SmallGroupQuestionsApril1,2018EasterSundayMessage:“Unbelievable”

IntroductionWhathappenedonEastersome2,000yearsagochangeseverythingwhenitcomestofaith.ThefoundationforapersonalrelationshipwithJesusisone,uniqueevent–theresurrectionofJesusfromthedead.Forsomenow,likethen,it’sjusttoohardtobelieve–it’sunbelievable.Forothers,it’sthehopeofeverythingelsefoundinJesusandfollowingHim–it’sunbelievable!Theresurrectionisthedividinglineoffaith,meaningittakesJesusoutoftherealmofbeinga“goodteacher”oran“exampletofollow.”TheresurrectionputsJesusintoacategoryallbyHimself.Whiletherehavebeenmanyreligiousleaders,onlyOnehasrisenfromthedead.Beyondthatevent,whatJesusdidbyrisingfromthedeadhaspersonalimplicationsforusall.ItchallengesustoknowthatGodhasaccomplishedsomethingwenevercouldandtoknowitwasdoneforus.ItchallengesustoliveourlivesinresponsetoGod’spowerandGod’sgoodness.Easteristhedefiningmomentoffaith.(Questionstogeteveryonetoparticipate)

1. Canyouthinkofatimewhensomethingwasclaimedandyouthought/said,“that’sunbelievable”–meaningyoujustfoundittoohardtobelieve?(UFO,getrichquickidea,etc.)Canyouthinkofatimewhenyouexpressedwithgreatenthusiasm,“that’sunbelievable!”(i.e.birthofachild,sportsteamcomeback,etc.)

2. WhatarethemostcommonobjectionstofaithintheJesusoftheBibleinourdaythatyouhear?(Questionsbasedontheprimarytext)ReadJohn20:10-23.

3. WhydoesMarygotoJesus’tombonthatSundaymorning?WhatdoesMaryassumehashappenedtoJesus’bodywhenshefirstdiscoverstheemptytomb?Whatdoesthattellyouaboutherexpectationsofwhatshewouldfindversuswhatshedidfindinstead?

4. DoesitseemnaturalorstrangethatMarywouldnotrecognizeJesusatthismoment?Why?

5. Whywouldthedisciplesbelockedinaroominfear?WhatemotionisrecordedwhenJesusappears?

Doesthequickchangefromfeartojoymakesense?Whyorwhynot?

6. WhydoyouthinkJesusrepeatsthephrase,“Peacebewithyou?”WhatdoyouthinkJesusmeanswhenHesaysHe’ssendingthem?

7. Completethisphraseusingonlyonesentence:“Jesus’resurrectiontomemeans…”