Study Guide Questions for “Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church” by N. T. Wright

While serving a congregation that averaged in age about 70, I had a few members who wondered about what heaven is like. Questions of heaven, though, are not wondered only by those who are near 70, and the reality of heaven has real consequences for our lives today. This book, by N. T. Wright, former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and New Testament Scholar, addresses our misguided assumptions coming often from Plato’s philosophy in Ancient Greece and invites us into an understanding that is founded in scripture and in how the original readers of the epistles would have likely understood it. It challenges us, further, to live into that understanding in this life and in these bodies today — challenging the church to live out its calling. The reading is not as academic as some of Wright’s works but will take some wrestling. To guide our congregation in their readings, I developed study questions for each chapter and make them available here. These questions were not developed with Wright’s input and, while based on the book, are developed independently from N. T. Wright and the publishers (SPCK and HarperOne). I highly recommend the book; one ISBN number is 978-0–06-208997-7. It’s, also, available through Logos Bible Software.

Discussion Guide Questions

• All Questions in Booklet Form (coming soon)

• Preface
• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8
• Chapter 9
• Chapter 10
• Chapter 11
• Chapter 12
• Chapter 13
• Chapter 14
• Chapter 15