Dear Lord, we ask you to come into this room tonight and enter the hearts of each person here. We seek to learn more about you and your promise of eternal life. Open our eyes to see, our ears to hear and our hearts to accept the truth that is written in the scriptures. Give us thoughts and words that are pleasing to you and help us all to understand you better.

Cause us to listen to each other without judging and talk to each other only with your voice of love. Strengthen the bonds of this group as we walk forward toward your glory. We thank you for bringing us together to study, pray, question and grow. In Jesus name we bring our requests to you, Amen.

This month we're going to explore the promise of eternal life. When we as Christians seek to comprehend that eternal life with our Father in heaven will be more wonderful than anything we can ever experience here on earth, our fear of and grief for physical death will diminish. We will replace that fear and grief with the joy that will be ours when Jesus takes us, and those who are close to us, to be with him. We will be free to live our lives here on earth with all of our hope placed securely in the glory that God promises for those who believe. This lesson will help us accept God's promise to us, and will encourage us and teach us how to be faithful to that promise so that we may share in the inheritance of those who have entered the kingdom before us.

"Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may also be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 1-4

Jesus said "you know the way" to his disciples because he had been teaching them all along their journey. With every miracle performed, every parable told, every lesson taught, Jesus was showing his disciples the way to eternal life. He was preparing his disciples to continue his teachings without him here on earth, and he was assuring them that where he was going (to be with the Father) he would bring them at a later time.

This bible passage also speaks to us today. A place has been prepared for each of us with our Father in heaven. We too know the way. It is written for us in the scriptures, and it is placed in us in the form of the Holy Spirit. Eternal life is ours when we follow the way God has planned for us.

Eternal life is our reward for striving to live "on earth as it is in heaven," by listening for and obeying God's will for our lives. Eternal life does not guarantee a long physical life, rather, it promises a spiritual life that will not end with the death of the physical body. Eternal life is

everything we hope for as Christians. God does not promise us we won't die. But he does promise to take care of us, to never leave us, and to bring us into his rest.

Before Jesus was crucified, he promised that although he was leaving this earth, God would "deposit" his very presence within us in the form of the Holy Spirit. When we activate our faith, the Holy Spirit guides us every day to live as he intended us to live. It helps us grow and mature as Christians and prepares us for eternal life with the Father. Our job is to stay in God's presence, believe, hope, have faith, be obedient, and spread the word. And our inner Counselor, God within us, equips us with everything we need, in the exact measure we need it, at just the right time, to fulfill his desires for our lives and bring us closer to him.

"Because I live, you will also live." John 14:19

""Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the Lord." Zechariah 4:6

• How are you aware of the Holy Spirit working in your life?
• How can you enter into God's presence every day? Why is it important to do it every day?
• What happens to our lives when we "forget" or choose not to seek and follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit?
• Talk about the significance that the same God that created the universe and everything in it also is present in each of us who believe. How does that make you feel?

Lord, thank you for laying in me the desire to abide in you ­ to accept your love and forgiveness, to find direction and comfort in your word, and to allow the Holy Spirit full reign over my life. Call me to walk with you, beside you, arm in arm with you today and every day. Speak to me daily. I give every part of me over to you. I am humbled by your ever present, ever guiding, ever teaching, ever protecting Holy Spirit within me. Keep me aware and awake to your presence. I know that only when I seek and then follow you will I truly be living your perfect plan for me and will be fully prepared to enter your kingdom at the end of my life on earth. Amen.

We do have a choice to believe in God or not. And, even if we do believe, we have a choice as to how deeply we place our hope and trust in him. It all boils down to faith. How willing are we to put all of our belief, hope, trust and faith in God? He's not satisfied with 50% or even 95%. He wants it all. And it's one of the hardest struggles we face as Christians. Human nature wants to stay in control. But our way to eternal life means not relying on our own strength, but on God's to carry us through every facet of our lives.

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God,,, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

• What pieces of the above scripture spoke to you today. Why?
• How did you first come to believe in Jesus as your way to eternal life? Is there a part of you that still has questions? If so, what are they, and how can you find answers?
• Talk about the difficulties of "being certain of what we do not see."
• Who in your life has the kind of faith you'd like to have? What have they done in their Christian walk to be able to live with that kind of faith?
• What steps can you take in your own Christian walk to emulate that kind of faith?

