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SAY: Just as we’ve seen in this episode of The Story of God, humans have been pondering life after death for thousands of years. Even though the beliefs explored in this episode represent

only a small fraction of what people around the world believe about death, it’s no shock that we all seem to be searching for answers about what awaits us in death. Is there anything at all?

If something does wait for us, is it good or is it bad? Does the way we live today have eternal implications? DAVID BENNETT

ASK: The first story was about David Bennett’s experience with death. Can someone share what you remember about his story?

LISTEN:

[Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is

able.]

MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES: [Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about them.]

According to David Bennett, the light told him, “This is not your time. You must

return—you have a purpose.”

David Bennett spent 15-18 minutes in the ocean without a breath of air.

“I believe that our being, our soul—whatever you may want to call it—lives on. And that we have opportunities to come back” (David Bennett).

“I believe that you can find that spirituality in all different beliefs . . . ” (David Bennett).

“What I perceived was the tiniest beam of light that—to me—was the final form of life. . . . Some people have seen Jesus in this light—other people just see bright light”

(Morgan Freeman).

ASK: [These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

What stood out to you about this story and why?

Do you know anyone who has experienced something similar?

Is there anything you heard in this story that you agree with or disagree with? What is it and why?

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OTHER NOTES:

[Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to ask the students to respond to.]

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______________________________________________________________________________ EGYPT—THE TOMB OF KING UNAS ASK: What was significant about King Unas’ tomb and about the ancient Egyptian view of the afterlife? LISTEN: [Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire

story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is able.]

MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES:

[Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about them.]

“The ideas that people now have about rebirth and resurrection all started here [in Egypt] about 5,000 years ago . . . ” (Salima Ikram, Egyptologist).

The tombs contain the oldest written descriptions of the afterlife. It was believed that “at nightfall, Unas’ soul would reanimate his mummified body and

make a treacherous journey. He would cross a lake of fire, passing through gates

guarded by demons and snakes. Without his sacred spells [which were carved into the walls of the tomb] he would be devoured. With [his spells], he could arrive and sit with the eternal gods in the starry heavens” (Morgan Freeman).

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By going through this eternal battle and becoming one with the sun god every night, King Unas made the world of the living safe. The afterlife of the pharaoh would ensure that the sun would rise in the morning and provide essential power to sustain life on earth.

ASK: [These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

What stood out to you about King Unas’ tomb? Why? What do you think about the ancient Egyptian view of the afterlife? Does it seem to

make sense? Why or why not?

OTHER NOTES: [Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to

ask the students to respond to.]

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MEXICO CITY—DAY OF THE DEAD

ASK: What is the historical significance of the Day of the Dead, and how did it begin?

LISTEN: [Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is

able.] MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES:

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[Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about

them.]

The documentary described the Day of the Dead as the one night of the year when the souls of ancestors come and visit; share food, jokes, and stories; and enjoy time with

their families. “The belief [is] that the division between life and death is not very firm . . . ” (Enrique

Rodriguez-Alegría, archeologist).

The Day of the Dead developed from the Catholic celebrations of All Souls' Day and All Saints' Day. But the heart of the tradition dates back to the ancient Aztec ideas of the

afterlife—a tradition that is “profoundly unchristian.” In the ancient Aztec world, Aztec priests performed brutal human sacrifices in which beating hearts were pulled out of

living victims—their bodies and blood cascaded down the temple steps as an offering to the gods.

“The Aztecs saw human sacrifice as vital. . . . Without the power drawn from the death of a few, all life would come to an end” (Morgan Freeman). The gods would not be

pleased without the sacrifice, so the deaths of the sacrificed made life possible for those who remained behind. It was believed that those who died had the power to reach back and sustain the living through their sacrifice.

ASK:

[These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

Do you know anyone who celebrates the Day of the Dead or All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day? What have you learned from them about their celebrations?

What do you think about the Day of the Dead and the idea of spending one night a year celebrating the spirits of our ancestors?

