Sunday School Lesson

1. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10
Rewards In Heaven
“Will There Be Any Stars In My Crown?”
Hymn By Eliza Hewitt
May 20, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
http://quotesthoughtsrandom.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/first-things-first.jpg

3. The Glory of God!
https://forgodalmighty.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/cropped-sunset1.jpg

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6tzRiT-BrDs/TIGM_Ih3dAI/AAAAAAAAAX0/0AJWPvlAfqw/s640/Gods+Glory.jpg

5. May Memory Verse
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin
which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the
race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at
the right hand of the throne of God.

6. Pray for the Pastor Search Committee
• Doug Gunn, Chairman (PastorSearchCommittee@FBCJ.org)
• Lenora Bigler
• Dottie Hudson
• David Maron
• Jim Merritt, Jr.
• Elizabeth Rich
• Mallory Rosamond
• Don Waller
• Jeff Zachary

7. References
•Nan, Miss, God’s Events, Now and Forever (Maitland,
FL, Xulon Press, 2009), pp. 27-35.
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible
(Nashville, Word Publishing, 1997).
•Barker, Kenneth, The NIV Study Bible, (Grand Rapids,
Zondervan, 1985).

8. Introduction to 2 Corinthians 5
Paul has explained in Chapter 4 that even when
believers face the threat of death in sharing the gospel,
and have troubles in life, we do not lose heart (give up
hope).

9. Summary Verses
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we
are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day
by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is
unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.
• The eternal glory Paul is about to describe is:
1) Heaven after death.
2) Rewards in heaven.

10. Key Verses from Last Sunday’s Lesson
2 Corinthians 5:1 & 5 NKJV
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is
destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not
made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is
God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
•When we die, God has a place prepared for us.
•The Holy Spirit is His guarantee of always being
present whether we are alive or dead.

11. Summary of 2 Corinthians 5:1-8
Review of Last Sunday’s Lesson
1. Death is a temporary separation of the soul from
the body.
2. Immediately after death:
A. Believers are at home with the Lord.
B. Believers consciously enjoy the life of heaven as a soul
(without a body).
C. Believers anticipate the Rapture.
D. Believers get their glorified bodies at the Rapture.

12. What will we be doing at this interim stop in
heaven? (Richard Baxter)
1. Worship – Worshipping our Christ.
2. Wonder – We do not have all questions answered.
3. Wait – Perfectly happy waiting for the rapture.
4. Time – We have a past we remember, a present we
enjoy and a future to anticipate.

13. Timeout for a Timeline
•Paul has been teaching about what happens to
believers during the Church Age before the Rapture.
•At the Rapture (our resurrection) believers will get
their glorified bodies (put on incorruption) (1
Corinthians 15:50-58).
•Paul is now going to describe an event in 2 Corinthians
5:10 what occurs after the Rapture – The Judgment
Seat of Christ.

15. Paul now gives us the motivation to live a life
pleasing to God.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NKJV
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or
absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each
one may receive the things done in the body,
according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
•Todays’ Lesson.

16. According to Paul, our motivation to live a life
pleasing to God is because…
•Believers will give account for actions which happened
during their time of earthly ministry.
•This does not include our sins, since their judgment
took place at the cross (Jesus has covered these
already).
•Paul is referring to all those activities believers do
during their lifetimes, which relate to their eternal
reward and praise from God.

17. How did you spend your time on earth?
•What Christians do in their temporal bodies will, in His
eyes, have an impact for eternity.
•The “good or bad” here does not refer to moral deeds
but to “worthwhile, eternally valuable” deeds
compared to “useless, worldly” deeds.

18. What is the Judgment Seat of Christ?
•Greek word is “Bema Seat.”
•An elevated platform where victorious athletes went
to receive their crowns of victory.
•This is the place where Christ will sit to evaluate
believers’ lives for the purpose of giving them eternal
rewards.

20. Ancient Bema Seat in Corinth

21. What are the Special Rewards (5 Crowns) in
Heaven for Outstanding Service?
1. The Crown of Rejoicing – Evangelism.
2. The Crown of Righteousness – Expectation.
3. The Crown of Glory – Disciple.
4. The Crown of Incorruptible – Discipline.
5. The Crown of Life – Endurance.

23. The Crown of Rejoicing
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is
it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus
Christ at His coming?
John 4:36
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit
for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who
reaps may rejoice together.

25. The Crown of Righteousness
2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV
8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but
also to all who have loved His appearing.
•The Robe of Righteousness is different from the
Crown of Righteousness.

26. The Robe of Righteousness is Jesus’ covering
of our sins before God.
Isaiah 61:10 NKJV
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that
we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
• When God looks at us, He sees the righteousness of Christ.

