Reflection Questions: Luke 20:27-40

For the message, The Resurrection from the Dead given by Pastor John Ferguson
at New City Church of Calgary on February 12, 2017

These discussion questions are designed primarily to help you apply the message from the Scriptures
by helping you think through application to your personal life, your church life, and your citys life.
You can use these by yourself for reflection, or with your family or small group for discussion.
To review the sermon, go to NewCityChurch.ca/sermons

INTRODUCTION

Pray. Take a moment to pray asking God to guide you in reflecting upon the Scripture text.

Read the Scripture text: Luke 20:27-40

A summary of the message:

A group of religious leaders called the Sadducees try to expose Jesus to ridicule by asking him a question about the so-
called resurrection (which they did not believe in). The question was posed that if a woman was married to multiple men
in this life, whose wife would she be in the next life. Jesus responded by saying that in the world to come, there is no such
thing as marriage; rather, we will be like angels who are immortal and we will be sons and daughters of the resurrection.

Key Points:

Marriage and sex are good things because they were created by God.
Marriage and sex are necessary things because of the reality of death in this age.
Marriage and sex are momentary things designed for this age to fill the earth.
Psalm 16:11, You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy, at your right hand are
pleasures evermore.

Key Quote:

CS Lewis, Miracles, I think our present outlook might be like that of a small boy who, on being told that the sexual act
was the highest bodily pleasure should immediately ask whether you ate chocolates at the same time. On receiving
the answer No, he might regard absence of chocolates as the chief characteristic of sexuality. In vain would you tell
him that the reason why lovers in their carnal raptures dont bother about chocolates is that they have something
better to think of. The boy knows chocolate: he does not know the positive thing that excludes it. We are in the same
position. We know the sexual life; we do not know, except in glimpses, the other thing which, in Heaven, will leave no
room for it.

Bottom Line:

Not only is there a heaven, but it is infinitely greater than your wildest dreams.

QUESTIONS

1. How does this text speak to your life?

Was this teaching of Jesus new to you, or had you heard this before? What was your initial reaction when you
learned that there is no marriage (and by implication no sex) in heaven?

In our culture we tend to either deify or despise marriage and sex. How do you see this played out in our city?

When processing what Jesus said, why is it important to keep in perspective Psalm 16:11, You make known to me
the path of life; in your presence there is fulness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures evermore? What does
fulness of joy mean?
 Reflect on the key quote from CS Lewis above. What is he saying? Do you find his words helpful? Why or why not?

2. How does this text speak to us as a church community?

When the church speaks about the afterlife, do you think it has done a good job of speaking about the fulness of
joy in Gods presence? That there are actually jaw-dropping pleasures at Gods right hand?

What would it look like for us a church community to testify to live is Christ and to die is gain?

3. How does this text speak to our city?

What kind of new life / future in Christ is this text calling our city to experience?

How might we communicate to our culture that Jesus is better than anything we can imagine, that to be in his
presence is beyond anyones wildest dreams?

CONCLUSION QUESTION

What is the one thing you want to take away from this study to remember or to make a change in your life?

PRAYER

What are some ways you can turn what you are learning into prayer? List them as bullet points.

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