Podcast Summary

Podcast: Lakepointe Church with Josh Howerton
Episode: What Happens When You Die? These 2 Questions Decide Everything | Run To Win
Host: Pastor Josh Howerton
Date: October 19, 2025

Overview:

This episode kicks off the "Run To Win" series, focusing on what happens after death and the two ultimate questions every person will face at the end of life, according to Christian teaching. Pastor Josh Howerton unpacks biblical perspectives on judgment, eternal destiny, and living a life that matters for eternity, weaving in theological insights, personal anecdotes, and a moving foster care testimony. The sermon’s core objective is to prepare listeners for eternity by explaining God’s "two-question test" that determines our eternal outcome and rewards.

Episode Breakdown

1. The Reality of Death & Eternity

Main Point:
Pastor Josh sets a candid, sobering tone, reminding listeners that everyone will die and will face judgment.

• “You're going to die. Every single person within the hearing of my voice, I am deadly serious. You're going to die. 100 years – all new people.” (10:44)
• He references the second lie in Genesis—"You shall not surely die"—to explain why people avoid thinking about death.
• “Only a fool goes through life unprepared for what's inevitable.” (12:28)
• The role of a pastor: “My primary job is to prepare you for eternity.” (13:30)

Memorable Moment:
Josh recalls praying for terminally ill young people, driving home the unpredictability and reality of death.

2. The Two Judgments: The Great White Throne & The Bema Seat

A. The Great White Throne Judgment

Key Scripture: Revelation 20

• Everyone, Christian or not, will stand before God's judgment seat (Romans 14:10, Revelation 20).
• “Then I saw a Great White Throne and him who was seated on it…And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the Book of Life.” (23:09)
• The Books: Record every deed—good or bad—of every person.
• The Book: The Lamb’s Book of Life—contains the names of the redeemed.

Theological Insight:

• Sins cannot be erased by good works or apologies.
• Only Jesus' sacrifice (the blood of Christ) can “blot out” sins (Psalm 51, Isaiah, 1 John).
• “The problem is not that God can't be in the presence of sin. The problem is that sin can't be in the presence of holy God in the same way that tissue paper can't be in the presence of the sun.” (27:50)
• True forgiveness changes not just the record but one’s identity: “God calls you a saint. Saint means 'holy one.'” (32:43)

The 1st Question:
“What did you do with Jesus?”

• Will you pay for your own sins, or will you let Jesus' sacrifice count for you?
• “I wasn't looking for religious works. I was looking for a relationship with you.” (Matthew 7:23, 35:55)

Personal Story:
Josh recounts growing up in church, doing all the right things outwardly, but realizing at sixteen that he needed a genuine relationship with Jesus, not just religious activity.

• “I watched these people worship, and I thought, man, I know a lot of things about God, but these people, they know Him. I needed a relationship with Jesus.” (37:15)

B. The Bema Seat Judgment

Key Concept:

• For Christians only; not a judgment about salvation, but about rewards based on how life was lived.
• “You're going to face two judgments…The bema seat judgment, it's not about whether or not you're going to get into heaven; it's about what heaven's going to be like for you.” (49:10)

The 2nd Question:
“What did you do with what I gave you?”

• Every life, resource, opportunity is a stewardship evaluated by God.
• “Only one life, twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last.”
• Rewards are determined by what survives the “fire”—acts and investments with eternal significance.
  • “The only thing that lasts into eternity is the souls of people.” (54:20)

3. Application: A Modern Parable & Real-Life Testimony

Illustrative Story (Fireman and the Doll):

• A fireman rescues what he thinks is a baby from a burning building, but it’s only a doll—a perfect counterfeit on the outside, with no life inside.
• Application: Don’t settle for outward religiosity with no spiritual life.
  • “There was no life on the inside. And my fear is that's exactly where some of you are.” (41:30)

Testimony (Casey & Lewis – Foster & Adoption Ministry) (39:55–43:42):

Casey, who grew up in the foster system, shares how she and her husband Lewis chose to foster children, ultimately helping 20+ kids.

• “I really did believe that I could use everything that happened to me as a child and turn all of that negative into something positive.” (41:52)
• “Would we love to have a forever family with a child? Absolutely. But we've also learned that's in His timing and not in ours…In the interim, we get to love on all these other kids. And that is a miracle.” (43:13)

Pastor Josh’s take:

• Praises foster/adoptive families for their sacrificial, often unseen service:
  • “They have a bunch of like, secret sacrifices and quiet crucifixions that never get noticed.” (43:56)

Connection:

• Foster/adoption ministry vividly exemplifies living out the second question—leveraging what God has given for eternal impact (the souls of children).

4. Call to Action

• Encourage listeners to prepare to answer both questions at God’s judgment:
  1. Do you have a real relationship with Jesus, not just external religion?
  2. Are you using your life and resources to impact eternity, especially by loving people?
• Highlights the church’s annual missions offering to support eternal-impact ministries like fostering/adoption, church planting, and missions.
  • “Begin praying about what God would have your family give above your normal giving to that offering, and we'll receive that from now to the end of the year.” (45:20)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Only a fool goes through life unprepared for what's inevitable." (12:28)
• "You don't want to be judged by what's in the books; you want to be judged by the fact that your name is in the book." (32:15)
• “Hell is a place where you have the option of paying for your own sins if you want to.” (34:00)
• “I never knew you…I wasn't looking for religious works. I was looking for a relationship with you.” (35:55)
• “You can't change the world, but you can change someone’s world.” (54:45)

Segments & Timestamps

• Intro & Series Setup: 00:00–10:44
• The Reality of Death: 10:44–15:00
• Pastor’s Role/Preparing for Eternity: 13:00–15:00
• Two Judgments Explained: 17:00–29:00
• Sins, Books, and the Book of Life: 23:00–32:43
• The Two Questions at Judgment: 32:43–35:55
• Personal and Illustrative Stories: 36:00–41:30
• Testimony (Casey & Lewis): 39:55–43:42
• Connecting Faith to Foster/Adoption: 43:42–44:44
• Call to Action—Missions Offering: 44:44–end

Takeaways

• Everyone faces death and judgment; the wise prepare now.
• Eternal destiny hinges first on a real relationship with Jesus, not just outward religion or good deeds.
• For believers, eternity’s “rewards” depend on faithful stewardship of life’s resources and opportunities.
• The greatest investments are those that impact people’s souls—especially demonstrated in ministries like fostering and adoption.
• Listeners are urged to evaluate their spiritual state and consider how to leverage their lives for eternal impact.

“Do you not know that in a race, everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? Run to win!”