An Appointment with God

* **Icebreaker:** What is one appointment or scheduled event you had this past week that you were either really excited for, or secretly hoping would get canceled?

* **Observation:** Three distinct types of "appointments" are laid out in the message: a death appointment, a divine appointment, and a door appointment. When you look at Hebrews 9:27, why do you think we tend to focus so much on the physical reality of death while overlooking the "divine appointment" of judgment that immediately follows it?

* **Interpretation:** John 10:9 states, "I am the door. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." What does it mean to you to view Jesus specifically as a "door" rather than just a guide, teacher, or historical figure? How does this concrete imagery shape your understanding of how we access God?

* **Deep Reflection:** We heard a strong warning about people who "hang around the door," sing about the door, or even "kiss the door" (like Judas) without ever actually entering through it. In our modern culture, what does "hovering around the door" look like, and how can we examine our own hearts to ensure we aren't just staying close to religious spaces without actually crossing the threshold?

* **Silent Reflection:**

> *"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."* — Matthew 7:13-14

Take a moment in silence to contemplate this passage. Reflect on your own spiritual journey: Can you point to a distinct moment when you chose to walk through the narrow door, or do you find yourself lingering in the wider, more comfortable spaces around it?

* **Internal Examination:** Repentance is described as stopping, recognizing that we are lost without Jesus, turning away from our own way, and actively turning toward Him. When you look at your current daily life, what is one specific area—whether an attitude, a habit, or an ambition—where you feel prompted to turn away from your own way and yield to His?

* **Action:** At the end of the message, we are reminded that we only have two options: to walk through the door or to walk away from it. How might Jesus be inviting you to step through the door today, and what is one concrete, practical action you can take this week to live out that commitment with no strings attached?