Easter Sunday Discussion Guide
Sermon: April 9, 2023
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Here are important events that you should be aware of and praying over:
Good Friday Seek Night
-April 7, 6:30-8:30pm @ Westview High School Auditorium
-Come early for coffee and cookies! Childcare not provided.
Easter Sunday
-April 9 Bring flowers to adorn the cross!
-WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO SERVE WITH CLK ON EASTER SUNDAY!
Please email Trish at trish@citylightbennington.church to sign up to serve at the 9am or the 10:45am!
WHY CITY GROUPS?
The point of a City Group is to help us apply God’s Word to our everyday lives through the power of the Holy Spirit, and to multiply faithful disciples of Jesus who make more disciples of Jesus. So we gather regularly to give ourselves to three basic Christian practices: sharing stories, reading the Bible, and praying.
PRAY
Ask if anyone would like to open up in prayer and ask God to bless your time together
STORY
Break the ice with a testimony..
Who has prepared their 5-7 minute story?
Who can give testimony of God’s goodness right now? (i.e. answered prayer, provision, transformation, etc.)
VISION FOR THIS DISCUSSION
Jesus has just found out that one of his close friends who was sick has just died. He goes to the mourners and the grave site and says some pretty amazing claims by saying he is “the resurrection”. But he backs them up with an even more amazing act by resurrecting a dead man back to life. Jesus is showing us something very profound about who he is and why he came—to resurrect (bring back to life) what sin and Satan have killed.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PASSAGE
Read John 11:1-43 aloud as a group. What are some initial observations that caught your attention?
According to Jesus, why was Lazarus allowed to experience a sickness that led to death? Why does he say he didn’t heal him and prevent it?
-Have you ever asked for some kind of healing and didn’t receive it right then and there?
-Some people push around the idea that it’s because of a “lack of faith”. But as we look at the story of Lazarus and how Jesus uses this sickness to show God’s glory that much more, what do you think Jesus would actually say to those still waiting to be healed?
Lazarus died and was miraculously raised back to life, but he would go on to later die again. Therefore, what do you think is the main point of this passage?
-We see sickness and physical death in this passage as a result of the effects of a sin-filled world. What does this say about what our bodies and souls need most?
-We see Jesus weep in response to one of his best friend’s death. What does this passage reveal about God’s heart towards humanity’s need?
-How should we feel and respond to people when we see the effects of a sin-filled world? (non-Christians, political corruption, ungodliness in culture, crime, murder, sickness, death, etc.)
What does Jesus mean when he says, “I am the resurrection and the life.” in verse 25?
-Jesus will go on to not only resurrect Lazarus, but to resurrect himself after dying on the cross for our sins. Why does it matter that he rose from the grave? What does this mean for us?
-What does it mean to be “resurrected” spiritually as a Christian?
-Have you experienced this resurrection? If so, how has that changed how you live your life (finances, parenting, marriage, work, suffering, sickness, etc) knowing that you have the same Holy Spirit in you that empowered Jesus and rose him from the dead?
Who are people in your life (neighborhood, workplace, etc.) who need to know about Jesus and the new life he can give? Why do you personally want them to experience this new life? What is your next step to talk to them about Jesus?
-Take time as a group to pray and invite people to Easter Sunday!
PRAYER
Feel free to ask the group for any pressing prayer requests that would be good to pray over together.
Use the TACOS acronym to let the text you studied pray for you:
Thanksgiving - “Father, thank you…”
Adoration - “Father, You are…”
Confession - “Father, I confess…”
Others - “Father, I pray for…”
Self - “Father, please help me…”
*If size or group dynamics seem to hinder prayer, consider dividing into groups of men/women or groups of 3-4 to reduce barriers to praying out loud.