Sermon Tone Analysis

Hell!

Matthew 3:4-10 • Matthew 23:28-34

Cartoons

Far Side by Gary Larson jokes about the leadership of Hell, “not reaching that guy”

Music

AC/DC reached #17 on the charts in 1979 with “Highway to Hell”

One of Black Sabbath’s best-selling albums came in 1980 (Heaven and Hell)

In 1977, The Eagles released the arguably Hell-inspired “Hotel California” which spawned 15 cover-versions including multiple international versions

Hell!

Differing views

Used in slang as a curse word … what the_____.

Cold day in _____.

A snowball’s chance in _______.

Go to ______!

Every major religion in the world has a belief in some version of what we call Hell, so perhaps its something to be taken more seriously.

Hell according to Seinfeld

Elaine: Alright, that is it!

I can't live like this.

Puddy: Nah.

Elaine: C'mon.

Puddy: Alright, what did I do?

Elaine: David, I'm going to hell!

The worst place in the world!

With devils

and those caves and the ragged clothing!

And the heat!

My god, the heat!

I

mean, what do you think about all that?

Puddy: Gonna be rough.

Elaine: Uh, you should be trying to save me!

Puddy: Don't boss me!

This is why you're going to hell.

Elaine: I am not going to hell and if you think I'm going to hell, you should

care that I'm going to hell even though I am not.

Why should we care?

Hell!

Peter Kreeft, a Catholic theologian from Boston College, wrote: "Of all the doctrines of Christianity, hell is the most difficult to defend, the most burdensome to bear, and the first to be abandoned.“

Hell is mentioned 14 times in the New Testament

Jesus is speaking in 12 of those passages, so He must have taken it seriously.

In fact, He taught about Hell more often than He taught about Heaven! [look it up]

Charles Spurgeon said,:

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies.

If they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees.

Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Hell!

But, Pastor Chris, those are all old references.

What about today?

In a 2002 LA Times article, Mike Anton & William Lobdell quote a pastor and a seminary professor about Hell:

Bruce Shelley, a senior professor of church history at the Denver Theological Seminary said that Hell is “just too negative” for churches today.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-19-me-hell19-story.html]

And Orange County pastor Bill Faris expressed a firm belief in Hell, but said he never mentions the topic in sermons because, “It isn’t sexy enough anymore.”

[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-19-me-hell19-story.html]

The article also quotes Harvey Cox, Jr. of Harvard Divinity School: "There has been a shift in religion from focusing on what happens in the next life to asking, 'What is the quality of this life we're leading now?' [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-19-me-hell19-story.html]

Call me old fashioned … call me negative … call me not sexy enough … call me focused on the future rather than the present!

I stand with the giants of our faith from Jesus through the Disciples, through Martin Luther, through John Calvin and John Wesley, through Charles Spurgeon and Charles Stanley.

I stand firm in my belief that Hell is real, and that people need to be warned against it else their souls perish.

If Jesus taught about Hell more than He taught about Heaven, there must be a reason!

Charles Spurgeon bears repeating:

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our bodies.

If they will perish, let them perish with our arms around their knees.

Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

Remember Elaine’s last statement to Putty?

"I am not going to hell and if you think I'm going to hell, you should

care that I'm going to hell even though I am not.”

if you think I'm going to hell, you should

care that I'm going to hell

Now, these are fictional characters, but they’re based on real people.

Are you Elaine, or Putty?

Putty believes in a real Hell.

He believes his relationship with Christ frees him from the fear of Hell.

He knows Elaine has no relationship with Christ, and is therefore destined for Hell … but he said nothing!

Either he doesn’t really believe in Hell ...

OR he doesn’t CARE that Elaine is going there.

If you believe Hell is real … Which is it for you?

Maybe you’re Elaine.

Elaine doesn’t believe she could possibly be destined for Hell.

“A loving God wouldn’t send anyone to Hell.”

This statement presumes that Heaven is the default, and God is active in SENDING people to Hell.

I would propose Hell is our default destiny.

And a loving God is actively SENDING people to Heaven who have surrendered control to the grace of Jesus Christ.

If we believe the Scriptures, Hell is described as being or having...

Weeping and gnashing teeth – Matt. 25

Outer darkness – Matt.

22

A Place of torments – Luke 16

A Place of sorrows – 2 Sam.

22

Everlasting destruction – 2 Thes. 1

Eternal fire and brimstone – Rev. 21

Fire is not quenched – Mark 9

Hopelessness and unsatisfied desires!

– Luke 16

Worst of all — Hell is the default - Romans 3:23; 6:23

Hell!

If you’re Putty … it’s time to get off your backside and warn people we believe they’re in peril!

If you’re Elaine … if you are intent on being damned, you will have to leap to Hell over my body, with my arms around your knees.

You will not go to Hell unwarned or unprayed for on my watch!

I believe...

Jesus died to pay for your sins

God raised Him from the dead so His blood is still effective today!

If you do not accept His offer of a Master/servant relationship you will be doomed to an eternity in a very real Hell!

Today, right now, you can escape that condemnation!