Death, Heaven, Resurrection, and the New Creation

We fear death. Dread it. Seek to avoid it.

Death wasn’t part of God’s original design for humanity; it’s an unfortunate reality of living in a fallen world. It feels unnatural because it is.

But Christ has conquered death; it has no hold over us. In death, Christ becomes our all in all as we live forever in communion with Him. In light of this promise that is sealed in our Baptism, we can live this impermanent life as an act of bold confession, trust, and hope.

This six-session Bible study examines the role the physical body plays in life and death, the experience of dying, and the nature of the new creation and our resurrected bodies.

About the Authors

The Reverend Dr. Kent J. Burreson is the Louis A. Fincke and Anna B. Shine Professor of Systematic Theology and dean of the Chapel at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. A doctoral graduate of the University of Notre Dame, he has a strong interest in the historical development of liturgical practice and the theological meaning of what is said and done in worship. He previously served as a pastor in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Dr. Beth Hoeltke currently serves as the director of the graduate school for Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and as an adjunct faculty member for Concordia University, Portland. After earning her PhD in doctrinal theology, she has pursued research, writing, and public speaking on the theology of creation and its intersection in daily life and communal practice.