Todd Burpo - Heaven Is For Real Conversation Guide

Heaven Is for
Real

Heaven Is for
Real

A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

CONVERSATION GUIDE

Todd Burpo

2011 by HIFR Ministries, Inc.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

The publisher would like to extend thanks to Phil Harris for his assistance in preparing this manuscript. The publisher would also like to thank Dawn Sherill and Brenda Noel of ECHO Creative Media for their collaboration in developing the content for this guide.

Author is represented by the literary agency of Alive Communications.

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION. 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

978-1-4185-50684-001

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Get up early. Take care of the kids. Go to work. Find something for dinner. Get ready for tomorrow. This is real life; and we know all about real life, as we face it and its trials with each new day. We know the face of death, too: cancer, heart attacks, car accidents, illnessits all too real.

But what happens after that final earthly breath? How can we know what waits on the other side? What does our existence look like in the world beyond the only one we know?

Death is a mystery for all. For those who dont know Jesus, the thought of death can be terrifying. Christians around the world know we have the eternal home of heaven waiting for us. But death remains mysterious, and the unknown can bring fear in its wake, even for those whose faith in Jesus Christ gives them assurance of life after death.

Through Heaven Is for Real, you shared Coltons miraculous glimpse of the world that awaits us when our time on this earth is done. This study guide will lead you, together with your small group, on an even more dynamic and candid journey with our familya journey that will allow you to experience through Coltons eyes and apprehend through Gods Word the truth regarding eternity and what it holds for those who know Jesus.

Colton chose the name for his book; he wants everyone to know that heaven is definitely for real. He wants all to discover the truth in Jesus words, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:1618 nkjv).

For those who do not know Jesus as their Savior, this study will act as a guide to Jesusthe Way, the Truth, and the Lifeand will help you learn how you can experience the kingdom of God both today and eternally. For Christians, this guide is a call to share what we know is true, to put uncertainty behind us, and to let others know and rest assured that heaven is a real place that awaits those who have made Jesus Christ their Savior and Lord.

The Heaven Is for Real
Group Experience

This study is based on Coltons story and our familys experiences since we shared Coltons tour of heaven with the world. Its purpose is to strengthen those who already know the Lord and to enlighten those who do not. We will discuss many aspects of our familys experience, going to the Word of God as the final authority. We hope you find the time you spend exploring the biblical foundations of Heaven Is for Real with your small group to be encouraging, challenging, and life changing.

Your small group is an expression of the body of Christ in action. Each member has a unique view and a necessary voice. To encourage candid and open participation in this group, we want to create an environment in which everyone is valued equally, regardless of his or her spiritual faith definition; and where all are encouraged share freely, question, and comment without fear or hesitation. All are encouraged to be authentic and transparent and to participate to the degree that they are able. To this end, we need to realize that compassion and respect are key elements of small group life. These are lived out through listening to one another, praying for and encouraging one another, and holding in strict confidence anything of a personal nature shared within your group. Criticizing or condemning one another will only serve to discourage sharing and limit your small group experience.

Remember, as with most things in life, you will get as much from this study as you are willing to give. Approach it with an open mind. Set aside the time with your small group to grow closer to the Lord and receive from His Spirit. Take time throughout the week to read Gods Word and discover for yourself the revelations regarding the abundant life available in Gods kingdom today and His eternal promises for the world to come. Pray diligently for the people in your small group, and celebrate together as you watch the Holy Spirit shoot down power to transform circumstances, change hearts, and heal lives.

Now lets join our hearts and minds together as we learn more about eternity and how to walk in powerful, childlike, confident faith.

How to Use This Guide

The reaction to Coltons story as told in Heaven Is for Real has been extraordinary. For some the book has been a tremendous encouragement and source of healing; for others, it has been a source of confusion and animosity. We felt strongly that we should address those concerns as well as provide greater insight into our experiences and the biblical foundations of our message. Heaven Is for Real is the story; this study will take you beyond the story into the kingdom dynamics and biblical truth surrounding Coltons experiences in heaven and our familys experiences since our story became known.

DVD

During your small group time, you will watch a DVD together that will address different aspects of Coltons experience and the issues that have arisen since his time in heaven. Each DVD session is divided into two sections: an introductory message and an interview with Colton and our family. Although it is not necessary to read Heaven Is for Real before you walk with us through this study, we strongly encourage you to read it first in order to better relate to the events discussed in the video.

DISCUSSION

So many questions exist in all our minds regarding death. You may simply want to face this issue in light of biblical truth; maybe you find the reality of your own death to be a fearful one; or possibly the death of a loved one has left you with a broken heart or empty arms. Regardless of the reason you chose to begin this journey, your small group can be a source of support and encouragement.