth)
Genesis 3:23–24 (separation — exile from Eden)
Matthew 6:10 ("Your kingdom come... on earth as it is in heaven")
Revelation 21:1–5 (the new heaven and new earth)

Discussion question: How does seeing the Bible as a story about heaven and earth being reunited — rather than us escaping earth — change how you think about your life now? About your work, your relationships, your body, your neighborhood?

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For group members who want to explore further:

📚 Book: Skeletons in God's Closet by Joshua Ryan Butler (referenced in the sermon — a helpful exploration of heaven, hell, and holy war)
📚 Book: The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis (a imaginative exploration of the choice between heaven and hell — very accessible)
📚 Book: Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright (a deeper look at resurrection, new creation, and what the Bible actually promises about eternity)
🎧 Online: One Harbor Church's End Times Workshop (referenced in the sermon — covers the millennium and different views in more detail)

One Harbor Church Small Group Resources | oneharborchurch.com This guide may be reproduced freely for use within One Harbor Church small groups.

Facilitator Reminder: You don't have to have all the answers. The best thing you can do for your group is ask good questions, listen well, and point people back to Jesus. If hard questions come up that you can't answer, it's okay to say, "I don't know — let's look into that together." That kind of honesty builds more trust than having a perfect answer every time.