Here are some questions based on last Sunday’s sermon text (Revelation 21:9-27), in case they’re helpful to you for personal growth or group discussion…

• [9-11] The New Jerusalem, the heavenly/eternal city, is the Bride of the Lamb, the church, the special people of God who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus and made beautifully holy through their relationship with him. This City is our future reality, and it is breaking into the present (“descending”) in the church on earth. “Cities have more ‘image of God’ per square inch than anywhere else” (Tim Keller). This will be especially true of the New Jerusalem, of those who are renewed in God’s image through Christ. How do you feel about cities in general? Have you enjoyed any particular cities? Do you have any favorite aspects of cities? What have you seen in cities that you hope will be in the New Jerusalem? What have you seen in cities that you hope will not?

• [15-18] The City is (symbolically) portrayed as a giant cube, representing the Most Holy Place in the temple where God dwells with his people. The dimensions are 12,000 stadia (about 1,400 miles) in each direction… that is, 12 (the people of God) multiplied by 1,000 (a lot!). The City is vast and beautiful, made of precious stone and gold. In John’s day, the early church might have had a hard time believing that this was the future of God’s people. Do you have a hard time seeing the church today as vast and beautiful? Do you have a hard time imagining the church of eternity as being so precious to God and wonderful to behold? Why or why not?

• [12-14, 21] The gates are inscribed with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel, and made of pearl which represent the non-Israelite, Gentile nations of the world. The names of the 12 apostles of Jesus are on the foundations of the walls. Considering the symbolic nature of this picture, what do you think this says about the “construction” of the church, the people who belong to God through Christ in the Spirit? What is the firm foundation of our community? How do new people come into the community?

• [22-27] No one who is “unclean”—who has not received the forgiveness of Christ and the cleansing of the Holy Spirit—will enter the New Jerusalem. But “the glory and honor of the nations” will be brought into the City, as all kinds of people do turn to Christ for salvation. What kind of “glory and honor” can you bring into the church, into the Golden City? Are you excited to be a part of this City? Why or why not? When you pray for the nations, do you pray for them to experience peace and prosperity apart from entering into the New Jerusalem? Is there any reason to hope for the nations apart from their joining the church?