The Last Days
An Easter Series in John
I Have Seen the Lord
March 31, 2024 • Brett Wendle • John 20:1–18
Discussion Questions Week of: March 31, 2024 // Sermon Text: John 20:1-18 SERMON OVERVIEW The main idea of this week's sermon was that Jesus is persuasively, victoriously & reassuringly alive. 1. Jesus' resurrection is persuasive, finally helping the disciples know that he is truly alive. 2. Jesus' resurrection is victorious, one big step to his ultimate ascension, showing that he was well on his way to completing the work he was sent to do. 3. Jesus' resurrection is reassuring, that the disciples are secured in their adoption through his death. DIGGING DEEPER Read John 20:1-18 1. How is Jesus' resurrection from the dead different from when Lazarus was raised from the dead (John 11:38-44)? Why is this significant? Lazarus was brought back to his old life. He died again. Jesus was raised to new life and then ascended into heaven, never dying again. This distinction is significant because it means that there really is life after death, a new creation, a new body, a new everything. 2. It might be tempting for us to look down on the disciples who had a hard time believing that Jesus had been raised from the dead. Why was their unbelief understandable? How do we see Jesus gently work to persuade them that he is in fact alive? 3. Our society makes a big deal of Christmas but not so much Easter. As Christians, why should Easter be a far bigger deal? Without Easter (Jesus rising from the dead), Christmas (his birth) would be of little to no significance. Easter is the moment when a new creation breaks through. 4. What are ways to heighten Easter in your own life? As a small group? In our church? 5. If God is powerful enough to raise Jesus from the dead, what does that mean for the biggest struggle or worry in your life? 6. The sermon helped us see from John 20 that Jesus' resurrection is reassuring. How is Jesus' resurrection reassuring for you personally? How should his resurrection give us hope and peace?
The Life-Giving King
March 24, 2024 • Brett Wendle • John 12:12–36
Discussion Questions Week of: March 24 , 2024 // Sermon Text: John 12:12-36a Sermon Overview: The main idea of this week’s sermon was: Jesus is the King who gives eternal life through his death. Digging Deeper: Read John 12:12-36a 1. So much of the crowd's excitement in John 12:12-13 is based on a prophecy many of them would have been aware of in Zechariah 9:9-17. Read the prophecy and describe why the crowds would be so excited. What did they think Jesus was going to do? 2. How did Jesus’ intentional choice to enter the city not on a war-horse, but on a donkey, not only fulfill Zechariah 9:9 but also reveal what sort of King he is, and what sort of King he isn’t? 3. Compare and contrast the mood of the crowds, just a few days later, in John 19:14-16. Why the sudden and drastic change? 4. How does John 12:24 description about a grain of wheat illustrate what Jesus came to accomplish with his life? And how does it illustrate what must happen in the lives of all who follow Jesus?1 5. According to John 12:25, what does it mean for someone to lose their life if they love it? Another way to think of loving your life, according to John 12:25, is being god of your own life. In what ways are you pulled to being the god of your own life? 6. Another way to think of hating your life, according to John 12:25, is letting go of being god yourself and allowing God to be in charge. Why is it better to let God be in charge? Why is this hard to do? 7. Have you ever made a commitment to surrender your life to Jesus (i.e., “hate your life”) and receive eternal life? If not, why not? If so, why so? 8. Who in your life are you desperate to hear this good news in hopes of them being transformed? Pray for them this week.