28. The Crown of Glory
1 Peter 5:2-4 NKJV
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,
not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords
over those entrusted to you, but being examples to
the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you
will receive the crown of glory that does not fade
away.

30. The Incorruptible Crown
1 Corinthians 9:25 NKJV
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown.
Hebrews 12:1 NKJV
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a
cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the
sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us,

32. The Crown of Life
Revelation 2:10c NKJV
10c Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown
of life.
James 1:12 NKJV
12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for
when he has been approved, he will receive the
crown of life which the Lord has promised to those
who love Him.

33. Other Rewards Given to Believers
Matthew 6:19 NKJV
19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth,
where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break
in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and
where thieves do not break in and steal.
•The Promise of Heavenly Treasures.

34. Other Rewards Given to Believers
Matthew 25:23 NKJV
23 His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful
servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I
will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the
joy of your lord.'
•The Promise of Accolades or Commendation.

35. The Overcomers
1 John 5:4-5 NIV
4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This
is the victory that has overcome the world, even our
faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the
one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
•To overcome = to conquer; to have victory.
•By John’s definition, all believers are overcomers.

36. The Promises to Overcomers in Revelation
Revelation 2:7b NKJV
7b To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." ‘
Revelation 2:11b NKJV
11b He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." ‘
Revelation 2:17b&c NKJV
17b&c To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden
manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the
stone a new name written which no one knows except him
who receives it." '

37. The Promises to Overcomers in Revelation
Revelation 2:26 NKJV
26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until
the end, to him I will give power over the nations—
Revelation 3:5 NKJV
5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white
garments, and I will not blot out his name from the
Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My
Father and before His angels.

38. The Promises to Overcomers in Revelation
Revelation 3:12 NKJV
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple
of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him
the name of My God and the name of the city of My God,
the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from
My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Revelation 3:21 NKJV
21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My
throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on
His throne.

39. The Inheritance of Overcomers (Believers) vs.
The Inheritance of Non-believers
Revelation 21:6-8 NKJV
6 And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the
fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He
who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God
and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,
abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers,
idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake
which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second
death."

40. Other Rewards Given to Believers
Matthew 19:28-29 NKJV
28 So Jesus said to them, "Assuredly I say to you, that in the
regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of
His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve
thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And
everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or
father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My
name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit
eternal life.
• The Promise of Special Responsibilities.

41. Will ALL good deeds be rewarded?
No.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you
are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which
was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the
foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take
heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can
anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
• Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 3 that not all deeds will
follow you to heaven for rewards.
• Why?

42. Your Deeds Will Be Judged for Motive, but
Your Salvation is Secure.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver,
precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be
revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of
what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work which he has built on it
endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is
burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet
so as through fire.

43. What is Paul saying here?
•Your good deeds will be judged (tested).
•The things you have done because you love Jesus and
in obedience to His plan for you will be called gold,
silver and stones and will go with you to heaven.
•The things you have done in Jesus’ name for any other
reason- self-glory, praise of man, out of guilt or duty –
will be called wood, hay and stubble and will be
burned up. They do not go to heaven with you!

44. Jesus had something to say about our deeds.
Matthew 6:1-2 NKJV
1 "Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds
before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have
no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 Therefore,
when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a
trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the
synagogues and in the streets, that they may have
glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have
their reward (public praise).

45. Jesus had something to say about our deeds.
Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV
3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your
left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that
your charitable deed may be in secret; and your
Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you
openly.
•The open reward is the crown and rewards at the
Judgment Seat of Christ.

46. Is there equality in Heaven?
•All believers will be in heaven.
•There will be believers in heaven with no rewards, as
they either had no good deeds or they were burned
because of wrong motives.
•That person with no or few rewards will be happy in
heaven, but will understand the rewards of others.
•Not everyone is equal in heaven, but there will be no
jealousy or pride!

47. Charles Spurgeon on Crowns in Heaven
“There are no crown-wearers in Heaven
who were not cross-bearers here below.”

48. What will we do with our crowns?
Revelation 4:10-11 NKJV
10 the twenty- four elders (Church) fall down before Him
who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever
and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:
11 "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and
power; For You created all things, And by Your will they
exist and were created."
• They will not be worn as a badge of honor but will be
placed at the feet of Jesus.

49. The Old Rugged Cross
“So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.”

50. Closing Scripture from Lesson Today
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 NKJV
9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or
absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all
appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each
one may receive the things done in the body,
according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

51. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten
Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers,
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have
their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone,
which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his
God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.

55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

56. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Have questions or would like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/