I Have Seen the Lord

Discussion Questions

Week of: March 31, 2024 // Sermon Text: John 20:1-18

SERMON OVERVIEW

The main idea of this week's sermon was that Jesus is persuasively, victoriously & reassuringly alive.

1. Jesus' resurrection is persuasive, finally helping the disciples know that he is truly alive.

2. Jesus' resurrection is victorious, one big step to his ultimate ascension, showing that he was well on his way to completing the work he was sent to do.

3. Jesus' resurrection is reassuring, that the disciples are secured in their adoption through his death.

DIGGING DEEPER

Read John 20:1-18

1. How is Jesus' resurrection from the dead different from when Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:38-44)? Why is this significant?

Lazarus was brought back to his old life. He died again. Jesus was raised to new life and then ascended into heaven, never dying again. This distinction is significant because it means that there really is life after death, a new creation, a new body, a new everything.

2. It might be tempting for us to look down on the disciples who had a hard time believing that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Why was their unbelief understandable? How do we see Jesus gently work to persuade them that he is in fact alive?

3. Our society makes a big deal of Christmas but not so much Easter. As Christians, why should Easter be a far bigger deal?

Without Easter (Jesus rising from the dead), Christmas (his birth) would be of little to no significance. Easter is the moment when a new creation breaks through.

4. What are ways to heighten Easter in your own life? As a small group? In our church?

5. If God is powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead, what does that mean for the biggest struggle or worry in your life?

6. The sermon helped us see from John 20 that Jesus' resurrection is reassuring. How is Jesus' resurrection reassuring for you personally? How should his resurrection give us hope and peace?