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GOSPEL HERE & NOW FOR STUDENTS HIGH SCHOOL LEADER’S GUIDE

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GOSPEL

HERE & N O WF O R S T U D E N T SHIGH SCHOOL LEADER’S GUIDE

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Contents

WEEK ONE: Creation and the Fall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

WEEK TWO: Relation and God’s Promise . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

WEEK THREE: Salvation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

WEEK FOUR: God’s Nation, Being a Child of God . . . . . 13

WEEK FIVE: Formation, the Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

WEEK SIX: Restoration, God’s Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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Dear High School Ministry Leader,

Welcome to the Gospel Here and Now study! Our hope and prayer is

that God uses you and this study to have discipleship-focused and hope-

inspiring conversations with your students that show them how amazing

God is and how grand His story is!

This resource was designed for someone to sit in a group of students and

have meaningful times of prayer and spiritually deepening discussion that

connect God’s eternal truths with students’ everyday lives .

Here’s how this guide is structured: Gospel Here and Now is a six-week

series . Introductory remarks are provided to help start off your time and

lead into the video, which should be played at the beginning of each week’s

meeting . Following the videos (roughly two minutes each) there is a series

of questions that help students process the video’s message through an

age-appropriate lens .

That discussion leads into a Bible study . A relevant passage is listed along

with six or seven questions designed to spur conversation . The questions

aren’t just about answering factual questions based off the text . They are

also about taking the truths of Scripture and weaving them into the stu-

dents’ lives .

You’ll also find that each lesson concludes with some “prayer prompts,”

and our hope is that you’ll spend more than a few moments in a time of

prayer so prayer will become a significant part of your study . As you’ll see,

there are more than enough prompts to have a healthy time of prayer .

While this is a six-week series, there are nine videos . The first video, the

introductory video, is for you to use to help you prepare and to promote

this series to your students in the weeks leading up to this study . It’s a way

to help build excitement about the series you all will be engaging . The two

bonus videos are resources you can use to answer students’ questions or go

deeper in your study .

This study is in your hands now, so use this as a platform for great minis-

try, but please shape and mold it to fit your specific context .

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WEEK

1

Creation and the FallVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

As we watch this video, it’s likely that many of you are already familiar with the creation story of the Bible . Many of you could probably retell the creation story with much detail if I asked . This is wonderful because what the Bible tells us about creation is crucially im-portant, not just as we understand history or to the revelation of who and what humans are . It’s also important because in this story we see how the God of the Bible is infinitely different from all other gods of the world’s religions . We also see how God has been, and will be, personally involved in our lives as He has been from the very beginning—even when we don’t want Him to be .

Let’s watch the video . As you view it, listen to this story again as if you’re listening to it for the first time, because your future depends on what God has already done .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 1: Creation and the Fall

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . This video basically covers the first three chapters of the Bible: Genesis 1 to 3 . As you watched this video, what did you notice about the creation story that you hadn’t realized already? What new insight did you see, or what new phrasing did you hear?

2 . From what we just heard, how was life in the garden of Eden similar to how life is today?

3 . Likewise, from what we just watched, how was life in the garden different from how life is today?

4 . There are two parts to this next question: If you had been in the garden, (1) what would you have done all day, and (2) do you think things would have turned out any differently for you, the garden, or the world? Take a moment and describe your answers .

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WEEK 1— CrEation and thE Fall 5

5 . Before we open our Bibles, how does an ancient garden that no longer exists help us to better understand the eternal God? (Or, to put it more simply, how does what we know about the garden of Eden help us to better know who God is?)

6 . Lastly, what questions does this video—or the story of creation—bring up for you? (We may not have time to answer all of those questions .)

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

Let’s read together a few selections from the story of creation . Turn in your Bibles to Gen-esis and together let’s read these passages, which are condensed versions of the creation story .

[Suggested reading breakdown for a group setting]

1 . Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:26–28 (God creates people)

2 . Genesis 3 (God establishes hope in the midst of ruin)

3 . Colossians 1:15–17 (God reveals the hope of creation in His Son, Jesus)

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . Why do you think it’s important that not just Genesis, but the entire Bible, starts with the words, “In the beginning God created . . .”? What does this tell us about the nature of God? (e .g . He’s eternal, He’s a creator, etc .)

