To Think of Hell
Thomas Brooks' sermon urges listeners to contemplate hell as a means to inspire repentance and a holy life.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes the importance of contemplating hell as a means to deter individuals from sinful behaviors and pleasures. He laments the apathy of people who recklessly pursue a life of sin, oblivious to the eternal consequences that await them. Brooks argues that if sinners could truly grasp the reality of hell, it would instill fear and lead them to abandon their destructive ways. He calls for a serious reflection on the fate of the soul, urging listeners to recognize the gravity of their choices and the reality of divine judgment.
Text
"To think of hell," says one, "preserves a man from falling
into it!" Says another, "He who does but hear of hell is,
without any further labor or study, taken off from sinful
pleasures."
Surely men's hearts are grown stupid, for how do most
men run headlong to hell, and take a pleasure to dance
hoodwinked into everlasting burnings!
Oh, had but the sinners of this day who swear and curse,
drink and party, and drown themselves in fleshly pleasures,
but one sight of this hell--how would it shut their mouths,
appall their spirits, and strike fear and astonishment into
their hearts!
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill
the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both
soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The Reality of Hell - Biblical References to Hell - The Nature of Eternal Punishment
- II points: - The Consequences of Sin - The Stupidity of Ignoring Hell - The Danger of Complacency
- III points: - The Call to Repentance - The Importance of Awareness - Living in Light of Eternity
- IV points: - The Role of Fear in Salvation - The Comfort of God's Mercy - The Urgency of the Gospel
Key Quotes
“To think of hell preserves a man from falling into it!” — Thomas Brooks
“How do most men run headlong to hell, and take a pleasure to dance hoodwinked into everlasting burnings!” — Thomas Brooks
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Reflect regularly on the reality of hell to cultivate a sense of urgency in your spiritual life.
- Engage in conversations about sin and its consequences to help others understand the need for repentance.
- Seek to live a life that honors God, motivated by the understanding of eternal realities.