Together we will be discussing learning from a series of videos titled ReFrame, produced by Regent College. Feel free to download the workbook, so even if you can’t join us in person, you can still participate well.
Session 6: New Heavens & New Earth
(You can watch the video here.)
This session looks at how God promises to transform all of creation in the new heavens and new earth through the resurrection of Christ. As citizens of this promise, Christians are called to live as a sign, a holy foretaste of this final act of redemption.
Outline
The Resurrection—The resurrection is God’s vindication of Jesus and an unexpected fulfillment of Israel’s hopes.
Jesus’ Resurrected Body—Jesus’ resurrected body affirms the goodness of physical creation, acts as a sign of the new heavens and the new earth, and challenges misconceptions we may have about heaven.
New Heavens and New Earth— The resurrection points to the promise of cosmic shalom—the complete transformation and renewal of creation.
Citizens of Heaven—As citizens of heaven, we are to faithfully live out the story of Scripture as a sign and foretaste of this final restoration.
Discussion
- Where have you experienced a sense of hopelessness when seeing the brokenness of the world around us?
- What are common cultural pictures of heaven? How do these pictures compare with Christ’s resurrection and the promise of our own resurrection?
- How does the promise of the new heavens and the new earth make a difference today? How might it make a difference for what we do now?