This world is full of pain, heartbreak, and sorrow. As long as we are living on this earth, we will always experience these things. The good news is that we have the hope of Heaven. As followers of Christ, this world is not our own, and we have eternal life with Christ in Heaven to look to. This is the hope that we have on our darkest and best days.
If you could choose between living on this earth for 50 more years or being in Heaven now, which would you choose? Why?
1. What do you think most people think of when they think of Heaven?
2. Read John 14:1-14. What do these verses teach us about the future of those who place their faith in Christ? Why was this message important for Jesus to give His disciples in some of His last moments with them?
John 14:1-14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do. “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
John 14:1-14
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
3. Read Revelation 21:1-7. What stands out to you about this new Heaven and earth described in these verses?
Revelation 21:1-7 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Revelation 21:1-7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
4. Read Revelation 21:22. Why do you think that Jesus made a point to explain that He was returning soon?
Revelation 21:22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Revelation 21:22
I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
5. How does the truth from Scripture about Heaven inform your own hope for the future?
6. How does the reality of Heaven affect the way you live your day-to-day life?
7. How does the news of Jesus’ imminent return affect the way you spend your time?
Read Revelation 22:13. Jesus calls Himself the Alpha and Omega, which are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Spend some time discussing this description of Jesus with your group. Why do you think Jesus used these words to describe Him, particularly in the context of His return? How does this understanding affect your group as a whole and the decisions you make together?
The fascinating truth about Heaven is that we simply do not even have the vocabulary or experience to adequately describe it. Because of this, many people look back at the Garden of Eden when they think about Heaven and what it will be like. Eden was the closest thing on earth to Heaven. It was a place of perfection without the sting of sin and death. Let’s take a look at what Scripture has to say about Eden, which will ultimately lead us to hold an even greater appreciation for Heaven.
Read the following verses and then answer the questions that follow.
Genesis 2:8-14
Genesis 3:1-11 and Genesis 3:20-24
Romans 5:12-17
As followers of Christ, some people can be tempted to look back at Eden and what could have been if sin had not entered the world. The beautiful truth is, we do not have to look back. As incredible as Eden was, Heaven is infinitely better. Heaven is better because God dwells in Heaven. He came to Eden, but He did not dwell there permanently. Because God dwells in Heaven, Heaven will always be infinitely better.
We may not specifically find ourselves looking back at Eden, thinking about what life could be like if sin had not entered the world, but we may find ourselves looking back to moments in our lives that feel like glimpses of Heaven or dreaming about what life here on earth could have been like if we had made different decisions. As meaningful or special as these moments on earth are, Heaven is far better. Because of this, we have the freedom and confidence to look forward, not backward.
This understanding leads us to some questions. Is there an area of your life you find yourself frequently looking back on because it felt like a glimpse of Heaven on earth? Or is there an area of your life that you look back on, dreaming about what might have happened if you had made a different decision? Tell your group these things, and then talk about at least one way that Heaven is better than any moment on earth that you have had or could ever have. Tell your group how you will focus on looking forward to the joy of Heaven that is to come.
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Matthew 22:37 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’"
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’"
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