BEAUTY IN NEW DIMENSIONS APRIL 19What will heaven be like? Does it even exist? Scripture tells us that heaven is going to be more beautiful, more alive, more exciting, and more real than anything we’ve ever experienced. That can be hard to fathom, but God is trying to get our attention and help us understand that He’s prepared a place. Heaven is not unlike what we can see, smell, and touch here on earth, but is exponentially more intense, breaking into new dimensions of time and space.

Work through the following questions and scriptures on your own, and get together with your running partner, life group, or friends and family to talk through what you are learning.

1. Do you have a favorite photo from when you were younger? If you showed it to a friend now, how do you think they would describe it? Now think about what the photo means to you. How would your description differ from your friends?

2. What stood out to you from the message? What questions do you have? What got you excited, curious, confused? What do you want to do as a result of what you heard?

3. Before you heard stories from those who had near-death experiences (NDEers), how would you have described heaven? Has your impression of heaven changed? If so, how? Do you think it is important to your faith to understand how heaven is described in the Bible? Why or why not?

4. Read Revelation 7:9,17; 21:10; 22:1–2. How realistic is that word picture to you? Do you find it believable? Are you skeptical? Take a moment and share your honest thoughts with your group or with God.

5. Read 1 Corinthians 13:12; 15:43-44. What does being fully known mean to you? Can you imagine what your spiritual body will be like? What are some things you hope to experience in heaven?

6. What challenged you about this message? What are some ways you can begin to live now “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9-10)? How can you bring more of the beauty of heaven to your world?

7. My Next Step: This week, use your imagination and truly dream about heaven. Read Hebrews 11:13-16 and practice believing what God says in Scripture. Take time to consider how this world has nothing to offer that even comes close to what God has prepared for those who love him. As you think and pray through your answers to the questions above, share your experiences with your life group, running partner(s), family, and/or friends.

D I S C U S S I O N Q U E S T I O N S

Revelation 7:9,17; 21:10; 22:1–2 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language … clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. … He will lead them to springs of life-giving water … So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem … It shone with the glory of God … Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit. (NLT)

I Corinthians 13:12; 15:42-44 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. … The body … is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

Hebrews 11:13-16 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

As you dig deeper into this week’s message, check out the bonus resources below:

• Find and join a group that is hosting a What’s After Life? conversation online by clicking on “Sign up” at gatewaychurch.com/groups and choosing a What’s After Life group in the list that suits your time, life stage, and area preferences.

• Text “heaven” to 80123 to host a What’s After Life? conversation online.

• Go to ericbryant.org for the notes from this message.

COVID-19 Response

Additionally, in this time when connection may seem difficult, connecting is more important than ever! This week as you complete the Message Next Steps, try meeting virtually with your Life/Community Group, running partner, family, or friends. Utilize things like FaceTime, Zoom calls, or Google Hangouts.

We also know the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has created needs and hardships for many people, and Gateway wants to help. If you need prayer, please visit gatewaychurch.com/prayer

And if you have other needs, please visit gatewaychurch.com/gethelp

Moreover, if you’re looking for ways to help others in their time of need, please visit gatewaychurch.com/givehelp.

D I G G I N G D E E P E R

K E Y S C R I P T U R E

To dive deeper, share your thoughts, and hear from others, join a Community Group at gatewaychurch.com/groups