Introduction: There are a number of phobias people have. Some of these include: peladophobia, the fear of baldness and bald people; aerophobia, the fear of drafts; porphyrophobia, the fear of the color purple; chaetophobia, the fear of hairy people; levophobia, the fear of objects on the left side of the body; dextrophobia, fear of objects on the right side of the body; auroraphobia, fear of the northern lights; calyprophobia, the fear of obscure meanings; thalassophobia, fear of being seated; stabisbasiphobia, the fear of standing and walking; odontophobia, the fear of teeth; graphophobia, the fear of writing in public; and phobophobia, the fear of being afraid.
Question: What is something you’re afraid of?
There are actually a few “scary” scriptures in the Bible, too. We are going to look at just three.
Revelation 21:8
– Jesus was speaking to the church.
– He was telling them who would and who would not make it to heaven.
Question: If you were making a list of things that would prevent someone from getting into heaven, what would be on it?
Question: Which of the things listed here are surprising? Why?
Question: What are some ways people can struggle with cowardice and unbelief as a Christian?
This scripture is scary because it mentions cowardice, unbelief and lying, in the same list as murder, vileness and sexual immorality. This shows us that our worldly view on sin is not the same as God’s view on sin. All sin is equally bad to God.
Luke 13:22-27
– Jesus was teaching about heaven and hell.
– He said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”
Question: Where is one place you would love to go and have unlimited access to? (White House, CIA, Vatican, etc…)
Jesus taught that heaven can only be accessed by us when we make every effort, and not just try.
Question: What is the difference between trying and making every effort?
II Thessalonians 2:9-11
– Paul taught about the power of Satan to the Thessalonian church.
– He taught that Satan can work miracles, too.
Question: How do you picture Satan? Red devil with pitchfork, or a devil in disguise?
Question: What are some things that Satan does to convince people out of true Christianity?
Question: How can we prevent Satan from fooling us?
These scriptures are pretty scary. Most people don’t like having to deal with things that scare them; so they avoid them.
Challenge: Don’t avoid these scary scriptures. Fear can be a good thing, as it sometimes prevents us from doing something we shouldn’t do. If we are reading and obeying the Bible, there is nothing to be afraid of. However, if you are afraid after looking at these scriptures, see it as a warning from God to altar your course and get back on the right path.