Do any of you celebrate the memories of your loved ones who have died? Is there

anything different in how you celebrate these people in comparison to what we just heard about the Day of the Dead?

OTHER NOTES:

[Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to ask the students to respond to.]

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______________________________________________________________________________ JERUSALEM—THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS ASK: What stood out to you about the documentary’s depiction of the death and resurrection of Jesus?

LISTEN:

[Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is

able.] MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES: [Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about them.]

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is “an enormous complex that enshrines the sites that are the holiest to Christians—holiest in the world” (Jodi Magness, archeologist). The

site of the crucifixion was a rocky hill called Golgotha, which means “the hill of the skull” because so many people died there.

Burial caves “consisted of one or more rooms that had long niches cut into the walls. . . . When an individual member of a family died, the body was washed, wrapped in a

shroud, and placed into a niche, and the opening into the niche would be sealed off” (Jodi Magness, archeologist).

In the Old Testament, there’s no reference to the dead going to heaven or hell after they die. The text refers to an underground pit called Sheol, which was a neutral place.

“Jesus’ death was the ultimate sacrifice—a sacrifice replacing those that Jews made in their temple, having a much greater power” (Morgan Freeman).

“Sacrifices were offered in the ancient temple to atone for the sins of the Jewish people. Jesus, the Son of God, is sacrificed to atone for the sins of humans” (Jodi Magness, archeologist).

“For Christians, Jesus’ blood sacrifice was the last that needed to be made. From then onward, all you had to sacrifice for eternal life were your selfish desires. And this way,

the death of Jesus was transformed for Christians into the ultimate victory over death” (Morgan Freeman).

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ASK: [These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

Have any of you been to Jerusalem, or do you know anyone who has been there? What

was it like for you/them? What did you think about the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? Did the burial caves they

showed look anything like the way you imagined Jesus’ tomb?

The documentary mentioned that the Old Testament didn’t really talk about hell—at least not in the way people might imagine it today. One of the implications is that the

concept of hell has developed over time—that people didn’t always think of hell as a place of fire and eternal suffering. How do you feel about that? Is it weird? Do you agree

or disagree with this? Why? Does this conflict with your understanding of Scripture? The documentary mentions how the Jewish people made sacrifices in the temple. Can

anyone describe the significance of those sacrifices and what they meant to the Jewish people? How does Jesus’ sacrifice compare?

What Bible verses come to mind when you think about Jesus’ sacrifice? Can any of you quote your favorites?

OTHER NOTES: [Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to ask the students to respond to.] ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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INDIA—VARANASI, THE BANK OF THE GANGES

ASK: What did you think about the Hindu practice of cremation at the bank of the Ganges in

Varanasi and the belief in reincarnation?

LISTEN: [Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire

story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is able.] MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES: [Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about them.]

“In Varanasi, life and death mingle freely” (Morgan Freeman). The people following the bodies going to the crematorium seemed to be joyously chanting rather than sadly wailing.

Death is understood as a process of facilitating the soul’s journey further. There is an understanding of grief when a loved one dies, but it’s also believed that the person has

been given the opportunity to transition once again toward moksha, the final release from the cycle of death and rebirth.

Hindus believe in reincarnation and karma. The result of living a good life is the gift of a new body and a chance for an even better life. Live badly, and you’ll suffer the

consequences in the next life, which may not be as a human. The idea of reincarnation helps Hindu people “accept death as an inevitable part of

life.” It creates a sense of responsibility for the way in which they live in this life, and it gives them hope that they can always do better.

“Rebirth is not the goal. The goal is to transcend rebirth and to attain a state of eternal pure energy, moksha—the god state. Once you’re there, you don’t have to do this anymore” (Morgan Freeman).

ASK: [These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

Does anyone believe in reincarnation or know someone who does? What can you tell us

about it?

