Session 2: Life After Death

Martin Down

  • Study Guides

Read: chapters 9 and 10

  1. Chapter 9: Paul writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3.13b-14)

  2. Can we say with Paul that we are ‘straining towards’ the life of the world to come, or are we still hesitant and reluctant travellers? How eager are we to arrive at our heavenly home?

  3. Are we all going to the same place in the end? If not, do we need to tell people the bad news as well as the good news?

  4. What fears do you have about death and dying? Share your doubts and fears, or the reasons for your hope.

  5. What do you need to do to overcome these fears?

  6. Someone once said to Jesus: “Lord increase my faith.” Pray for one another that the Lord will increase the faith of us all.

This course is designed for Christian Study Groups, meeting in a trusting environment where people can talk confidentially about their hopes and fears.

Each person should have a copy of the book Talking about Dying, Wilberforce Publications 2017.

It would also be good if people brought Bibles to the meetings of the group to refer to.

The Leader might like to prepare a short Bible Study to lead into prayer at the end of each session, but not so as to inhibit the time or the opportunity for people to express their own views and emotions.

These studies look at the subject in a different order from the book. The book was designed to start from where the average reader was likely to start: with talking about dying with a friend or a doctor. Only later does the book open up the subjects of life after death and prayer for healing.

As Christians we should start with the question of prayer for healing and our faith in the life of the world to come. All our later discussions can then take place in the light of those.