Imagine Heaven by John Burke
Week 6: Chapter 5 — Will I Be Myself?
Read Chapter 5 of Imagine Heaven. Key Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:35–49; Luke 24:36–43.
Previewing Week 6 of Imagine Heaven
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 17-week guide when you’re ready.
One of the deepest fears about death is that we will lose ourselves — Burke argues from both NDEs and Scripture that in Heaven, you will be more fully yourself than you have ever been.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Burke argues that NDE survivors consistently report experiencing themselves as *more* themselves — not less — when outside the body: more aware, more clear, more alive. Does that idea comfort you or unsettle you? Why?
2.The apostle Paul uses the analogy of a seed and a plant in 1 Corinthians 15 to describe the relationship between our earthly body and our resurrection body. What does this metaphor suggest about continuity and transformation — what stays the same, and what changes?
3.After his resurrection, Jesus still bore the marks of the crucifixion (John 20:27), ate fish (Luke 24:42–43), and was recognized by his friends — yet he could also pass through walls and appear in locked rooms. What does this tell us about what our resurrection bodies might be like?
a.What aspects of Jesus' resurrection body are most striking or surprising to you?
b.What questions does it raise about your own future resurrection body?