The newest “Left Behind” movie opens this coming weekend, and lots of people may be talking about the rapture, and what that might mean for them. What is the movie’s view of the rapture, and how can we talk about that intelligently? What does it all mean for me?
Lifegroup discussion questions are below!
If you’re the group leader, have everyone open this page on their device to follow along. Be sure to encourage discussion. Remind them that if they haven’t already heard this week’s message, they can get prepped each week by listening to the podcast prior to the group meeting.
Have you read the books, or seen the previous movies in the “Left Behind” series? What did you think of them?
Does it feel to you like the events of the end times are far off in the future, or something that could happen at any time? Does this concern you?
In Matthew, when does Jesus say we should be ready for the end times?
“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
Matthew 24:42-44
So, if I should be ready… Am I? What makes me ready?
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Romans 10:13
Christians love to use this verse to bring confidence in their salvation. But is this the final word? Look how Jesus’ words contrast against this statement in the following verse.
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Matthew 7:21-23
Are these two statements contradictory? How do we put them together? What does this mean for us?
Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
This verse tells us that our salvation is something that we are “building.” What does this mean for us? How do we build the right structure?
What are some of the building materials that I need to stop using, and what should definitely be included in my “structure?”