Pray together:
Lord, help me remember to stand on faith; where I gain my strength and all my ability to move the mountains (and the molehills) I face each day. Help me know in the very center of who I am that my worth, my security, my hope, my future is in you and up to you. I trust that your power and strength and love and forgiveness will deliver me from any harm or strife that comes to me. In every situation, remind me that all I have to do is listen ­ you are already here with me. I believe in you. My hope is in your promise of eternal life. I accept by faith that you have a plan for my life, and you will reveal it to me as I'm ready to handle what is next. Your timing is perfect. Your strength is sufficient. I trust you, Lord. Amen.

THERE ARE RULES TO FOLLOW
Simply put, this means being obedient followers of Christ. Obedience means turning away from our sinful, human nature. It means not relying on our own power, but on his. Obedience recognizes that God's thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways his ways (Isaiah 55:6). It means a symbolic "death" and "burial" of any sinful life we may lead that stands in the way of

an eternal spiritual life. God forgave us for our sins past, present and future when he sacrificed Jesus on the cross. And he renews us every day when we ask him to help us make the right choices and follow him.

Read:
"The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure, and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." Psalm 19:7-11

"…for it is written, "Be holy because I am holy." I Peter: 1:16

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'this is the way, walk in it.'" Isaiah 30: 21

"I will endeavor to stand blameless before you and keep myself from sin." 2 Samuel 22:24

"Search me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23-24

• What pieces of the above scripture spoke to you today. Why?
• In what ways are you being obedient to God's will?
• In what ways are you being disobedient to God's will?
• What sins do you need to confess to the Lord?
• What steps will you take to stay away from sin and follow the Lord?

Pray together:
Lord, I ask you to keep molding me into a holy image of you. Cause my thoughts, words, actions and decisions to be God-based, not me-based. Push me to turn away from evil, from temptation. Turn a hard heart into compassion. Turn judgement into acceptance. Turn jealousy into love, insecurity into confidence, fear into trust. Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me. (Psalm 43:3) I am yours, Lord. You created me and made me and planned all my days for me. Help me to live each one as holy and blameless in your eyes. Hold your truth in front of my eyes so that I will know my way. Equip me with everything good for doing your will and work in me what is pleasing to you, through Christ Jesus, to whom be glory forever and ever. (Hebrews 13:21) Amen.

THEN WE CAST OUR NETS AND FISH
Fulfilling our Christian purpose isn't only about looking inward and growing our own faith and trust in God. Jesus died for each of us, canceling our sins and guaranteeing our places in heaven. But that wasn't the end. He sent his Holy Spirit to be in each of us. To strengthen us, guide us, teach us and protect us, yes, but also to send us out to carry his message to others. We are to encourage non-believers and remind believers to seek the saving and restoring grace only he can provide. He wants all of us to share in his glory and to live with him in eternity. By sharing our faith, our stories and our lives with the people we interact with, we spread God's love and bring others along with us to the eternal rest he promises.

• Share an example of how either you shared your faith and brought someone closer to God, or how someone else led you to the Lord.
• Think of one or two people you know who need the Lord's guidance in their lives. Ask God to show you how you might be used to open their eyes to his love and forgiveness.

Pray Together:
Lord, help me live a life that might bring others to your truth. See that I make right choices ­ choices that outwardly represent the fruit of the Spirit ­ love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. (Galatians 5:22) I ask that my life be a positive example of your perfect love and peace that is waiting for those who don't yet

believe. Lord, I'm yours to love, mold and teach. Today I receive your Holy Spirit and accept the grace it fills me with. Send me out and use me to do your work. I know I will never be perfect ­ I will stumble. But I also know that in you, I am forgiven. Thank you for your example, and for your most unselfish sacrifice for my sins. Amen.

• In what ways, if any, has your view of eternal life and our journey there changed today?
• Of the areas we discussed and journaled above, in which one do you need growth and maturity?

Write it down on a piece of paper and give that paper to the person on your left. Everyone will now leave this study with a commitment to pray for God's teaching spirit to enter in one member's life.

Take a moment to say the final prayer in your small groups.

FINAL PRAYER
Fill in the prayer with the area that the person to your right desires God's teaching.

"Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your faithful presence in the life of my friend ___________. I know that you have begun a good work in him/her and will carry it on to completion. (Philippians 1:6) As he/she strives to follow your will to your promised eternal life, please enlighten and teach him/her especially with regard to ________________. You promise never to leave us or forsake us. We trust in your perfect timing and look with hope and thankfulness to the day when your promise will be fulfilled in each of us. In your Son's Holy name we pray, Amen.

SING TOGETHER:
BLESSED ASSURANCE

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight!
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.