"Earth's Makeover"
Click below to download the Cornerstone Connections leader’s guide and student lesson. This week’s resources also include two lesson plans and a discussion starter video which offer different ways of looking at the topic. Each lesson plan includes opening activities, scripture passages, discussion questions, and real-life applications.
This chaotic world is not all there is. One day the great controversy between God and Satan will be over. The earth will be made new. And we will see our Maker face to face.
OVERVIEW
Picture the following scene: a four-wheel drive truck stuck in the mud up to its floorboards. The driver of the truck has attempted every possible way to get unstuck and, in the process, covering the entire truck in a thick layer of mud. After a helpful tow-truck driver pulls the truck out of the pit of despair, the driver takes the truck to the car wash where he carefully washes all the mud off and dries off the water. Under normal circumstances the truck would look as good as it did before the mud incident. Can you imagine what it would be like if, after the car wash, the truck looked as good as it did when it rolled off the factory floor? That’s what our lesson is about today—God recreating the earth and making it new, a “factory reset.”
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
OPENING ACTIVITY: CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY QUESTIONS
Ask the group the following questions. If your group is more than 20 you can divide it into two groups.
TRANSITION
What happens to a plowed field when it snows? The snow fills in all the imperfections, covers up all the dirt, and makes everything look clean and beautiful. Now, what do you think will happen to this earth when God remakes it?
BIBLE STUDY GUIDE
Read Revelation 15:2-4.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Read Exodus 15:1-18.
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
“I will sing to the Lord,
for he is highly exalted.
Both horse and driver
he has hurled into the sea.
2 “The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3 The Lord is a warrior;
the Lord is his name.
4 Pharaoh’s chariots and his army
he has hurled into the sea.
The best of Pharaoh’s officers
are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters have covered them;
they sank to the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, Lord,
was majestic in power.
Your right hand, Lord,
shattered the enemy.
7 “In the greatness of your majesty
you threw down those who opposed you.
You unleashed your burning anger;
it consumed them like stubble.
8 By the blast of your nostrils
the waters piled up.
The surging waters stood up like a wall;
the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy boasted,
‘I will pursue, I will overtake them.
I will divide the spoils;
I will gorge myself on them.
I will draw my sword
and my hand will destroy them.’
10 But you blew with your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead
in the mighty waters.
11 Who among the gods
is like you, Lord?
Who is like you—
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?
12 “You stretch out your right hand,
and the earth swallows your enemies.
13 In your unfailing love you will lead
the people you have redeemed.
In your strength you will guide them
to your holy dwelling.
14 The nations will hear and tremble;
anguish will grip the people of Philistia.
15 The chiefs of Edom will be terrified,
the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling,
the people of Canaan will melt away;
16 terror and dread will fall on them.
By the power of your arm
they will be as still as a stone—
until your people pass by, Lord,
until the people you bought i pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place, Lord, you made for your dwelling,
the sanctuary, Lord, your hands established.
18 “The Lord reigns
for ever and ever.”
QUESTIONS
Read Revelation 21:1-7.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” m for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.
QUESTIONS
Read Revelation 21:22-27.
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
QUESTIONS
Read Revelation 22:1-6.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
QUESTIONS
Read Revelation 22:17-21.
17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
QUESTIONS
APPLICATION
The book of Revelation describes an amazing city of God. It’s a place where evil will no longer exist, darkness will be no more, and God will reign forever. Consider for a moment that since the time when John wrote this book, evil has had a distinct foothold on the earth. John is sharing a message of hope and salvation to all those who are followers of Jesus. John is saying, “Don’t give up! Jesus is coming.” Jesus is coming soon to fix all the problems of this world and create a new place where He will reign forever. Don’t miss out—stay faithful. He’s making all things new.
FOLLOW UP
During the week ahead, reflect on these questions.
SCRIPTURE PASSAGES
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
OVERVIEW
The dream of a new heaven and a new earth was deep in Jewish thought. “Behold,” said God to Isaiah, “I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17). Isaiah speaks of the new heaven and the new earth which God will make, in which life will be one continual act of worship (Isaiah 66:22).
John’s vision of the new Jerusalem uses and amplifies many of the dreams of the prophets. Isaiah had his dream, Haggai had one, and Ezekiel as well (Isaiah 54:11, 12; 60:10-20; Haggai 2:9; Ezekiel 48:31–35).
It’s easy to see that the new Jerusalem was a constant dream; and that John lovingly collected the differing visions, the precious stones, the streets and buildings of gold, the ever-open gates, the light of God making unnecessary the light of the sun and the moon, the coming of the nations, and the bringing of their gifts into his own.
Here is faith. Even when Jerusalem was obliterated, the Jews never lost confidence that God would restore it. True, they expressed their hopes in terms of material things; but these are merely the symbols of the certainty that there is eternal bliss for the faithful people of God.
“Living the Best Life!”
Can you share a personal story about when life was at its best for you?
Read Revelation 21:1-6.
1Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ u or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
1. After reading Revelation 21:1-6, how would you describe the scene?
2. What is the meaning of John’s vision described in Revelation 21:1?
3. Why do you think the Holy City is compared to a bride Revelation 21:2?
4. What is John explaining in Revelation 21:3?
5. What feelings come over you as you read Revelation 21:4?
6. Why can we believe what John is seeing in this vision? (Revelation 21:5-6.)
7. What preparations are you making now to be with Jesus forever?
8. Are your personal daily experiences and activities aligned with Jesus?
SUMMARY
The picture of God Himself gently taking a handkerchief and wiping away all tears is overwhelming. It encapsulates the removal of four main enemies:
Death—destroyed and sent to the fiery lake (Revelation 20:14; 1 Corinthians 15:26)
Mourning—caused by death and sin.
Crying—one result of the challenging experiences of life.
Pain—the first penalty inflicted on mankind at the Fall is finally lifted at last (Genesis 3:16).
All these belonged to “former things” where sin and death were present. The former things are gone. No greater statement of the end of one kind of existence and the beginning of a new one can be found in Scripture.
APPLICATION
During his earthly life Jesus had pledged, “I am going there [to my Father’s house] to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2), suggesting a process of creation. Now his statement in Revelation 21:5, “I am making everything new,” emphasizes both the process and settled determination of Jesus to establish this eternal reality. We can believe it because He signs it in Revelation 21:6 by saying, “It is done!”
Below, find some application activities to interface with this lesson. These are simply to provide ideas for your use, or to invite you to imagine and create some of your own, as you impact the lives of teens for God’s glory.
