What Happens After Death? Series

Introduction:

New arrival in heaven.

“Are there sports in heaven?”

“Of course, we’ve got angels v saints bowling. The lanes are made of gold.”

“Who wins?”

“Everyone! This is heaven!!!

"I’m not dying — I’m just relocating to my forever home."

Life after death? What happens?

That’s the big question we’re tackling today —

not with guesswork, but with the unshakable truth of God’s Word.

Because let’s be honest:

Death is the one appointment we all share.

We might skip the dentist, dodge jury duty, or miss a meeting… but this one’s non-negotiable, right?

What happens after death?

The world offers all kinds of answers:

• Science says, 'We don’t know.'

• Philosophy says, 'Maybe, if you’re lucky.'

• Some religions talk of reincarnation, and spiritual realms

• But Jesus? He walked out of His own grave and said, 'I am the resurrection and the life' (John 11:25).

So today, we’re not staring into the dark — we’re fixing our eyes on the Light of the World.

Because the resurrection isn’t just a doctrine… it’s the game-changer for how we live, die, and face eternity."

In this new series, this is today’s big question.

“What happens when we die?”

Some people try not to think about it.

Some are afraid. And

even among Christians, we sometimes feel unsure about what to expect.

But Jesus and the bible didn’t leave us guessing.

I hope by the end you’ll see that this isn’t a topic to avoid — it’s actually full of comfort, clarity, and hope.

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Jesus Speaks Into Our Fear – John 14:1–6

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Jesus says these words to His disciples . . . the night before . . . He is crucified!

Jesus is facing death as He speaks these words.

The disciple’s world is about to shatter.

The man they’ve followed for three years — the one they believed was the Messiah—is about to be arrested, tortured, and killed.

They’re terrified. Confused. Heartbroken.

Maybe some of you know that feeling—when life suddenly flips upside down, and the future you imagined crumbles.

And into that fear, Jesus speaks to his friends:

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

Not “Buck up, boys, it’s not that bad.”

Not “Figure it out yourselves.”

He says, “Trust Me. I’ve got this.”

Then He drops this bombshell of hope:

“In my Father’s house are many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come back and take you to be with me.”

Let’s break this down, because Jesus isn’t just giving a pep talk — He’s revealing eternal truth.

Let’s pause here.

Heaven Is Real and Personal

Jesus does not say, “You’ll float on clouds in the sky playing harps.”

He calls it “My Father’s house.”

A place—with rooms, prepared just for you. A home.

Think of the best welcome you’ve ever received — maybe a parent’s hug, a friend’s “I saved you a seat!” Now multiply that by a million.

Heaven isn’t a vague “somewhere”;

it’s where God Himself sets the table and says, “This is yours. I got it ready for you.”

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Jesus Himself Will Bring You to heaven

He doesn’t say, “Here’s a map—good luck!”

He promises, “I will come back and take you.”

It’s like a friend picking you up at the airport.

You don’t stress about directions out of there —you just watch for their face in the crowd.

Jesus says, “Death isn’t a dark alley you walk alone. I’ll meet you there.”

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The Heart of Heaven Is Being With Jesus

The best part? “That you may also be ….. where I am.”

Heaven’s joy isn’t just streets of gold or no more tears—it’s finally seeing Him face-to-face.

A child doesn’t long for a perfect house — they long for home, because that’s where their parent is.

Jesus is saying, “You’re not just getting a paradise — you’re getting Me.”

So, this isn’t just “pie in the sky when you die.”

It changes everything now:

If we trust in Jesus, we don’t need to fear death, because

• He’s already gone ahead.

• He’s prepared the place.

• He’s promised to return. And

• He’s the way to get there.

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2: Paul’s Perspective – 2 Corinthians 5:6–10

As we read earlier, Paul also speaks about death and what lies beyond.

He says:

“We are always confident… and would prefer to be away from the body and at home (say home) with the Lord.”

What an extraordinary statement!

Paul is saying that for the believer, to die is not to disappear — it’s to go ….. home.

He goes on to say that because of this hope, we aim to live lives that please God — not