OceanSide church of Christ
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SOUL-SEARCHING QUESTIONS
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
We live in a world
that is consumed with the outer man.
1.
We eat right and
exercise to keep it healthy.
2.
We have surgeries to
keep it looking young.
3.
There are thousands of
medical personnel who specialize in specific components of the
body.
4.
We spend thousands of
dollars upon vitamins and supplements to keep the body strong and
active.
B.
Because of this
emphasis, many have almost forgotten they have a soul. It is as if, the soul is of secondary
importance, if it is important at all.
C.
Many churches have
begun to cater to the outer man.
1.
Ministries have been
developed to meet every need.
2.
Sermons and classes
are intended to enrich life in the here and now.
3.
Sermons on sin, hell,
and duty to God are considered old fashion, even taboo.
D.
There comes a time
when a person needs to stop and really contemplate the state of his/her
soul. Why? (Eccl. 12:7).
Then shall
the dust return unto the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
E.
In this lesson, we
want you to consider some “Soul-Searching Questions.”
I.
DO YOU HAVE A SOUL?
A.
I Thessalonians
5:23
And the
very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God you whole spirit and soul
and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
1.
Paul definitely
teaches that man has a soul.
2.
He also reveals that
man is a triune being, that is, he consists of three parts: spirit, soul, and
body.
B.
Some are not aware
they have a soul. Others live as
though they do not possess one (Ex., the rich farmer, Luke
12:16-20).
But God
said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which
thou hast provided?
II.
WILL YOUR SOUL LIVE ON AFTER DEATH?
A.
Several passages
indicate that man’s soul continues after death.
1.
Ecclesiastes
12:7
Then shall
the dust return unto the earth as it was:
and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
2.
II Corinthians
5:8
We are
confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.
3.
Philippians
1:23
For I am
in a strait bewixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which
is far better.
B.
Unless the Lord
returns, all of us will die (Heb. 9:27).
Our bodies will remain here.
The soul, however, will continue to live in the unseen realm of the
dead.
III. IS
GOD CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
God was at work for
about 4000 years bringing about a plan to redeem man.
B.
This plan does not
concern his outer body. It was God
who said that the outer body shall return to the dust (Gen.
3:19).
In the
sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for
out of it wast thou taken: for dust
thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
C.
The part of man that
God was concerned about was his soul.
It was that part of man that was corrupted by sin. The cost to redeem man was the precious
blood of Christ (I John 3:9-10).
In this
was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only
begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God,
but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our
sins.
IV. ARE
OTHERS CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
There are numerous
people who are concerned for your soul.
B.
Two specific groups
that are concerned:
1.
The elders of the
church (Heb. 13:17)
Obey them
that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves: for they watch
for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy,
and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you.
2.
Faithful, concerned
brothers and sisters in Christ (James 1:19-20)
Brethren,
if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he
which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from
death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
V.
WILL YOU SOUL BE JUDGED?
A.
Hebrews
9:27
And as it
is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the
judgment.
B.
We could get into some
interesting details.
1.
At death the spirit
enters the hadean realm (Luke 16:19-23).
2.
When the Lord returns,
He will bring those spirits back with Him (I Thess. 4:14).
3.
All the dead will be
raised (John 5:28-29).
4.
Their spirits will be
placed into immortal, glorified bodies (I Cor. 15:50-53).
5.
That body will stand
before God to be judged for all the deeds done in the body (II Cor.
5:10).
For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that every one may receive
the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good
or bad.
VI. CAN
YOU SOUL BE LOST?
A.
Matthew
10:28
And fear
not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell.
B.
In the great judgment
scene of Matthew 25:31-46 all nations are gathered before the Son of man. He separates them one from another. The sheep are on His right hand. The goats are on His left. This is what He will say to those on the
left (Matt. 25:41).
Then shall
he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into
everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.
CONCLUSION
A.
Are you concerned
about your own soul?
B.
In the Aachen Cathedral, located in southern
For what
is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?
SOUL-SEARCHING
QUESTIONS
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
We live in a world that is consumed with the outer man (Diet, exercise,
surgeries, medical specialties, vitamins and supplements).
B.
Because of this emphasis, many have almost forgotten they have a
soul. It is as if, the soul is of
secondary importance, if it is important at all.
C. Many
churches have begun to cater to the outer man.
1.
Ministries have been developed to meet every need.
2.
Sermons and classes are intended to enrich life in the here and
now.
3.
Sermons on sin, hell,
and duty to God are considered old fashion, even taboo.
D. There
comes a time when a person needs to stop and really contemplate the state of
his/her soul. Why? (Eccl. 12:7).
E.
In this lesson, we want you to consider some “Soul-Searching
Questions.”
I.
DO YOU HAVE A SOUL?
A.
I Thessalonians 5:23
B.
Some are not aware they have a soul. Others live as though they do not
possess one (Ex., the rich farmer, Luke 12:16-20).
