THREE THINGS TO KNOW
DON’T MISS THIS. What a joy to celebrate EASTER and the hope of the resurrection with you and so many from our community. Join us in praying for all who attended, visitors, family and friends whom God brought to our locations this weekend. Pray that the hope of the gospel and the resurrection will stay with them. Pray that many will choose to follow Jesus for the first time.
GROUP VALUES. This month, we are focusing on OUR STORIES. Our stories are powerful tools for encouragement and sharing our faith. This week, consider the IMPACT of your story. As a group, discuss how sharing your faith journeys has affected others and how God might use your experiences to inspire fellow believers or reach those who don’t know him.
GROW AS A LEADER. Do you wonder how to help your group members grow? Check out the book Making Small Groups Work. Authors Henry Cloud and John Townsend provide small group leaders with valuable guidance and information about how to help groups grow spiritually, emotionally and relationally.
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Welcome to our EASTER weekend service. This week, we explore the incredible significance of Jesus’s resurrection and why it matters for our lives today.
ICEBREAKER
What’s the best news you’ve ever received, and how did it affect your life?
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Have someone read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 aloud.
What stands out to you in Paul’s description of the gospel message?
Why do you think Paul lists all the people who saw the resurrected Jesus?
What does Paul mean when he refers to himself as “one abnormally born”?
What does Paul say would be true if Christ had not been raised from the dead?
THIS WEEK’S SERMON
Pastor Aaron Buer explored why Easter is good news for our past, future and present through a few key points about the resurrection. As a group, recall the sermon’s main points or major themes.
How would you explain to a skeptical friend why the resurrection is essential to Christianity and not just a nice add-on to the story?
Pastor Aaron mentioned that without the resurrection, we would have no proof that putting faith in Jesus actually works. How does the resurrection confirm that our faith is not futile?
What’s the difference between saying “I hope so,” “I think so,” and “I know so” when it comes to our salvation? Why is this distinction important?
Have someone read 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 aloud. Paul describes Jesus’s resurrection as “firstfruits”—a preview of what’s to come. How does this agricultural metaphor help us understand God’s future promises?
How have you seen resurrection power at work transforming someone’s character or habits? What made the difference in their life?
What area of your life currently feels “stuck” and in need of resurrection power?
What step could you take this week to open yourself more to the transforming work of God’s Spirit in your life?
How might your daily choices and priorities change if you lived with greater awareness of the confirmation, hope and power the resurrection provides?
WRAP UP
This week, we discussed how the resurrection of Jesus is good news for our past (confirmation of our forgiveness), our future (hope of resurrection) and our present (power for transformation). What encouraged or challenged you the most, and why?