What happens to us immediately after we die? In this episode of the Post Sermon Podcast, Barrett and Wes McAdams unpack the "intermediate state" — the disembodied period between physical death and the resurrection — drawing primarily from 2 Corinthians 4–5. Wes explains why the Bible's relative silence on afterlife details isn't a problem but a clue: Scripture is far more concerned with how we're living now than with satisfying our curiosity about what's next. They tackle common misreadings of the Rich Man and Lazarus, examine Paul's "jars of clay" theology, and address whether 1 Thessalonians 4 teaches a secret rapture (spoiler: it doesn't). The conversation lands on the hope that drives everything — not mere "life after death," but what N.T. Wright calls "life after life after death": bodily resurrection, new creation, and reigning with Jesus in the renewed heavens and earth.

This episode is a discussion of the sermon, "Confident of Being with the Lord" that was preached at the church of Christ on McDermott Road on April 12, 2026. You can listen to the full sermon here: https://www.ccmcdermott.org/sermons/confident-of-being-with-the-lord/

Books:

• Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright — The book where Wright develops his influential "life after life after death" framework, arguing for bodily resurrection and new creation as the ultimate Christian hope

Videos:

• Francis Chan – Rope Illustration (Original) — The eternity illustration referenced in the episode

Key Scripture References Discussed:

• 2 Corinthians 4:7–5:8
• Luke 16:19–31 (Rich Man and Lazarus)
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–17

Connect with Wes:

• Blog & Podcast: RadicallyChristian.com
• YouTube: Wes McAdams – Radically Christian