2 . Verse 28 says, “And God blessed them .” How do you understand blessing, and what is the importance of God blessing people at this point in creation?

3 . What was the serpent’s tactic to lead Adam and Eve into disobedience—and how does the devil still use that tactic today?

4 . How does the sin of Adam and Eve continue today, both in the world and in your life? What are some examples you can come up with?

5 . What is the extent of the promise/prophecy that God gives in Genesis 3:15 (for the serpent, for Adam and Eve, for all people, for us here today)?

6 . How does the Colossians passage we read help us better understand the importance of creation today (specifically, what role does Jesus have in both creation and the sustaining of creation)?

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PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

As we turn to a time of prayer, let’s allow our prayers to be guided by these thoughts:

1 . Acknowledging that God is good and He is our Creator .

2 . Thanking God for the gift of creation that we can enjoy .

3 . Thanking God for not abandoning us even in our sin and rebellion .

4 . Thanking God for the hope of the gospel, which we can experience every day .

5 . Asking God to give us clarity in how we see the world (our worldview) so it comes into alignment with how God sees the world .

6 . Asking God for help to more fully understand our role in His grand story by knowing the story of creation more completely .

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WEEK

2

Relation and God’s PromiseVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

Week one set us up for God’s grand story by discussing not only the creation story but also its fall . Yet God offers hope in the midst of ruin .

Here in the second week of our Gospel Here and Now study, we discover what happens after the fall . Now that sin has entered the world, what does this mean for people and our relationship with God? What are we to do? Or even more pressing—what will God do? As we watch this video together, let’s see how God continues to build this story and how He handles our sin problem . We see this in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac . In this story we see a foreshadowing of how God will cure the sin sickness we all carry, and we see this in God doing a few things that no other god will do .

Let’s watch the video for week two . As we watch it, let’s look for God’s radical response to our sin .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 2: Relation and God’s Promise

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . By way of reminder, how did sin enter the world, and in what we ways to do we still see the effects of sin in the world?

2 . In this video we learned that sin is debt . What is the payment of this debt?

3 . Through Abraham, we begin to get a glimpse of the promised hope of rescue from our sin . What does God promise Abraham he will be?

4 . What promises does God have for your life?

5 . What are some of the things God calls Abraham to do that He might also call us to do?

6 . This video tells us that “Abraham understands the debt but believes that God will keep His promise .” What things in your life keep you from believing in God’s promises?

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7 . How does sin keep us, and anyone, from believing in God’s promises?

8 . This video tells us that the story of Abraham and Isaac is full of questions . What questions do you have about this story?

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

Okay, everyone; you’ve just watched a video that covers some of the plotlines in God’s story found in Genesis 1 to Genesis 22 . This video specifically focuses on Genesis 12, in which God calls Abraham, through Genesis 15, where God makes a covenant with Abra-ham . It takes us all the way to chapter 21, when Isaac is born, and chapter 22, which tells the story of Isaac almost being sacrificed . This is the chapter and the story we’ll focus on because in this story we see so much of how God works and what God will do .

[Suggested reading breakdown for a group setting]

1 . Genesis 22:1–2

2 . Genesis 22:3–8

3 . Genesis 22:9–14

4 . Genesis 22:15–19

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . The video already asks the obvious question, “How could God ask Abraham to sacrifice his own son?” But here’s an equally disturbing question: “How come Abra-ham didn’t object?” What answers are given in the video and in the Bible that help answer this question?

2 . Of everything you’ve read in this chapter, which verse do you believe is the most radical example of faith? Describe your answer .

3 . Abraham knew God’s promise, and even when it seemed like God’s plan was in conflict with God’s promise, Abraham still followed God’s leading . How willing are you to follow God’s lead as quickly as Abraham did?

4 . Abraham tells his two companions that he and his son are going off to worship (v . 5) . What do you think is the significance of these two things: a . mentioning that in this passage, and b . Abraham telling those men that’s what they’ll be doing? Was he lying? Why or why not?

