Training Guide for Heaven

Key Points

At a Glance: A. Life is a journey with a beginning, middle, and end

B. You should plan with the end in mind

C. If you fail to plan, plan to fail: the importance of goals

D. Goals should be SMART

Key Points: Discussion Questions:

A Life is a journey with a beginning, middle, and end

1. The most important question in your life is where you go when you die. Do you agree? Why or why not?

2. Have you thought about dying? Does it scare you? Why or why not?

B You should plan with the end in mind

1. How can this impact your purpose in life?

2. How does having a purpose in life make a difference in your priorities, relationships, family?

3. According to the following verses, how does your belief in God impact your plans?

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. (Proverbs 16:9)

4. What is the goal the Apostle Paul is suggesting in the following verse?

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)

5. Explain how this verse relates to making plans

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

C If you fail to plan, plan to fail: the importance of goals

1. Provide an instance when you failed to plan and explain what were the consequences.

2. Describe the process you used to plan a vacation or some other activity, such as training for a race.

3. Explain why it doesn’t make sense to spend more time planning for a vacation than planning for your life after death.

4. How do these verses support the need to make plans?

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? (Luke 14:28)

5. What attitude is a prerequisite for your plans to succeed according to the following verse?

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4)

D Goals should be SMART

1. Have you formulated goals in the past? If you have, what has been the result? What went right or wrong?

2. Specific: Clear and unambiguous. What are the consequences of not making your goals specific?

3. Measurable: Can measure your progress. What are the consequences of not making your goals measurable?

4. Achievable: Attainable and not impossible. What are the consequences of not making your goals achievable?

5. Realistic: Within reach within the time specified. What are the consequences of not making your goals realistic?

6. Timely: Includes a starting date and a target (ending date) date. What are the consequences of not providing a starting and ending date for your goals?

Going Deeper: Use the following verse to answer the questions below:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)

1. What is the prize Paul is talking about?

2. What kind of crown could last forever?

3. What does it mean to “I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize”?

Quiz 1. What is the most important question in your life?

a. What do I want to do for a career?

b. What happens when I die?

c. Should I get married and start a family?

d. How can I become a millionaire?

2. The Bible states that if you trust in the Lord and submit to Him in all your ways, He will…

a. Eliminate the need to plan

b. Make things happen faster

c. Make your paths straight

d. All of the above

3. If you fail to plan…

a. You plan to fail

b. You save time

c. You save money

d. Your life is more exciting

4. According to the Bible, planning is …

a. Profitable

b. Useful by counting the cost of the endeavor

c. Not necessary; we live by faith

d. A and B

5. What is wrong with the following goal: I will read the book of John

a. Not specific

b. Not achievable

c. Not timely (no start and end date)

d. Is not measurable

6. What is wrong with the following goal: I will give more to the church

a. Not specific

b. Not achievable

c. Not timely (no start or end date)

d. Not specific, timely, or measurable

7. What is wrong with the following goal: I will start a ministry for children

a. Not specific

b. Not achievable

c. Not timely (no start or end date)

d. Not specific, timely, or measurable

8. What is wrong with the following goal: I will become a well-known evangelist.

a. Not realistic

b. Not achievable

c. Not timely (no start or end date)

d. Not realistic, achievable, timely, or measurable

Quiz Answers

1. b.

2. c.

3. a.

4. d.

5. c.

6. d.

7. d.

8. d.