CONNECT: How can you grow in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

WARM-UP  Questions

1. What has been the best experience of community that you’ve ever had?
2. How does God being at the centre of Christian community radically change everything?

READ Revelation 21:9-14

1. What stands out for you in the description of the city in these verses?
2. What is meant by the wall guarding the city? Why would this have been of comfort? How would this be of great comfort to some Christians today who are looking forward to this future?
3. How are the twelve a reference to the Apostles? Why is this so important?
4. What is the very different city referred to in Chapter 18? How does this heavenly city compare?
5. How is it evident that all of the People of God (across all time) will be brought togetherin this city? What do you think that will be like? What most excites you about this prospect? 
6. Who we will we be unified around? Why is this the most critical part of the entire description?
7. How has your experience of a unified Christian community brought glory to God? Have you ever had an experience of the opposite? What was the effect in terms of evangelism?

READ Revelation 21:15-21

1. What was the ‘holy of holies’? In what way is the description here analogous to the ‘holy of holies’?
2. In what way is the reality that we anticipate so much greater than the sanctuary described in the Old Testament? How close will we be to God and how will that be possible?
3. How can this future – of being in the Glory of God – fill us with an enduring hope even amidst trouble?
4. Can you think of someone who has demonstrated this type of hope in their life? If comfortable, please share your example.

 READ Revelation 21:22-27

1. Why is the Temple missing in the description of this heavenly city? Why is this such great news?
2. What is so exciting about the prospect of there being no barriers between us and God? 
3. What is so exciting about there being no sin or evil existing in this city? Who will enter it and how? 
4. How should the reality of this future shape how we live today?  

APPLY This Week: How can you develop your daily time with God in anticipation of that future when there will be no barriers between us?

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For Families

• ‘Revelation 21 All things new Bible Video for Kids’ by Sharefaith

Sermons

• ‘Home at Last: The Spectacular God at the Center” by Don Carson
• 26 Lectures on the Book of Revelation by Don Carson
• ‘Recreation’ by Mike Paget
• ‘Its Splendor’ by Dick Lucas
• ‘A Picture of Heaven’ by Phillip Jensen
• ‘When Jesus Returns Part 2’ by Matt Sparks
• ‘Revelation 21-22’ by Paul Dale
• ‘Revelation 21-22: Home’ by Adam Mabry
• ‘The New Jerusalem’ by Jonathan Smith

Other Helpful Articles and Courses

• ‘The Eternal State Revelation 21:1-22:5’ by J. Hampton Keathley
• ‘The New Creation’ by Ken Gentry
• ‘What will heaven be like?’ from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
• ‘Does the Bible tell us what heaven is like?’ from Compelling Truth Ministries

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