Bible Reading
John 20:11-18 (ESV) — > 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
> 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
> 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”
> 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.
> 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”
> 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
> 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
> 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Ephesians 2:4-7 (ESV) — > 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
> 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
> 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
> 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Observation Questions
- In John 20, what was Mary’s emotional state as she stood outside the empty tomb, and how did she respond when Jesus called her by name?
- According to Ephesians 2:4-7, what does God do for us even when we are “dead in our trespasses”?
- The sermon says, “When the grave is empty, it means that anything is possible—dead things can come back to life, hope can be restored, and the impossible becomes possible.” What are some examples from the sermon or the Bible where God brought life out of hopelessness? [[13:39]]
- The summary says, “If the highest place we reach is simply to sit at His feet, then we have truly done it all.” What does it mean to “sit at Jesus’ feet” according to the sermon? [[29:06]]
Interpretation Questions
- Why do you think Jesus chose to reveal Himself first to Mary Magdalene at the tomb, and what does this say about how God meets us in our lowest places? [[26:58]]
- Ephesians 2 says we are “made alive together with Christ.” How does this spiritual resurrection change the way we see our failures, shame, or brokenness?
- The sermon says, “God’s love is not just enough—it is everything. Even if we never see His hand at work in the way we expect, feeling His heart is more than enough.” What does it look like to trust God’s heart when we can’t see His hand? [[32:15]]
- The summary talks about “pouring out our worship” and offering our lives as a living sacrifice. What does it mean to worship God with our whole lives, not just with songs or words? [[39:20]]
Application Questions
- The sermon says, “When we see the grave is empty, we know that nothing is impossible for God.” Is there an area in your life right now that feels hopeless or “dead”? What would it look like to invite Jesus’ resurrection power into that situation? [[13:39]]
- “God meets us in our lowest places, redeems our mistakes, and shows us that He is far better than we ever imagined.” Can you share a time when God met you in a low place or used your failure for good? How did that change your view of Him? [[26:58]]
- The summary says, “If the highest place we reach is simply to sit at His feet, then we have truly done it all.” What are some practical ways you can spend time at Jesus’ feet this week? What distractions might you need to set aside? [[29:06]]
- “Our response is to offer our lives as a living sacrifice, to let go of lesser things, and to seek His presence above all else.” What is one “lesser thing” you feel God is asking you to let go of so you can seek Him more fully? [[39:20]]
- The sermon encourages us to “never lose the wonder of God’s presence.” When was the last time you felt truly in awe of God? What helps you keep that sense of wonder alive? [[02:05:31]]
- The summary says, “Through every change and challenge, we hold on to the hope of a future shaped by God’s faithfulness, knowing that He never fails us.” How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness when you’re in a difficult season? [[01:30:30]]
- The sermon says, “No treasure or achievement in this life can compare to the glory of His presence and the love that has saved us.” Are there any achievements or possessions that you’ve been tempted to value more than God’s presence? How can you re-center your heart on Him this week? [[32:15]]
