What is Death?

2 Misconceptions about Death:

1. Death was not the; it’s the .

| Genesis 2:16-17 | Romans 5:12 | 2 Peter 3:9 |(MULTILINE)

2. Death is not the ; it’s the .

| Psalm 23:4 | Matthew 25:46 | Luke 23:43 |(MULTILINE)

2 Types of Death in the Bible:

1. Death – is the separation of the from the .

| Genesis 2:7 | James 2:26 | Ecclesiastes 12:7 | Luke 16:19–31 |(MULTILINE)

2. Death – is the separation of the from .

| Ephesians 2:1 | Revelation 21:8 | Ephesians 4:8-10 | 2 Corinthians 5:8 |(MULTILINE)

2 Ways Christ’s Cross Gave Believers Victory over Death:

1. Christ’s Cross Death’s .

| 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 | 1 Thessalonians 4:13 |(MULTILINE)

2. Christ’s Cross gave us from the of Death.(MULTILINE)

| Hebrews 2:14-15 | Luke 16:22 | John 14:2-3 |

Small Group Questions

Take time to plan a Small Group celebration for your last Small Group, the week of May 11th. We will take a break for summer and then sign-ups will begin in August for the next round of Small Groups.

What do you think?

Have someone quickly read over the main “fill-ins” from Sunday’s message to jog the memories. From the message, what particular point challenged you, stood out to you, or raised a question for you?(MULTILINE)

The story of your life.

1. Today’s topic is a bit of a heavy one: death. How do you emotionally navigate the reality of your own mortality?(MULTILINE)
2. What’s one thing you’ve put off because you felt you had more time—and how would you act differently if you truly believed life is short?(MULTILINE)

Digging deeper in God’s Word.

1. Turn to Ezekiel 37:1-14. To provide context, Ezekiel ministered to the Jewish exiles living in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. The people of Judah had been uprooted from their land, their temple destroyed, and their nationality shattered. This passage responds to the deep despair and sense of hopelessness among the exiles, who felt as though their nation was dead and beyond restoration. Read the passage out loud and respond to the following prompts and questions.
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the passage using their own words.(MULTILINE)
   2. What does this story tell us about God? Death? People and ourselves?(MULTILINE)
2. Now read Revelation 21:1-7 out loud and respond to the following prompts and questions. 
   1. Have a few members of the group recap the passage using their own words.(MULTILINE)
   2. What does this story tell us about God? Death? People and ourselves?(MULTILINE)
3. Death is both an incredibly sad reality as well as the most hopeful of realities (for the Christian). What insights and hope do the following verses offer on a Christian perspective on death.
   1. Isaiah 25:8.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   2. Hebrews 2:14-15.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   3. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   4. John 11:25–26.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   5. Matthew 5:4.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)
   6. Psalm 34:18.(MULTILINE REVEAL TINY)

Personal reflection and application.

1. Have everyone share one thing someone else said in this discussion that struck a chord with you.(MULTILINE)
2. Pray for one another (men with men and women with women if possible).(MULTILINE)