Easter 2024 DG
Pastor Josh pointed out how the encounters Jesus had with Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and others on the first Easter marked them and set them on a mission. We saw a video of Jeremy Southgate sharing how he encountered God one Sunday sitting in the auditorium. Can you share an encounter with Jesus that has had a significant impact on your life?
***For Leaders – Answers will vary.
Pastor Josh referred to Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and explained that experiential knowledge of God’s love is available to all believers. How can we experience the love of Christ that surpasses intellectual knowledge?
***For Leaders – Pastor Josh gave the example of skydiving. You can know about skydiving in your head, but it’s another thing to “know” skydiving by experiencing it. For the Christ follower, it all begins with a daily commitment to meet Jesus in daily devotions and prayer so we know Jesus on a personal level. That can look different between people as some meet the Lord in the morning and others at other times of the day. Bottom line is to be as consistent as possible because that is the hallmark of a growing believer in Christ.
Pastor Amstutz shared the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus and scriptures like John 6:44 and John 12:32, which speak of God drawing people to Himself. What are some ways that encountering God might stir a desire in individuals to seek Him?
***For Leaders – Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, it is important to stay in step with Jesus as he speaks to us. We can’t walk physically walk side by side with Jesus on the road, but his Spirit resides in us and is regularly speaking to us. So often we make growth too complicated in our own minds. What we need most is to stop and spend time listening to Jesus in the quiet of our devotions and then journal what we believe he is saying to us. Start writing when you get just few words and you’ll find the rest will flow quickly. Jesus promised us rivers of living water will flow from our hearts and often the best way to open the valve is with a pen or a laptop while we journal.
Pastor Josh said there is no way that 11 of the 12 apostles would have died for a lie. So reflecting on the martyrdom of the apostles for their faith, how does such unwavering commitment challenge you?
***For Leaders – Reflecting on the extreme sacrifices made by the apostles, and their willingness to endure persecution and death for their beliefs challenges us to consider the depth of our own faith and commitment. Ultimately, we are inspired to deepen our own personal relationship with Jesus and to stand firm in our beliefs, even in the face of adversity. The apostles’ sacrifices serve as a powerful reminder for us that the transformative power of encountering Christ resides in us and we must walk in it.