5 . One thing that isn’t mentioned in this passage is how Isaac responded to this sit-uation . Aside from Isaac’s question (v . 7), we don’t hear anything from Isaac here . How would you have responded? What do you seriously think was going through Isaac’s head?

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WEEK 2— rElation and God’s PromisE 9

6 . Where, either in the world or in your life, do you feel like the unfolding of God’s plan is in conflict with the revelation of God’s promise? Where do things seem like they are “not adding up” for you when it comes to your faith and the world around you? How does the story of Abraham shed light on your situation?

7 . Is this passage an encouragement to your faith? God reveals himself to be infinitely better than the other gods of the day by not calling for the death of Isaac and also by providing the sacrifice . How do you want to respond to God as a result?

PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

Yes, child sacrifice was prevalent in Abraham’s day, but God calls Abraham to sacrifice his son because of exactly that—while other false gods were calling people to sacrifice their children, God demonstrates how He is different from the other gods . God doesn’t ignore the sacrifice; rather, He provides a substitute (v . 13) . But the great example in this is how this foreshadows chapters that come later in God’s story—the final and complete sacrifice of Jesus Christ . Rather than God calling Abraham to sacrifice his son, God sends His own Son as a substitute (which we’ll look at more fully next week) . This should lead us into a time of prayer and thankfulness!

As we turn to a time of prayer, let’s allow our prayers to be guided by these thoughts:

1 . Thanking God that He calls people to take an active part in His redemptive story .

2 . Thanking God that He is not like other gods, but He is the provider of the sacrifice so we don’t have to pay for our own sin .

3 . Asking for the Holy Spirit to lead us into a bold faithfulness as Abraham demon-strated .

4 . Thanking Jesus Christ for doing for us what we couldn’t do on our own!

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3

SalvationVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

If you remember, in week two we saw how God’s plan of the gospel began to take shape after the fall through the promise given to Abraham . The story is unfolding!

As we begin the third week of Gospel Here and Now, we turn our attention to salvation . What do you think of when I say “salvation”? Now, many of you may think solely of Jesus dying on the cross for our sin . And you’d be right in thinking that, but is that all there is to our salvation? Does it end there, or is there more? What do we do with our salvation? Is there something to be done with it?

Let’s watch the video for week three . As you watch, look for new ways this video makes you think about your salvation .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 3: Salvation

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . This is a great video! It gives us the ministry of Jesus in roughly two minutes, and it starts with John’s declaration that Jesus is the Savior . The video said this declaration was “scandalous .” Scandalous means “causing general public outrage by a perceived offense against morality or law .” In what ways do you think Jesus is still perceived as “scandalous” even today?

2 . The video says that Jesus was tempted, yet He did not sin . Can the same be said about you? Why or why not?

3 . Knowing that Jesus did not give into sin (but we too often do), how does this change what you think about Him or how you feel toward Him?

4 . Jesus’s final words on the cross were “It is finished .” What were some of the ways the video explained what “It is finished” means? What does it mean about Jesus? Do you think this will affect your everyday life?

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WEEK 3— salvation 11

5 . The video answered not just what we are saved from but also what we are saved for . What are we saved for?

6 . How is the cross not the end of the story but the defining moment for both human history and for your story?

7 . Jesus left His followers with a mission . If you are a Jesus follower, how are you fol-lowing that mission?

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

Jesus changed everything . Through His life, death on the cross, and resurrection, He proved that He was who He said he was . Read John 19:30 . And as our video said, the cross is not a bus ticket to heaven but an invitation to join God’s mission . We’re going to talk about that mission, which is called the Great Commission . It is found in Matthew 28:16–20 .

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . This passage says something very interesting . It says that of the eleven disciples ( Judas had committed suicide), some doubted . The eleven were the people who were the closest with Jesus and were walking with the risen Christ, yet some doubted . Describe how easy or hard is it for you to believe that they would doubt after all they had been through with Jesus .

2 . In what areas of your faith do you find the most doubt? Or put another way, what about Christianity is doubtful for you?

3 . Does the phrase “It is finished” bring comfort to your doubts? If so, describe how .

4 . Keeping in mind the phrase “It is finished,” why had Jesus been given all authority in heaven and on earth, and what does that even mean?

