Future Resurrection

_Warm-up_

• What do you imagine your life will look like in December of 2020 (or 8 months from now)?

_Word_

//BIG IDEA

• We are not just the product of choices we make, or the environment we live in, but we are heavily shaped by what we imagine our futures will be. In light of that, this is the second of 7 weeks that will look to answer the question what does the death and resurrection of Jesus over 2000 years ago mean for my life today?

• Jesus’ resurrection secures for us a future where our bodies will be resurrected, transformed, and experience a new kind of life, one where we will never die again.

• The resurrection was a radical idea both to the Ancient Jewish way of thinking as well as the Ancient Greek way of viewing reality. In the same way, Paul asks us to consider Jesus’ resurrection based on the evidence of the transformation of the early Christian’ believers.

• Because of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection and victory over death, our labor as believers is not in vain, but has significance that will carry into eternity.

//READ

1 Corinthians 15:50-54

I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

//WATCH / LISTEN

//DISCUSS

_Old Self_

• How do you feel your body as finite or perishable right now?

• How do you struggle with the idea or reality of Jesus’ resurrection?

_New Self_

• How does the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, and the guarantee of our bodies being resurrected after our death give you hope today?

• Hunter described how we can live out of the reality of Jesus death. We can, 1) Think about what is true, 2) Move from thinking to praying about these truths, 3) as you pray, live out of these truths. How does this challenge and encourage you right now?

_World_

• This week, think about friends, neighbors, co-workers or family members who might be struggling with the futility and despair of modern thinking about the finality of death. Take time to pray for them, and look for opportunities to share the hope you have because of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!