What do you think about the Hindu idea of a cycle of death and rebirth, trying to reach

moksha, the state of eternal pure energy—the god state?

OTHER NOTES: [Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to

ask the students to respond to.]

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NEW YORK—BINA 48 ASK: What did you think about BINA48 and the idea of using technology to pass on your memories to your descendants? LISTEN: [Even if it takes several students to piece it together, encourage the students to tell the entire story in their own words. Be sure to leave enough time that everyone who wants to share is able.]

MEMORABLE MOMENTS + QUOTES: [Remind students about specific moments in this story, and ask students what they think about

them.]

“When a person has died and they’ve turned into a cadaver, it’s only at that point that the cells inside the body start to undergo a process of death, which can take hours—if

not days—of time. And so actually we have this window of time where we can bring people back to life” (Dr. Sam Parnia, critical care physician).

“Today, we call the soul “consciousness” in science. . . . The evidence we have . . . is that when a person dies that part that makes us who we are—the psyche, the soul, the mind, the consciousness, whatever you want to call it, me—it doesn’t become annihilated, it doesn’t disappear into thin air. It continues at least in the early period of

death” (Dr. Sam Parnia, critical care physician).

“[We’re] trying to stop death from cheating life” (Martine Rothblatt).

“I think it’s the job of the medical industry and the biotechnology industry to push the boundaries of death further and further into the future” (Martine Rothblatt).

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“It’s human nature to fight against the finality of death. If we ourselves can’t live on after our time on earth is over, we at least want to be remembered. It’s a desire that’s as old as the pyramids” (Morgan Freeman).

ASK:

[These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

If money were no obstacle, would you create a robot of yourself to store your memories? What would be the ultimate benefit? Is there a downside?

Do you think that a robot containing a digital clone of a person’s memories might

actually be able to replicate what we know of as the human soul?

OTHER NOTES: [Use this section to take notes about any memorable moments or about anything you’d like to

ask the students to respond to.]

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A SMALL SELECTION OF VERSES:

These selections are meant to only be quick references of New Testament verses that mention death. There are many different understandings of these selections of scripture, so be sure to review each of them in context using necessary commentaries and other Biblical resources.

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live

even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe

this?" (John 11:25-26 NASB)

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Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has

eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the

voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. (John 5:24-25 NASB)

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be

rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be

killed and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31 NIV)

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer

has dominion over him. (Romans 6:9 ESV)

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ

Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who

dwells in you. (Romans 8:11 ESV)

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was

raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34

ESV)

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God

raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 ESV)

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Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. (1

Corinthians 6:14 NASB)

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as

in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ

the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23

NASB)

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a

moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and

the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must

put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-

53 NASB)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so

that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus

died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in

Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NASB)

For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building

from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this

house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we,

having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan,

being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that

what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. (2 Corinthians 5:1-4 NASB)

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Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the

body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good

courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the

Lord. Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be

pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each

one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done,

whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:6-10 NASB)

And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon

or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich

neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and that will be your repayment.

But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and

you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be

repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14 NASB)

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there

is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even

Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain

and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we

testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead

are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if

Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those

also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life

only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV)

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains

alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates

his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. (John 12:24-25 NASB)

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SUGGESTIONS FOR FINAL QUESTIONS:

[These are some questions you may choose to ask in order to spark conversation.]

Did you see any similarities in the different beliefs about death and the afterlife?

We’ve looked at a small selection of Bible verses about death and resurrection. What stands out to you? Is there anything that doesn’t make sense to you? Is there anything that makes more sense?

Do you feel as if any beliefs featured in this episode of The Story of God weren’t accurately represented?

In light of the stories in the documentary and the cross section of Bible verses, what final thoughts or questions do you have about death and the afterlife?

This discussion guide based off of National Geographic’s series The Story of God is written by

Jacob Eckeberger, edited by Heather Campbell, and digitally published by Youth Specialties.

For more great youth ministry resources, visit: http://YouthSpecialties.com