What are the differences between this life and the life to come? Are there facets of this life that will change and look differently in eternity? What does attaining resurrection life look like?

In answering a question about marriage in eternity, Jesus instructed the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, saying, “Those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.” (Luke 20: 34-36, ESV).

Is God the God of the living or the dead? What does it mean that God is the God of the living? Are you going to live eternally?

God is a living God. And God is the God of the living. God created life and seeks to sustain life and to give life. Sin and death is the enemy of God. The mission of God is to destroy death, which is the work of the enemy, and to give resurrection life.

Jesus spoke about the resurrection of the dead to the Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, saying, “But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.” (Luke 20:37-38, ESV).

Do you have a best friend? What is your friendship like? Would you do anything for your friend? Would you keep your promises to your friend?

In the Bible there is a description of an intimate friendship between then soon to be King—David and King Saul’s son—Jonathan.

The first book of Samuel tells us, “Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.” (1 Samuel 18:3-4, ESV).

What does God’s kingdom look like? How long will God’s kingdom endure?

God’s kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. The kingdom of God lasts throughout all generations. God’s kingdom ushers in the faithfulness of God who fulfills the promises of his word and God’s faithful works in our lives and in the world.

The Psalmist writes, “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.” (Psalm 145:13, ESV).

Who rules over your life? How do you make decisions? Who determines what is moral, or what is right or wrong?

In the Book of Judges in the era when Judges ruled over the nation of Israel, the author writes, “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25, ESV).

When there is not a moral authority, people slip into the default of moral relativism and corruption. Everyone becomes their own moral authority. Moral ambiguity and corruption become the norm for the majority.

What do you do with your animosity towards your enemies? Do you look to avenge yourself or to show mercy? Do you love your enemies?

As followers of Jesus we are called to the high calling of loving our enemies.

In the Sermon on the Mount in Luke’s gospel account, Jesus taught, “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27-28, ESV).

Are you trusting in God or trusting in yourself to be right with God? What is your standard for right standing with God? Is it God’s holiness or how you measure up to other people around you?

When we assess our lives, it is tempting to compare ourselves with others. And it is often the case that we compare ourselves with people around us instead of comparing ourselves to a holy God.

We seek to be a “good person” and to collect good deeds and behaviors to outweigh our bad deeds and behaviors in order to be right with God and others by our own merits. We trust in ourselves.

When you pray, are you praying to God or talking to yourself? Are you praying in order to trust and rely on your own righteousness, or are you praying because you trust and rely on the righteousness and mercy of God?

In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus tells the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector to address “some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt.”

Jesus said, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.’” (Luke 18:9-11, NKJV).

When you pray, do you feel like you are being heard by God? Have you ever considered praying to God to ask him to hear your prayers?

God hears us when we pray. When we feel as if God is not listening to our prayers, we can ask God to hear us and to grant our requests as we pray.

The Psalmist, one of the Sons of Korah, wrote, “O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed!” (Psalm 84:8-9, ESV).

Do your prayers reflected self awareness and honesty with God? When was the last time you did a self assessment with God?

We should not shield ourselves from the true condition of our hearts. It is denial.

God desires for us to be honest with him when we come to him in prayer. We cannot receive a merciful treatment from God without an accurate and complete diagnosis of our condition.

The Prophet Jeremiah understood this truth when he prayed this prayer in the face of judgement and exile: “Although our iniquities testify against us, act, O LORD, for your name's sake; our apostasies indeed are many, and we have sinned against you.” (Jeremiah 14:7, ESV).

How do you give? Do you give reluctantly or easily? Do you give compulsively or thoughtfully? Do you give begrudgingly or cheerfully?

God desires for us to give from the heart. We are to give freely and cheerfully.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth, saying, “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7, ESV).

Do you ever get tired of praying? Do you ever feel like giving up? Do you loose heart while praying?

It can be difficult to be persistent in our prayers, or even consistent in our prayers.

Persistent prayer depends less upon us and more upon God, to whom our prayers are directed. We can pray freely, consistently, and optimistically when we know God is good and God is just.

Jesus taught the Parable of the Persistent Widow “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1, ESV).

Do you want to see God? What is your heart like? Do you know that the condition of our heart can affect how and if we see God clearly?

Most people long to see God. Few recognize there is a direct correlation between our ability to see God and the condition of our heart.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8, ESV).

When is the last time you confessed your sins to another person? When was the last time you were prayed for and healed?

As followers of Jesus, we are called to confess our sins to God and to one another and to pray for one another for our healing.

James, the half brother of Jesus, wrote, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” (James 5:16, ESV).

What does God’s ideal leader look like? What does it mean that God is our king? How should people rule in our present day?

Ultimately, God is our righteous king and ruler. If anyone is to lead or to govern well, they must be governed by God, have the heart of God, and seek to do God’s will.

In the days of the nation of Israel, after the rule of the judges, people had no king and did whatever was right in their own eyes. They failed to see God as their king. God gave the Israelites the judgment of King Saul who was not a good king.

Do you feel like you are bothering God when you pray? Is it possible to bother God with our prayers? Is God looking to get more from us than he is to give? When it comes to prayer, is it that God cannot be bothered, or is it that we do not bother to pray?

Our requests are never a bother to God. When we come to God in prayer, God listens and God delights in answering us justly.

In Luke chapter eighteen Jesus tells his followers what is often referred to as the parable of the persistent widow, or the parable of the unjust judge, “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1, ESV).

Have you experienced suffering in your life? Are you confident that there will be a redemptive end to your suffering?

This life is filled with suffering and pain. We all will encounter suffering of some kind in our lives in this broken world.

God’s word assures us that there will be a redemptive end to our suffering.

The Apostle Peter wrote, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 5:10-11, ESV).

When do you feel established and protected? When do you experience safety and security? Where does your protection come from?

Our true protection and security comes from God. The Lord is faithful in his provision and protection of his children.

In his second letter to the Thessalonian church, the Apostle Paul wrote, “But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3, ESV).

Who is God like? Is there anyone or anything greater or holier than God?

God is unlike anything and anyone else. There is no one greater than God. There is no one holier than God.

God is our sure foundation and our solid rock. There is no one like God.

In the Book of Samuel we learn about the uniqueness of God. The author tells us, “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.” (1 Samuel 2:2, ESV).

What are the expectations of a servant of God? What does a servant expect from their master?

As servants of God we are called to be faithful and obedient without expectation of anything in return.

In Luke’s gospel account, Jesus taught about servanthood, saying, “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?” (Luke 17:7, ESV).

A servant is expected to do his or her duty and not to expect anything in return from the master. It is their obligation to serve.