A New Heaven and A New Earth
God makes all things new. He is about taking the brokenness brought on by sin and offering a new reality. God’s plans for a believer’s eternity are staggering in immensity and joy. We will exist forever on a new earth—a reality more alive than our present existence. While the thought of “another world” can be overwhelming, it can also create godly anticipation. We are meant to be motivated by eternity and all that awaits us.
Discussion Questions
What were or are your thoughts about what salvation is primarily about? Describe the benefits of not only “going to heaven when you die,” but also living for God now.
True or false: No one will spend eternity in heaven (a purposefully provocative statement). What insights do you find in the following verses: Mark 13:31, 2 Peter 3:13, Revelation 21:1?
What similarities do you see between the Garden of Eden (pre-fall) and the new earth (specifically the New Jerusalem)? Look at the following passages to discover the similarities: Genesis 2:9-12, 3:8, 22 and Revelation 22:1-4, 18-20.
How would you describe the bookends of human history in Genesis and Revelation? How is God putting things back like He originally intended them?
C.S. Lewis wrote: “If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next.” How does an eternal perspective help you invest your life now?
Further Reading
A New Covenant
God reminds us in the Bible that He gave an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. Confuse the two and you’re in for a confusing and inconsistent attempt at living for Jesus. It’s not an exaggeration to suggest that the church across the world is mired in legalistic...
New Direction
When we find ourselves moving in a certain direction and focused on our goals, it can be jarring to feel like God suddenly is taking us in a new direction. It's hard to consider that what we are currently building is no longer necessary or worse, futile all along. We...
New Community
We all identify with communities in some ways. Even the most isolated individuals acknowledge some basic common ground with other people groups. From sports teams to political parties to hometowns, communities unite us around common ideas. But when we run into...
New Habits
Habits can have a profound impact on our lives in both good and bad ways. And often, we’re unaware of how much we do in our lives simply by force of habit. We’ll discuss how modern behavioral science is catching up to what the church has known for thousands of years...
A New Song
Songs are powerful things. The combine melody and harmony. They express both truth and emotion. They can fill us with joy and hope or with lament and sorrow. Through the beauty of song we worship, we celebrate, and we mourn. In the Psalms, the worship songs of the...