II.
WILL YOUR SOUL LIVE ON AFTER DEATH?
A.
Several passages indicate that man’s soul continues after death (Eccl.
12:7; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).
B.
Unless the Lord returns, all of us will die (Heb. 9:27). Our bodies will remain here. The soul, however, will continue to live
in the unseen realm of the dead.
III. IS
GOD CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
God was at work for about 4000 years bringing about a plan to redeem
man.
B.
This plan does not concern his outer body. It was God who said that the outer body
shall return to the dust (Gen. 3:19).
C. The
part of man that God was concerned about was his soul. It was that part of man that was
corrupted by sin. The cost to
redeem man was the precious blood of Christ (I John
3:9-10).
IV. ARE
OTHERS CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
There are numerous people who are concerned for your
soul.
B.
Two specific groups that are concerned:
1.
The elders of the church (Heb. 13:17)
2.
Faithful, concerned brothers and sisters in Christ (James
1:19-20)
V.
WILL YOU SOUL BE JUDGED?
A.
Hebrews 9:27
B.
We could get into some interesting details.
1.
At death the spirit enters the hadean realm (Luke
16:19-23).
2.
When the Lord returns, He will bring those spirits back with Him (I
Thess. 4:14).
3.
All the dead will be raised (John 5:28-29).
4.
Their spirits will be placed into immortal, glorified bodies (I Cor.
15:50-53).
5.
That body will stand before God to be judged for all the deeds done in
the body (II Cor. 5:10).
VI. CAN
YOU SOUL BE LOST?
A.
Matthew 10:28
B.
In the great judgment scene of Matthew 25:31-46 all nations are gathered
before the Son of man. He separates
them one from another. The sheep
are on His right hand. The goats
are on His left. This is what He
will say to those on the left (Matt. 25:41).
CONCLUSION
A.
Are you concerned about your own soul?
B.
In the Aachen Cathedral, located in southern
SOUL-SEARCHING
QUESTIONS
Victor M.
Eskew
INTRODUCTION
A.
We live in a world that is _______________ with the _________ man (Diet,
exercise, surgeries, medical specialties, vitamins and
supplements).
B.
Because of this emphasis, many have almost ___________ they have a
soul. It is as if, the soul is of
__________________ importance, if it is important at all.
C. Many
churches have begun to ______________ to the outer man.
1.
Ministries have been developed to meet every
_________.
2.
Sermons and classes are intended to enrich life in the ________ and
_______.
3.
Sermons on sin, hell, and duty to God are considered old fashion, even
taboo.
D. There
comes a time when a person needs to stop and really contemplate the state of
his/her soul. Why? (Eccl. 12:7).
E.
In this lesson, we want you to consider some “Soul-Searching
Questions.”
I.
DO YOU HAVE A SOUL?
A.
I Thessalonians ____:23
B.
Some are not aware they have a soul. Others live as though they do not
possess one (Ex., the rich farmer, Luke 12:16-20).
II.
WILL YOUR SOUL LIVE ON AFTER DEATH?
A.
Several passages indicate that man’s soul continues after death (Eccl.
12:7; II Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23).
B.
Unless the Lord returns, all of us will ______ (Heb. 9:27). Our bodies will remain here. The soul, however, will continue to live
in the _________ realm of the dead.
III. IS
GOD CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
God was at work for about _________ years bringing about a plan to redeem
man.
B.
This plan does not concern his outer body. It was God who said that the outer body
shall return to the ___________ (Gen. 3:19).
C. The
part of man that God was concerned about was his ________. It was that part of man that was
corrupted by sin. The cost to
redeem man was the precious __________ of Christ (I John
3:9-10).
IV. ARE
OTHERS CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SOUL?
A.
There are numerous people who are concerned for your
soul.
B.
Two specific groups that are concerned:
1.
The ________________ of the church (Heb. 13:17)
2.
Faithful, concerned ____________ and ___________ in Christ (James
1:19-20)
V.
WILL YOU SOUL BE JUDGED?
A.
_________________ 9:27
B.
We could get into some interesting details.
1.
At death the spirit enters the ______________ realm (Luke
16:19-23).
2.
When the Lord returns, He will bring those ______ back with Him (I Thess.
4:14).
3.
All the dead will be ___________ to life (John
5:28-29).
4.
Their spirits will be placed into ____________, glorified bodies (I Cor.
15:50-53).
5.
That body will stand before God to be judged for all the __________ done
in the body (II Cor. 5:10).
VI. CAN
YOU SOUL BE LOST?
A.
Matthew 10:_____
B.
In the great judgment scene of Matthew 25:31-46 all nations are gathered
before the Son of man. He separates
them one from another. The sheep
are on His right hand. The ________
are on His left. This is what He
will say to those on the left (Matt. 25:41).
CONCLUSION
A.
Are you _____________ about your own soul?
B.
In the Aachen Cathedral, located in southern