Bible and a Brew

About this event

All welcome to join us for a pint and a lively discussion about this week's sermon. Remember, you can always find the sermon written in this week’s Ekklesia Newsletter

They have an onsite food truck if you want to get some food. Hope to see you there! Corby

Summary On this All Saints Sunday, the pastor invites the congregation to reflect on what heaven is truly like, not as a place where our personal dreams come true, but as a place where God's dreams are finally fulfilled. Drawing from Revelation 7, the sermon paints a picture of heaven as a vast, inclusive multitude from every nation, tribe, and language, gathered before the throne of God in worship and celebration of His victory. It is a place where the hungry are fed, tears are wiped away, and the Lamb serves as the Good Shepherd to all who have come through the great ordeal of this life. Intro Prayer Heavenly Father, we come before You today with open hearts and willing spirits. As we gather together, we ask that You quiet our minds and remove any distractions that might keep us from hearing what You want to speak to us. Open our eyes to the vision of heaven You have given us in Your Word, and let that vision shape the way we think, love, and live. Holy Spirit, guide our conversation today and draw us closer to You and to one another. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Ice Breaker If you could describe your ideal vision of heaven using only three words, what would they be and why? Key Verses 1. Revelation 7:9-17 2. Psalm 34:1-9 3. 1 John 3:1-3 4. Matthew 5:3-12 Questions 1. Before hearing this sermon, what did you imagine heaven to be like? How has your picture of heaven changed or been challenged? 2. The pastor said that 'heaven is not a place where our dreams come true, but where God's dreams come true.' What do you think God's dreams for His creation look like, based on the passage in Revelation 7? 3. The great multitude in Revelation 7 includes people from every nation, tribe, and language. What does this vision of radical inclusion challenge us to examine in our own hearts and communities? 4. The pastor described heaven as a place where God actively serves the saints, wiping away every tear and feeding the hungry. How does this image of a serving God change the way you relate to Him? 5. In the Beatitudes from Matthew 5, Jesus describes the kind of people who are blessed. Which of the Beatitudes feels most challenging for you to live out in your daily life, and why? 6. The sermon suggests that our values should be shaped by our destination. How does the vision of heaven described in Revelation 7 practically influence the choices you make each day? 7. The pastor said that Christians should be known as a 'tear-drying people' who move toward those who are hurting. Who in your life right now might need you to move toward them in this way? 8. All Saints Sunday is a time to remember those who have gone before us in faith. How has the life or faith of someone you have lost shaped your own walk with God? Life Application This week, identify one person in your life who is carrying grief, pain, or a heavy burden. Make a deliberate effort to move toward them rather than away from their pain. Offer your presence, a listening ear, or a simple act of kindness in the name of Christ. Let the vision of heaven, where every tear is wiped away and every need is met, motivate you to be a small reflection of that hope to someone who needs it right now. Key Takeaways 1. Heaven is centered on God, not on us. It is the place where God's dreams for His creation are finally and fully realized, with all people gathered before His throne in worship and unity. 2. The vision of heaven in Revelation 7 is radically inclusive, encompassing every nation, tribe, and language. This challenges us to pursue inclusion, forgiveness, and welcome in our lives and communities today. 3. God is not passive in heaven. He actively serves the saints by feeding the hungry, sheltering the weary, and wiping away every tear, just as Jesus served people during His earthly ministry. 4. Our destination shapes our values. Because we know what heaven looks like, we are called to live toward it now by feeding the hungry, forgiving others, comforting the grieving, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus. 5. All Saints Sunday reminds us that those who have died in faith are in the care of the Good Shepherd. This gives us both comfort in our grief and hope for our own future with God. Ending Prayer Lord Jesus, thank You for the hope we have in You. Thank You for the vision of heaven You have given us in Your Word, a place where every tear is dried, every hunger is satisfied, and every person from every corner of the earth is gathered together before Your throne. As we leave this time of discussion, we ask that You would write that vision on our hearts. Help us to live as people who are headed somewhere, people shaped by the promise of Your kingdom. Give us courage to move toward those who are hurting, generosity to give freely to those in need, and grace to forgive as You have forgiven us. We remember today those we have loved and lost, and we trust them to Your care, knowing that You are the Good Shepherd who never lets go. Bring us all safely home to You one day. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

From First Lutheran Church Colorado Springs Small Groups