Death and Resurrection 1 – Death

Introduction

During our last gathering, I asked for suggestions from the group about what subject we should take up next in our series of discussions about “hot button” issues of our day. One of us suggested we examine Jesus’ parable of The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). Although it didn’t strike me at the time as a “hot button” topic, we agreed. In my studies, it quickly became apparent that the idea wasn’t just to look at the parable itself, but to take up the weightier questions that Jesus’ parable concerns – those of death and resurrection.

Of course, this is a huge topic, touching on the very center of our existence and our hope of resurrection in Christ. I quickly realized it wasn’t a topic we would be able to adequately cover in a single session. Furthermore, as I began to delve into it, I realized I was in way over my head. I wanted to analyze the subject in terms of the so-called “inferior trinity” of mankind – body, soul, and spirit. While researching the subject, I stumbled across a wonderful paper by Dr. Lehman Strauss called “Death and Afterward.” I decided to propose to the group that we examine the topic of Death and Resurrection using Dr. Strauss’ paper as a framework.

This study will be broken into ten sessions paralleling Dr. Strauss’ paper:

1. Death
2. Man – A Trinity (Body, Soul, and Spirit)
3. Can We Believe in Immortality?
4. The Two Resurrections
5. The Resurrection Body
6. The Future Judgement of the Believer
7. The Eternal Punishment of the Lost
8. The Consciousness of the Soul After Death
9. Heaven – The Home of the Redeemed
10. Shall We Know Each Other in Heaven?