5 . If Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, then what does that mean for His authority over human life?

6 . Do you think that most people believe that the cross is simply a ticket to heaven, rather than an invitation to mission?

7 . Look at verses 19 and 20 . What are Christians supposed to be doing with this mis-sion? Then ask yourself, “How well am I living into this mission?”

8 . What challenges could you give yourself—challenges that could start making the Great Commission your mission? How can you engage in God’s story?

9 . As we close up these questions, how important to you is the last part of verse 20?

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PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

When Jesus went to the cross to become the sacrificial lamb, He took our punishment for sin, and He triumphed over Satan, sin, and death . After doing this, Jesus didn’t send out His disciples alone and with nothing to do . He gave them—and us—a mission, promising to be with His followers every step of the way . As we turn to prayer, let’s thank Jesus for what He’s done and for the power and strength to do what He’s calling us to do in the Great Commission .

In closing, let’s allow our prayers to be guided by these thoughts:

1 . Jesus, thank you for being that sacrificial lamb, dying on the cross for our sins .

2 . Jesus, thank you for finishing what you came to accomplish .

3 . Jesus, thank you for your promise to never leave us .

4 . Jesus, help us to make the Great Commission our mission!

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WEEK

4

God’s Nation, Being a Child of GodVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

In week three we immersed ourselves in the pinnacle idea of salvation . But the gospel does not end there . The gospel is here and now! This week we take the next step in know-ing that the story is not over—but that it dramatically continues .

When it comes to God’s love, people often fall into one of two traps: They either waste it, not experiencing the fullness of God’s love; or they work for it, thinking it’s something they can earn and keep by trying hard . Both of those are wrong, because in making those mistakes we either misunderstand God himself or His love . In today’s video, as we move into week four of Gospel Here and Now, we’ll see the story of two sons . Each of those sons makes one of these errors .

Let’s watch the video for week four . As you watch it, try to imagine which son you tend to be most like .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 4: God’s Nation, Being a Child of God

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . This video retells one of Jesus’s most beloved and popular parables, often called the parable of the prodigal son . The parable is about more than just a son; it’s about two sons, and even more than that—it’s about the father . Why is the father the most important character in this story?

2 . The younger son in this story basically told the father, “I want what you can give me; I just don’t want you .” How do you think that made the father feel? In what ways have you treated God like the younger son treated his father?

3 . Describe how the father responded to the return of his son, and then describe what you think of his reaction .

4 . How would you summarize the older son’s response to how the father welcomes the young son home? Explain how you understand his frustration, or explain why you think he’s being ungracious .

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14 WEEK 4— God’s nation, BEinG a Child oF God

5 . The video shows us how the older son, throughout his life, actually acted more like a servant than a son . Why was that?

6 . Are there times when, like the older son, you act more like God’s servant than God’s son? Why do people fall into that trap?

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

This story, found in Luke 15:11–32, is one of Jesus’s most popular parables . In this story, we see a clear picture of how God is a good, giving, and gracious Father . Jesus doesn’t depict God as some mindless power governing the galaxy but as a Father intimately involved in the lives of His children as He loves them and cares for them . Let’s read this story now .

[Suggest reading breakdown for a group setting]

• Luke 15:11–12

• Luke 15:13–16

• Luke 15:17–19

• Luke 15:20–24

• Luke 15:25–32

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . In what ways are these two sons different, and in what ways are the two sons the same?

2 . Seeing how these two sons treated their father, and knowing this parable is to show how people treat God, what is an example of how someone may treat God as the younger son treated the father? Likewise, what is an example of how people treat God in the way that the older son treated his father?

3 . Choose either of the sons and give your response to how you think the father should have treated him because of the way he acted .

4 . The older son falls into a particular trap that many of us fall into; that is, we want God to enact justice on others but not ourselves . What does this say about the hu-man heart?

5 . Jesus told this story so we can see how amazing God is . Will it help you to better describe God to others? How?

6 . How does this story bring comfort or conviction to your faith?

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7 . How does this story help you to better understand the nature and the love of God the Father?

PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

The story of the prodigal son, as this parable has traditionally been called, is really a story about how God loves His children . As we close in prayer, we’ll spend time praising God that He doesn’t reveal himself as a demanding dictator but as a loving Father .

In closing, let’s allow our prayers to be guided by these thoughts:

1 . A time of repentance for acting like the older or younger son—or both .

2 . That God forgives and receives those who have returned to Him .

3 . That God is not a demanding dictator but a loving Father .

4 . That God is a loving Father who treats His children like sons and daughters, not servants .

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WEEK

5

Formation, the ChurchVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

Last week we continued Gospel Here and Now by looking at how God doesn’t just save us but also calls us to be His own . Looking at the parable of the prodigal son, we were given a picture of how two sons treated their father as an example of how the world treats God .

Before we watch this week’s video, here’s a question I want you all to consider—but don’t answer out loud . What words would you use to describe “church”? Now, as you think about that—where did you get those words? Did you get them from your experiences? From your expectations? From the pastor’s sermons? From the Bible? In this week’s video, we’ll start to get a bigger and broader picture of what Jesus meant when he talked about the church .

Let’s watch the video for week five . As you watch it, think about where your idea of church is challenged, changed, or expanded .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 5: Formation, the Church

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . Before we watched this video, I wanted you to think of words to describe the church . What words did you think of?

2 . In what ways did this video challenge your understanding of what the church is?

3 . In what ways did this video expand your perception of what the church is?

4 . Do you think our church is part of the vision of the church this video describes?

5 . The video describes church not in terms of an event, but in terms of identity: we are the family of God sent on a mission . Do you think most Christians see the church as an event or an identity, a place or a people? Back up your answer with some detail .

6 . At the end of the video the narrator said that when the church lives into the vision as set by Jesus, “the church is actually capable of changing the world .” Why do you think this statement is true or not true?

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WEEK 5— Formation, thE ChurCh 17

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

The book of Acts really shows us how the early church (the first followers of Jesus after He returned to heaven) was formed and what they were like . We’re going to read a short description of this, and then we’ll see how and where we’ve gotten off track in today’s church .

[Suggested reading breakdown for a group setting]

• Acts 2:42–43

• Acts 2:44–47

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . Take a moment and look at this passage again . Go line by line and determine some of the things the early church was doing that today’s church still does .

2 . Now go back through this passage line by line and determine some of the things the early church was doing that today’s church is not doing .

3 . Earlier I asked you to think of words that described the church today . After reading Acts 2:42–47, what are some words you would use to describe the church now?

4 . The first things this passage says is that the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachings and the fellowship .” The apostles’ teachings were the teachings of Jesus, and the fellowship was a way of describing the first community of believers . What would you say today’s church is devoted to? Or even more revealing, what are you devoted to?

5 . If the Bible clearly describes what the church is and what it is meant to be, why has it become easy to think of the church as a place rather than a people?

6 . The video states that today people ask questions like, “Why do I need to go to church?” How is that question a foreign idea to the Bible?

7 . Does your understanding of God’s mission change when you think about church as an identity rather than as an address?

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PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

As we close in prayer, what are some things you think we could be praying for? In closing, let’s let our prayers be guided by these thoughts:

1 . Let’s pray that we, the church, will see ourselves as God does, as revealed in the Bible . .

2 . Let’s pray that when we think about “other churches,” we will see them as brothers and sisters in Christ as part of one church .

3 . Let’s pray that we will live into the vision of the church as God has intended .

4 . Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit will make us effective for the mission to which Jesus has called us!

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WEEK

6

Restoration, God’s KingdomVIDEO PREP

[Say something like this to the teens who are about to watch this video:]

Okay, everyone . We’ve arrived at our last week in our Gospel Here and Now study . If you remember from last week, we talked about the church . We learned the church is not a place, it’s an identity! It’s the people God has called together to be family and to be on mission .

In a few moments, we’re going to watch our last video, but before we do I want to ask two questions . Don’t answer out loud . Answer in your heart and mind . We’ll talk about them after the video . The first question is this: What is God doing in this world right now? Think about this for a moment . This second question is: What is God doing in your life right now? Think about that for a moment .

I’ve enjoyed this study with you . Let’s watch our last video . This video is about restoration .

