Eldredge - All things new: Heaven, Earth, and the restoration of everything you love

Though we are trying to put a bold face on things, the human race is not doing well at all.

We appear to be suffering a great crisis of hope. Its taking place loudly in politics and economies; its taking place quietly in the hearts of millions at this moment.

When you consider the pain, suffering, and heartbreak contained in one childrens hospital, one refugee camp, one abusive home or war-torn village over the course of a single day, its almost too much to bear. But then consider that multiplied out across the planet, over all the days in a year, then down through history. It would take a pretty wild, astonishing, and breathtaking hope to overcome the agony and trauma of this world.

How is God going to make it all right? How is he going to redeem all the suffering and loss of this world... and in your own life?

Escapism isnt going to do it, no matter what religious version you choose. What about all your hopes and dreams? What about all your special places and memories, the things most dear to your heart? Is there no hope for any of that? What we ache for is redemption. What our heart cries out for is restoration.

And I have some stunning, breathtaking news for you: restoration is exactly what Jesus promised. Despite what you may have been told, he didnt focus your hopes on the great airlift to heaven. He promised the renewal of all things, including the earth you love, every precious part of it, and your own story (Matthew 19:28). The climax of the entire Bible takes place with these words: I am making everything new! (Revelation 21:5). A day of Great Restoration is coming. Not annihilationrestoration. That is the only hope powerful enough to be for us what God calls the anchor for the soul (Hebrews 6:19).

This study guide is a companion to go along with the book All Things New and the five sessions youll be watching in the video series. (Youll want to have a copy of the book and the video. If you are leading a group, a leaders guide has been provided for you in the back of this study.) I have combined two chapters of the book into each session in this guide, making this a five-part study. So, you will be covering two chapters in the book each time you do the videos or use this study.

Each session in this guide will have three parts:

1. Personal Preparation: Before your group meets (Im assuming you are doing this in a groupthough you could also do this study on your own), youll want to read the corresponding chapters in the book and answer a few questions in this guide.

2. Group Discussion: Watch the session video as a group, take some notes, and then talk about it. In this section, Ive suggested a few questions to help guide your groups conversation time. (Again, if you are a leader, theres more guidance for you in the leaders guide at the back of the study.)

3. Group Exercise: Each week, I provide a group project to help stimulate discussion around the concepts youve learned during the session.

Ill be frank: if everything is going wonderfully for you right now, and you have every reason to believe its going to stay that way, this study probably isnt for you. But if you are wondering why your soul feels so unsettled and what there really is to look forward to, and if you are longing for a wild, astonishing hope that could be an anchor for your life, read on. Youre going to be very glad you did.

Picture a treasure chest.

Not a small box that might hold jewelry on a girls nightstanda large treasure chest, larger than any suitcase you own, larger than any suitcase youve ever seen.

Picture a massive oak treasure chest, like pirates might have used, with large iron hinges and a huge clasp. The size and age and strength of this strongbox say it was made for the most valuable things.

Inside this chest are all of the things you wish could somehow be restored to you. Everything you have lost, everything you know you will lose.

What fills your treasure chest?

J OHN E LDREDGE , All Things New

This week, read chapters 1 and 2 in All Things New: Is There a Hope That Really Overcomes All This? and The Renewal of All Things. Lets begin simply and honestly with your reaction to these first two chapters. Our first reaction is often a telling one, revealing places and assumptions in us God wants to speak to. So, without any pressure to get the answer right, what did this stir in you?