What's After ATX (Part 2): Relationships in Heaven

TO START

Happy Mother’s Day week to all the wonderful women in our lives! Feel free to start group by thanking God for the women in your group and praying over them.

  • Also, spend some time sharing about the mothers and mother figures in group members lives who have had an impact (Recognize that this can be hard for those who have lost their mother or a child; if this is the case, love them and support them well)

TO DISCUSS

This week, we ventured into the 2nd week of a series that centers around one, extremely important and at times seemingly complicated question, “what happens after we die?”. In particular, Justin encouraged us to imagine the possibility that God wires into us a deep desire to be with those we love and have lost. Also, he reminded us that Scripture affirms the reality that we will know each other in our resurrected state. Spend some time reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and discuss the questions below:

  • Do you feel relief knowing that you will be able to recognize your loved ones in Heaven?

  • In the sermon, Justin points us to the reality that heaven is a communal experience and not a one-on-one private hangout between you and God. Is this different from what you imagined? What do you think about the fact that God chose for us to be together not just with Him but with one another?

  • How does looking forward to the joy of heaven put your present life in perspective? Does it change what you prioritize in your life today?

FOR FUN

If you have time ask this question: Have folks share specific things they hope to do with specific people they look forward to being with in heaven.

TO PRAY

It would be beautiful to spend some time allowing space for your group to simply thank God for allowing us the joy of being reunited with those we love. Create a prayer space to enable anyone who wants to share with God what they can’t wait for in Heaven as well as who they can’t wait to be reunited with if they’d like.

Matt DeLano