WATCH VIDEO: Week 6: Restoration, God’s Kingdom

VIDEO DISCUSSION:

1 . How has this study over the last few weeks helped you see the gospel “here and now” as opposed to something that happened “then and there”?

2 . This leads into the questions I asked before the video about what God is doing in the world and in your life . How has this video shed light on your answers to both of those questions?

3 . When you think about what and who Jesus is, what are the top five descriptors that come to mind—and does “King” fall into that top-five category?

4 . What do you think about when you hear that Jesus is King?

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20 WEEK 6— rEstoration, God’s KinGdom

5 . If Jesus is King, that means He has a kingdom . The video talked about heaven not being some obscure spiritual dimension that Jesus takes us to, but that Jesus the King will restore all things into a new heaven and new earth—a physical place . In this place God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—will live with us . In what ways does this picture of heaven change the common, cultural notion of heaven?

6 . Gospel Here and Now helps us to understand the biblical story not in term of what, when, where, or how . . . but in terms of who . When God becomes the focus of the story, how does that affect other questions we bring to the Bible?

7 . As we turn to the Bible to think about God restoring His kingdom, what is one thing you’re looking forward to doing in heaven?

BIBLE STUDY: Reading

The Bible is a complete story that tells us about the start of all things and the restoration of all things . It takes us from the beginning to the happily ever after, but we also know that this story is saturated with brokenness and heartache and rejection . However, God does not let the story end there . In the passage we’re going to look at today, we’ll see a vision of the restoration of all things . Let’s read Revelation 21:1–5 .

BIBLE STUDY: Discussion

1 . The picture we see here of the culmination of all things is beyond comparison or imagination . It’s the realization of all hope . How does this picture of the restoration of all things help us to live here and now?

2 . Verse three says that a voice came from “the throne .” God is our King who reigns from the throne in heaven, but the question each of us must ask ourselves is this: “Does God sit on the throne of my heart?” What does that question even mean?

3 . Ask yourself, “Does God sit on the throne of my heart?” What proof would you give to your personal answer to that question?

4 . Verse three tells us that in the final restoration, things will be forever as they should have been in the garden: God will once again dwell with His people and be their God . Why is this something we should long for?

5 . How would you summarize verse four in a four-word phrase?

6 . In verse 5 when God says, “write this down . . .” it was like God was saying, “I prom-ise this is going to happen; you have My word .” When God promises something, our response should not just be in word but also in action with our lives . The video asked if you believe that God is a King you would give your life to . Why is Christ a King worth giving your life to?

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WEEK 6— rEstoration, God’s KinGdom 21

7 . Would you give your life to Jesus? If you say no, what about this story keeps you from giving your life to Him? If you say yes, how will you respond in actions and not just words?

PRAYER: Prompts to focus prayer time

As we finish our study of Gospel Here and Now, we shouldn’t be ending anything . We are starting something—or at least continuing something . We get to live into the gospel here and now . Thinking back on all the videos we watched and the studies we did, let’s be aware in every moment that God is in control of this story and that we can live into this story . Let’s close in prayer and be guided by these thoughts:

1 . God, thank you for allowing Jesus to pay the debt for our sin . Thank you for work-ing since the very beginning toward our salvation .

2 . God, help us to get a bigger picture of salvation that’s not just about escaping hell but that’s also about taking part in your grand story .

3 . God, thank you for adopting us as sons and daughters and for giving us a place in your family . Thank you for giving us a mission . Help us to find our identity in your family and our purpose in this mission .

4 . God, thank you that church is not just an event that we can make or miss, but that the church is a family—who we are no matter where we are . Help us to remember this at all times and help us to get on mission .

5 . God, thank you that you are a God who makes and keeps promises . Thank you that in those promises you give us hope . From the promise you gave to Adam to the promise you provided Abraham—all the way to the promise you gave to us that you’ll make all things new .

Study written by Ryan Kimmel and © 2018 by Discovery House

Based on Gospel Here and Now: Your Life in the Story of God © 2018 by John Greco

Videos produced by Epipheo and © 2018 by Our Daily Bread Ministries

All rights reserved .

Discovery House is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan .