Youth Sermon: How to Avoid Hell

Introduction

Today, we're going to talk about a pretty intense topic: hell. I know it's not something we usually chat about, but it's important to understand because Jesus talked about it a lot. In fact, He mentioned it over 70 times in the New Testament. So, let's dive into a story Jesus told about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.

Through Jesus, we have hope that lasts forever.

The Story of the Rich Man and Lazarus

In this story, the rich man had everything he wanted, while Lazarus was poor and suffering. When they both died, Lazarus went to heaven, and the rich man ended up in hell. The rich man realized that in hell, there was no hope, no rest, and no peace.

Lazarus had no hope on earth, but in heaven, he was comforted and happy. The rich man, on the other hand, had everything he wanted on earth, but in hell, he had no hope at all.

Lessons from the Story

The rich man didn't do anything super terrible in his life, but he ignored the needs of others, like Lazarus. In hell, he couldn't find any rest, always thinking about what he could have done differently. But Jesus offers us rest, saying, 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest' (Matthew 11:28).

The rich man begged for someone to warn his family about hell, but he was told that they already had the teachings of Moses and the prophets. Even if someone came back from the dead, they might not listen. The rich man would never have peace in hell, but we can have peace through Jesus.

How to Avoid Hell

So, how do we avoid hell? Accept Jesus as our Savior. He's the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). There are a couple of things we can learn from this story:

1. Don't get too comfortable and forget about the needs of others. Loving others takes effort, just like how God loved us so much that He gave His only Son (John 3:16).

2. Listen and accept the truth of the gospel. Jesus is knocking on the door of our hearts, waiting for us to let Him in (Revelation 3:20).

So, let's put our faith in Jesus and share His love with others. Let's help as many people as we can get to heaven while there's still time.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for offering us hope, rest, and peace through Jesus. Help us to accept Your love and share it with others, so that we can all experience the joy of heaven instead of the pain of hell. Amen.

Small Group Breakout Questions

1. How does the parable of the rich man and Lazarus illustrate the reality of hell?

2. What are some ways we can show love and compassion to others, like Jesus did?

3. How can we avoid becoming too comfortable and satisfied with ourselves, like the rich man in the parable?

4. Why is it important to accept the truth of the gospel and have a relationship with Jesus?

5. How can we live out the hope, rest, and peace that Jesus offers in our daily lives?

Get the Full Youth Group Plan

• Icebreaker: Heaven and Hell Charades
• Group Activity: Creating Care Packages for the Homeless
• Youth Challenge: Living Out Hope, Rest, and Peace