For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.
John 3:16–18
It is trendy today to see people as basically good—or at least neutral. This is why so many people balk at the biblical teaching of judgment and hell. The belief is that God is unfair to condemn people to hell because people are basically good. They deserve His grace and forgiveness. Notice the irony of believing you deserve that which is by definition a gift, something that cannot be deserved.
John 3:16 is, perhaps, the best known Bible verse. Even unbelievers are likely to know it. But notice what follows. In the next two verses, Jesus explains that He did not come into the world to condemn it. Why? Because it already is condemned. And with that, the myth of people being basically good and deserving forgiveness falls apart. If anything is not fair, it is not that people are condemned but rather that some people are saved.
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Adults
Every week for Volume 4: From Captivity to the Wilderness, Ken Braddy, Lifeway’s director of Sunday School, will offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Adults.
Podcast (adultsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
Tips for Teaching This Week’s Session of The Gospel Project for Students
Every week, student ministry leaders offer guidance to help leaders prepare to lead and teach each session of The Gospel Project for Students. Listen in as he shares:
- The main point of the session
- Any challenges and opportunities for additional discussion that may arise during this session
- Encouragements for leaders
Podcast (studentsleadertraining): Play in new window | Download
A Final Reminder
Don’t forget, you can find tools to help you prepare and lead the discussion in the Additional Resources for this volume. We hope these are a blessing to you as you walk through this session together.
*This week’s leader devotional is written by Ed Stetzer. It is adapted from the daily devotions for Unit 21, Session 2 from The Gospel Project for Adults’ Daily Discipleship Guide.
