Home (part 3): Finally

TO START:

If you had the chance to hear Zach Carstens perform his poem “Homesick” on Sunday, take a second to discuss it. How did it make you feel? Did anything stick out as interesting, beautiful or true? Did anything strike you as confusing or surprising?

If your group members missed it, the poem is short enough to watch together during group. Video should be posted by Monday morning HERE: http://www.rrcoc.org/welcomehome
 

DISCUSSION:

Do you want to go to Heaven? Why? Make a list of reasons together as a group. Post 5 of your reasons to the Round Rock Church of Christ Facebook page and hashtag your post #whyiwanttogohome

Do you ever struggle to understand what “Heaven” is exactly?

  • What misconceptions have you had in the past about what Heaven will be?
  • What questions do you have now? What questions simply can’t be answered?
  • How do we get past our unanswerable questions and embrace the mystery of forever with God? What does that look like?
  • Is “embracing mystery” hard for you? Why do you think that is?

How does the hope of Heaven shape the way we live here? How do people who think of home as ultimately and eternally Heaven live differently than people who see earth as their only home?

If you were at Round Rock on Sunday, what did you write on your postcard? What word of encouragement did you write to your tomorrow self about home? Share if you’re willing.

 

SCRIPTURE READING:

Read Revelation 21:1-11; 22-27 and 22:1-5.

What are your favorite parts of that passage? What sounds good to you about heaven? Pick one line/phrase/verse from the reading and write it on an index card to remind you of where you’re headed.
 

PRAYER:

Together, pray for the strength to see the unseen and live as pilgrims. Have each group member share one thing they’re tempted to turn to when the homesickness flares up--stuff, food, sex, entertainment, achievement, popularity… Pray over those things, asking God to remind us what we’re really longing for.

 

FOR FUN:

Complete the following quotes about Heaven. Whoever has the most right answers wins.

"Heaven is where all the _______ you've ever loved come to greet you." (Answer: dogs)

"You have to go on and be crazy. _____________ is like Heaven." -Jimi Hendrix (Answer: Craziness)

"The true object of all human life is play. Earth is a task garden; heaven is a ________." -G.K. Chesterton (Answer: playground)

"Everybody wants to go to Heaven but nobody wants to _______." -Joe Louis (Answer: die)

Tears are often the _________ by which men see far into heaven." -Henry Ward Beecher (Answer: telescope)

"... Ooh Baby, do you what that's worth? Ooh heaven is a place on __________." -Belinda Carlisle (Answer: earth)

"When you're lyin' here in my arms, I'm findin' it hard to ________. We're in Heaven." -Bryan Adams (Answer: believe)

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