Grow Groups 4/3/24

  /   JamestownFirstAssembly

Something to Talk About

EASTER SUNDAY

Week of January MARCH 31-APRIL 6

Grow Groups Sermon Discussion Guide

 

THE DIFFERENCE EASTER MAKES

Matthew 28:1-20

INTRODUCTION:

What is your favorite family Easter tradition?

What are some of your earliest memories of Easter Sunday as you were growing up?

What did you enjoy most about this past Sunday’s Easter service?

What does Easter mean to you?

 

Matthew 27:64 (NIV) So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

Matthew 27:66 (NIV) So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Why was so much effort made to secure the tomb of Jesus?

 

Psalm 30:5 (NIV) …weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

Did Christ disciples really understand what was going on? Were they anticipating the resurrection? If not, why did His enemies have more clarity on this than the disciples?

 

TEXT:

Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

What stands out to you in this narrative?

 

 

THREE THINGS THE RESURRECTED JESUS DOES:

1. REWARDS FAITH

Why and how does Jesus reward faith in us?

 

Matthew 28:7 (NIV) Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

Matthew 28:8 (NIV) So the women hurried away…

Why are obedience and faith connected? How does obedience prove our faith?

 

Romans 8:8 (NIV) Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) says; Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

How do we best please God?

 

Matthew 28:8-9 (NIV) …afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Matthew 28:10 (NIV) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

How did Jesus reward these ladies’ faith and obedience?

Have you proved how faith and obedience bring the presence of Jesus to your life as well? Explain.

 

Ephesians 2.8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.

Why must we receive “this gift of God” through faith?

 

 

2. REMOVES FEAR

Matthew 28:5 (NIV) The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Matthew 28:10 (NIV) Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Is there a lot of fear in the world today? Why do you think that is? What are some of the biggest fear producers for people?

What is the antidote for the fear of the world?

 

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

According to this verse what has God given us to overcome fear? How do we active these in our life to overcome the spirit of fear?

 

1 John 4:4 (NIV) The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

What is meant by this verse?

How do we put this verse into practice daily?

 

Psalm 27:1 (NIV) The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?

What’s the point here?

How do we activate the Lord as light and salvation?

 

John 14:19 (NIV) Because I live, you also will live.

What does Christ promise here? Is this for everyone? How does one get in on this promise?

 

1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NIV) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

What is meant by first fruits?

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

What do these verses teach about the future Rapture or Resurrection?

 

 

3. RELEASES HOPE

How does the resurrected Jesus Release Hope in His followers?

 

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20 (NIV) Therefore go…

Acts 11:19-21 (NIV) Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (NIV) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

What do these passages tell us about how His followers are to bring hope?

 

Acts 11:21 (NIV) The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…

According to these verses what is God’s plan for our lives?

 

CONCLUSION:

What difference has Easter made for you personally?

 

John 17:3 (NIV) Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

1 Peter 1:3 (NCV) “We have been born again into a life full of hope through Christ rising from the dead.”

Do you have a life filled with hope? Or do you feel hopeless and trapped most of the time?

 

PRAYER:

How can we pray for you tonight?

 

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