Let The Games Begin!! (March 1 - Chapters 11 thru 13)

We'll be changing things up this week … in addition to rotating small group members, we'll be having a little friendly team competition! There will be prizes for each member of the winning team, so let's come prepared to WIN!

Competition Rules:

• Read the chapters for the week as the competition questions will come from the book.
• Alternately, each team will be presented with a question.
• For each correct answer, the team gets 1 point.  The team with the most points wins!
• There will be tie-breaker questions as well and they probably won't be easy. :)
• The prize each member of the winning team will receive is a secret, but it's real.

Blessings!!

Back To The Future (February 22 - Chapters 8 thru 10)

Below is a list of questions for the group sharing time. Generally speaking, you'll have a few minutes to share your thoughts and perspective for each question and still allow others to share theirs.

• The author cites another book phrase "homesick for Eden". Explain your understanding of the connection between what Eden was like before the fall to what Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT states "… He has planted eternity in the human heart …".
• Using the "Three Eras Of Mankind And Earth" chart on pages 82-85, select three sets of "Past | Present | Future" points and share why they strike you as new information that will change your thinking about Heaven.
• Given that the words "restored", "renewed", "redemption" have some similarities in definition, how do you understand and explain the importance of the restoration of the Earth? List other things that will be restored in God's creation. How does the Earth's restoration relate to the restoration of the items on your list? Is there something wrong with the idea of disposing of everything and starting over? Why?
• To the best of your ability, describe what the Garden of Eden was like - include elements of plants, animals, humankind, God, etc. and their interaction. How will the "re-linkage" of Earth and Heaven relate to, and, be like, the Garden of Eden. How will it differ?
• Describe the relationship of the curse on mankind and the resulting curse on the Earth (Genesis 3:17). What have been the effects of the curse upon mankind and his existence? Describe what happens when the bible in Revelation 22:3 says "no more curse"?
• In the book "Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview", the author, Albert Wolters, states "Redemption in Jesus Christ reaches just as far as the fall". Describe what this means to you.
• Imagine yourself at the deathbed of a loved one, how would you answer these two questions when asked: What is Heaven like? How can I know that I'll be going there?

 Blessings!!

This vs That vs The Other (February 15 - Chapters 5 thru 7)

Below is a list of questions ... the first one is a "required" question to share your thinking with the group. Along with it, please select two additional questions, of your choice, for the group sharing time. Generally speaking, you'll have a few minutes for each question to share your thoughts and perspective and still allow others to share theirs.

• Required: How does the author's presentation of the "temporary nature" of the present Heaven differ from what you think Heaven is?
• How does the illustration of your "flight to Santa Barbara" change your understanding of the present Heaven and the eternal Heaven?
• Describe the difference between the "judgment of faith" and the "judgment of works". Upon which are you relying? Why?
• The author coins the term Christoplatonism and defines it as "an unbiblical belief that the spirit realm is good and the material world is bad". How might your thinking be influenced by the concept of Christoplatonism?
• What does giving an "account of your life" using an "improved mind" to receive "eternal rewards" mean to you and how does it change who you are today?
• The author offers thinking about those in Heaven knowing what is going on here on Earth. What are your thoughts about those in Heaven knowing what you're doing? Describe what it would be like to be in Heaven and knowing what is taking place here on Earth.

Blessings!!