HOW DID YOU SEE GOD THIS WEEK AS YOU FOLLOWED HIM?

WHAT DID GOD SAY IN HIS WORD?

Opening Question:

Do you feel like you have peace right now? What is giving you peace? What is taking it away?

Jesus broke into the disciples’ locked room to speak peace, interpret the scriptures, and release them as his witnesses. Let’s read the story again in our passage from Sunday:

36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate before them.

44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Reflect Together:

The text spends a lot of time proving that Jesus was physically, bodily raised from the dead, and not just a spirit appearing to the disciples (see verses 36-43). Why is it so important that Jesus rose physically? How does Jesus’s physical resurrection impact your vision of what eternal life will be like?

WHAT DID GOD SAY TO ME THROUGH HIS WORD?

Jesus opened the scriptures to the disciples, and Pastor Mitch helped us see our need for fresh encounters with God through his Word to face today’s challenges. Have you been meeting God through the scriptures recently? Why or why not?

Jesus has the disciples pause and wait for the Holy Spirit before serving as witnesses (24:49). Is there a work God is doing in your heart during this season? How might God be preparing you to be able to share his good news?

WHAT DOES GOD WANT ME TO DO ABOUT IT?

If you aren’t meeting regularly with God through his Word, now is a great time to start. Work with your group to come up with a personal Bible reading plan, or join the church’s yearly scripture reading challenge.

If you are meeting regularly with God and receiving his encouragement there, with whom else could you share that encouragement over the coming weeks? Don’t forget people who don’t know Jesus yet!

Who is God preparing you to serve as a witness of his resurrection? This crisis might be the right opportunity to bring up the topic of faith with them (again). Seek God and your group’s counsel about whether this is a waiting period or the time to share.