I. Jesus' Resurrection: Our Hope II. Our Resurrection

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Series: ETERNITY

Resurrection: Life After Death Do People Really Come Back from the Dead? John 11; I Corinthians 15:17-19, 21-22; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10

Eternity series reset: What we’ve learned about life, death, eternity, and hell I. Jesus’ Resurrection: Our Hope John 11:25-26: Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” I Corinthians 15:17, 19: And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. Two Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus: An empty tomb and changed lives!!!

II. Our Resurrection: Our Destiny John 5:28-29: Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Resurrection of Judgment Hebrews 9:27: Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.

Resurrection of Life John 3:16-17: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Q: What will we be like in heaven? What will our resurrection bodies be like? Philippians 3:20-21: But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

III. Behaving Like We Believe in Resurrection: (2 Cor. 4:16-5:10) Because our resurrection is a certainty, we can live with… 1. CONFIDENCE 2. COURAGE 3. A DESIRE TO PLEASE JESUS

For Further study: 1. A central passage in the New Testament about Jesus’ resurrection and about our resurrection, and how we should live in light of the resurrection, is I Corinthians 15. As you study this chapter, notice these sections: the resurrection is an essential part of gospel message (vv. 3-8), our faith is futile without the resurrection (vv. 17-19), Jesus’ resurrection ensures ours (vv. 20-26), and how we can live because of the reality of the resurrection (vv. 57-58). 2. John 11 is a powerful chapter showing Jesus’ power over death. It is the chapter where he appears at his friend Lazarus’ home four days after Lazarus had died. As you study this chapter, take note of Jesus’ compassion, of His authority over death. Notice too the different responses from Lazarus’ two sisters. How would you answer Jesus’ question in v. 26? 3. Today and next week we will talk about what our bodies will be like in eternity. According to Philippians 3:20-21, we will be conformed into the image of Jesus—so Jesus’ resurrected body is an example of what ours will be like. To study some of these characteristics, you can study the post resurrection appearances of Jesus to get a glimpse of what our bodies will be like. (see Matthew 28:9-10; 16-20; Luke 24:13-53; John 20:11-29; John 21:1-23; Acts 1:1-11). 4. As we talked about at the beginning of our eternity series, the Bible often connects its teaching about future times with how we should live in light of the future. Read these three passages to discover some specific ways God calls us to live in light of the truth of the resurrection—that we have life after death: 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 1:20-26; Hebrews 11:6; 13-16.

To Discuss…with a friend, family member, community group, or as part of your family Christmas devotional time… 1) What are some of the various views of the afterlife, about resurrection, and about what we are like after we die that you see in movies, TV, and literature? 2) I Corinthians 15:17 and 19 make it very clear how important the resurrection of Jesus is to the Christian faith. Talk about why the resurrection is essential to our faith, and share some evidences we have that Jesus really did rise from the dead. 3. As a group, read 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10. We talked about, in light of the resurrection, that we should live with confidence, courage, and with a desire to please Jesus. What evidences of these do you see in your life? How can your group pray for you to live with more confidence, courage, and with a greater desire for obedience to Jesus?