The Giver of Life- Can you trust in the Resurrection?
Jesusā resurrection from the dead is the single most important, foundational event in history!
Matthew 28:1-15
There would have been no need for the resurrection if Jesus had not died, and there would be no saving power in His death if He did not rise again.
Jesus was gone before the tomb was even opened!
The resurrection of Jesus was personal and public.
Except for John, the disciples suffered brutal torture and horrific executions for spreading the message of Jesus death and resurrection.
Have you placed your trust in Jesus and the power of His resurrection?
Next Steps:
1. Say yes to Jesus
2. Get baptized
3. Or both!
Group Questions
1. Have you ever had trouble believing something because it just didnāt add up or have credibility under examination? Share the story...
2. How does Jesus appearing to women as the first witnesses of His resurrection lend credibility to the Gospel account?
3. How could you respond to someone that questions the truth of the resurrection?
4. The most powerful affirmation of the resurrection is the fact that the disciples were tortured and executed for sharing the message, why?
5. Both the death and resurrection of Jesus are essential to our faith, why?
6. Do you trust in the resurrection? What in your life needs to change to better reflect that trust?
Read Romans 6:5-6
7. What does it mean that we are united with Jesus in His resurrection?
Consider the tests- look at Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 4:29 and 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.
8. How do these verses describe our current resurrected lives?
Jesusā resurrection from the dead is the single most important, foundational event in history!
Matthew 28:1-15
There would have been no need for the resurrection if Jesus had not died, and there would be no saving power in His death if He did not rise again.
Jesus was gone before the tomb was even opened!
The resurrection of Jesus was personal and public.
Except for John, the disciples suffered brutal torture and horrific executions for spreading the message of Jesus death and resurrection.
Have you placed your trust in Jesus and the power of His resurrection?
Next Steps:
1. Say yes to Jesus
2. Get baptized
3. Or both!
Group Questions
1. Have you ever had trouble believing something because it just didnāt add up or have credibility under examination? Share the story...
2. How does Jesus appearing to women as the first witnesses of His resurrection lend credibility to the Gospel account?
3. How could you respond to someone that questions the truth of the resurrection?
4. The most powerful affirmation of the resurrection is the fact that the disciples were tortured and executed for sharing the message, why?
5. Both the death and resurrection of Jesus are essential to our faith, why?
6. Do you trust in the resurrection? What in your life needs to change to better reflect that trust?
Read Romans 6:5-6
7. What does it mean that we are united with Jesus in His resurrection?
Consider the tests- look at Matthew 5:16, Ephesians 4:29 and 2 Corinthians 2:15-16.
8. How do these verses describe our current resurrected lives?
The Giver of Life- The Crucifixion
The greatest worst moment in history
Matthew 27: 27-56
Jesus is the divine Son of God.
After being brutally beaten and humiliated Jesus was nailed to a cross at 9:00 in the morning.
As Jesus hung dying, He received Godās wrath as punishment for sin, our sin.
God made forgiveness possible through Jesusā substitutionary atonement.
Jesusā death made it possible for anyone to have direct access to God.
Romans 10:9, āif you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.ā
Next Steps:
1. Surrender to Jesus as Lord.
2. Live as though you are made alive in Christ, because you are.
Group Questions:
1. What stuck you to you, or what questions do you have in regards to
Jesusā crucifixion or the sermon?
2. According to Colossians 2:13-15, what did Jesus accomplish on the
cross?
Read Romans 3:24-26
3. How does the cross show God as both just and justifier?
4. Define the following words. Justification, Redemption, Propitiation.
Write a sentence using all 3 words (or a version of them) applying these truths to yourself.
5. According to verse 26 - who receives these benefits? Explain.
6. Colossians 2:13 says that we are āmade aliveā what does that mean?
7. How do you feel as though you have been made alive?
8. In what ways do you struggle with the idea that you are made alive?
Read Galatians 2:20 and Galatians chapter 5
9. How can we experience this new life in Christ in practical ways?
The greatest worst moment in history
Matthew 27: 27-56
Jesus is the divine Son of God.
After being brutally beaten and humiliated Jesus was nailed to a cross at 9:00 in the morning.
As Jesus hung dying, He received Godās wrath as punishment for sin, our sin.
God made forgiveness possible through Jesusā substitutionary atonement.
Jesusā death made it possible for anyone to have direct access to God.
Romans 10:9, āif you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved.ā
Next Steps:
1. Surrender to Jesus as Lord.
2. Live as though you are made alive in Christ, because you are.
Group Questions:
1. What stuck you to you, or what questions do you have in regards to
Jesusā crucifixion or the sermon?
2. According to Colossians 2:13-15, what did Jesus accomplish on the
cross?
Read Romans 3:24-26
3. How does the cross show God as both just and justifier?
4. Define the following words. Justification, Redemption, Propitiation.
Write a sentence using all 3 words (or a version of them) applying these truths to yourself.
5. According to verse 26 - who receives these benefits? Explain.
6. Colossians 2:13 says that we are āmade aliveā what does that mean?
7. How do you feel as though you have been made alive?
8. In what ways do you struggle with the idea that you are made alive?
Read Galatians 2:20 and Galatians chapter 5
9. How can we experience this new life in Christ in practical ways?
The Giver of Life- Jesus' Trials in Space and Time
What will you do with Jesus?
Matthew 27: 1-26
Association with Jesus and His church is not enough for salvation.
Shame for sin is not enough, we must go to God with repentance and submission.
The charges against Jesus are changed in order to justify a death sentence.
The people are convinced by their religious leaders to choose Barabbas and call for Jesusā crucifixion.
Our sin sent Jesus to the cross.
You must make a choice. Not choosing is choosing. Will you bow to Jesus as King?
Group Questions:
In this section of scripture we see the reality of Jesusā condemnation in space and time. This is not a myth or a legend. This is verifiable history - which leads to the question, what will you do with Jesus?
1. What convinced you that the gospel story is true and led you to surrender to Jesus as Lord?
2. What excuses have you used or heard to not believe in Jesus?
3. What responses do you now have for those excuses?
4. What questions do you have about the validity of scripture?
Letās now shift gears from the truth of Jesus to what our response is to Jesus. We are going to compare and contrast Judas and Peter.
Read Matthew 26:69-75 and 27:3-10.
5. What similarities and differences do you see in Peter and Judas in these accounts and in their response to their own guilt?
6. How are shame and repentance different?
Read John 21:1-19
7. How is Peter's response to Jesus different from Judasā?
8. What can we learn from Peter when it comes to our own guilt?
9. How is Jesusā response to Peter's guilt encouraging?