1. Hope and Change, God’s Way Hope and Change, God’s Way Lesson 7 2 Corinthians 4:11 – 5:10; 12:1-10 The Hope of Heaven: Heaven According to Paul May 16, 2010

2. I.Introduction to Lesson 7 A.Man overboard on Blake Island B.“After death experience” – 204 books listed by Amazon.com C.If anyone could tell us about heaven, you would think it would be the apostle Paul. D.And yet Paul is strangely tight-lipped on the subject. E.We would do well to ponder Paul’s words on heaven F.Our approach

3. II.Paul’s Near Death Experience A.Stoned at Lystra (Acts 14:8-20) 1.The miracle at Lystra – lame man walks 2.False worship (of Barnabas & Paul) 3.Jewish opposition 4.Stoning, left for dead 5.Paul arose and entered the city 6.Observations a.Brevity of the account b.Non-sensational account c.Paul’s courage d.This is early in Paul’s ministry

4. B.A Vision of Heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) 1.Context 2.In the third heaven 3.Why Paul can’t talk 4.The danger of “revelations” (Lamentations 2:14; Colossians 2:18-19) 5.God’s cure – a thorn in the flesh 6.Why Paul does talk a.To encourage the persecuted b.To correct error 7.Lesson to be learned: caution about accepting near death accounts as authoritative.

5. III.A Look at Some Other Key Texts A.1 Corinthians 15 B.1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 C.1 Corinthians 3:10-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-8 D.Romans 8:18-25 E.2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 F.2 Corinthians 4:7—5:10

6. IV.Conclusion – How Then Should We Live? A.To Paul, heaven is being in the presence of the Lord, glorifying God; hell is spending eternity away from His presence (2 Thessalonians 1:5- 12). B.In presenting the gospel, don’t promise heaven on earth – we enter the kingdom of God through much tribulation (Acts 14:22; 2 Corinthians 2:17; 4:2). C.When you think about those you will meet in heaven, think of those you may have helped to trust in Christ as your joy and reward (2 Corinthians 4:7-15; 1 Thessalonians 2:19).

7. Copyright © 2010 by Robert L. Deffinbaugh. This is the edited PowerPoint presentation of Lesson 7 in the series, Hope and Change, God’s Way, prepared by Robert L. Deffinbaugh for May 16, 2010. Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit.