Thank you so much for your interest in participating in this book study. I am positive, if you stay with it till the end, it will be fruitful for your life. We are going to take this slowly as this is a big book. So, just stay with it and keep checking back to see more questions and to respond.
I invite you to interact with the questions here on this site and with each other. Also, please sign the sheet on the table in the "Gathering Space" at the church building as I will distribute a list of everyone reading the book. This way, you will know who else is reading it and you can discuss it on your own over coffee, before services, during meals, etc.
Please let me know if you have any questions or are confused as to how things are going to work. I am really looking forward to reading this book with you all and have greately enjoyed it so far.
I am only going to post a few questions from each chapter. My goal is just to get you to reflect, think, and have a discussion point. Feel free to add any other questions or comments when they arise or parts of the book that just really encourage, correct, or transform your thinking.
QUESTIONS FOR SECTION 1, CHAPTERS 1-4
Chapter 1:
Alcorn discusses the 'theological neglect' on the doctrine of heaven in the church. How have you thought about heaven up to this point in your life? Is this view based on Scripture or something else?
Are you confident that Heaven is a real place? A place as real as the world we live in now?
Chapter 2:
Alcorn says on page 17, top of page: Discussions of Heaven tend to be either hpyerimaginative or utterly unimaginative. Where do you place yourself on this issue? Do you over imgine Heaven or fail to imagine at all? Why?
I loved what he said starting at the bottom of page 17 under the section titled, "Picturing Heaven." Give any reflections on this section as you read it and imagined Heaven this way.
Chapter 3:
Why does the author state that the doctrine of Heaven and Hell are connected? Why does it matter that we can't deny one without the other?
Chapter 4:
Are you sure that you will go to Heaven when you die? Why or why not?
Please let me know if I can help or pray for you in any way when you ponder the assurance of salvation.
I will post questions for section 2 soon.
ASSIGNMENT:
1. Try to have a discussion with someone else reading the book on section one. Talk about what you are thinking from the reading.
2. Be sure that you have read through section 2 of the book. This means that you should have read to page 73.
3. We will start section 3 next week!
Enjoy living today in light of the reality of Heaven!
Blessings!
4 comments
Up until this study, I had never really dwelled or reflected on Heaven. When my parents died I had this assurance or peace that I would once again see them in Heaven -- because that is where we go upon death as believers in Christ. It has never been something that has been discussed during my Christian walk. It is always been touched on as being preferred over Hell and one of the reasons you follow Christ. Fire, brimstone, and gnashing of teeth for eternity does not sound like my ideal vacation.
My perspective is probably somewhat biblically based, but I'm also sure that there are some misconceptions I will be working through as we continue this study. Call it a part of my liberal education. While I am truly confident that Heaven is "real" I haven't wrapped my brain around the literal interpretation that Alcorn offers in terms of Heaven being as real as earth.
If anything I underimagine the concept of Heaven. I have really never had a burning passion to explore or imagine Heaven. Since early in life I just have always had an assurance that I am going there upon death and it will be much better than the present. Imagining Heaven the way Alcorn describes it in Ch 2 is a different perspective. I will to spend a little more time contemplating Heaven as a perfect Earth.
Because of our sinful nature from birth, we automatically are defaulted to the destiny of Hell. However, we have been given sufficient information in the Holy Bible to know there are two eternal alternatives. Christ gave us examples of both places.
Yes, I believe I am going to Heaven. Even though I am an imperfect being, I have accepted Christ's offer of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. I am called daily to repentence of allowing things of this world to influence my walk with Christ. I don't have the words to express how and why I know and feel assured of this destination. I just know.
As Alcorn said I think we do neglect talking and thinking about Heaven. It is just the opposite for Hell. From my childhood to now Hell has been a prominent figure in all I have thought and learned from sermons past. As a child I do not remember a VBS on Heaven or one since.
Hell has been what I think about not wanting to go to. I have spent little time on enjoying the thought of the perfect place to spend eternity. I have been going in reverse or upside down.
All that I have talked about to this point has been the focus on Hell instead of Heaven. This has been mostly due to human thoughts not Biblical teaching. Mine, family and former Church leaders. This is why I like to study and do group discussions such as this. It really helps to point us to the Bible and how we should think.
I think Heaven is a real place but until now I have not known just how to think about it. I do not think it is anything like what we live on now. We will talk about this later.
For me Heaven has been unimaginative to this point. I just have spent little time thinking how it would be. What I have always thought about is Fear the Lord, Hell fire and gnashing of teeth. These are the things that have made me focus on not wanting to go to Hell.
I love the way Alcorn has me thinking about Heaven now. I never thought in this way. It has me very excited to think about what Heaven will be like. Everything I look at in creation now I imagine how perfect God ment it to be. I think about how perfect this world could have been without sin and that is how I imagine Heaven is going to be. It also causes me to think about how I should be!
Heaven and Hell have to both be present. If their were no price to pay, what would be the relivance of Jesus Christ dieing on the cross, Gods law and the Bible in general. It would be like having a speed limit with no police or reason to obey it. They are both very real. I am just glad that now I am thinking more about Heaven and how it will be. Also now "Even more" I think we need to make people who are lost know that Heaven is real, perfect and well worth giving this world up for.
I am very sure I will go to Heaven as long as I love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind. As long as I put him first and the things of this world where they need to be all will be well. God loves me and gave his son for me. What else can I say.
Pray that I would gain wisdom from this study. Pray that God will help me to understand his Word even better. Pray that I will remain close to Christ.
Anybody who would like to talk about this study look me up. This has got me cranked up.
God bless,
Glenn Grisham
1. I believe that I have thought of it along the lines of I have and do believe it to exist and to be a real place. But, as Alcorn discusses, it (Heaven) isn't discussed. So, I believe in Heaven but I haven't given much thought to Heaven.
2. A continuation from the first question. I have thought of the descriptors of Heaven but never really understood what they actually meant. Was I to take the them literally?
3. If we believe and even if other in-active believers are going to think that all will go to some type of Heaven. All good people will go to Heaven, then they should also understand that those persons not accepting Christ will go to Hell. If you believe in the "good" then why should you believe or think that there is no "evil" (Hell).
4. Yes, I know I will go to Heaven when I die. I know this because I have accepted Christ as my Savior and the Lord has said that by doing this, coming to him through Christ, I am saved.
David Locker
I hope my answers are not to short.
1.With all the endless fighting and wars, I picture a place of Peace.1(a) I feel that it is a combination of both church teaching and Scripture
2. Yes I picture Heaven as a real place, and yes I picture it as real as the world we live in.
3.Hyper Imaginative. I do not feel that you can over imaginative Heaven.
4.I feel that we all imaginative Heaven in one form or another. But what we real really see can not be imagined.
5.Heaven and Hell is as Good and Bad, You can not have one with out the other.5 (a). Yes it matters, if you only picture Heaven, there is nothing to separate good and evil.
6.Yes I do believe I well go to Heaven. The reason for this is that I do BELIEVE in our Father and I have given by soul to him.