MISSION GROUP QUESTIONS FROM EASTER SUNDAY- 3/4/10

For our Easter Sunday Baptismal service we looked at John 20.24.31 - Jesus appears to (doubting) Thomas

As with the baptisms, this is a story of a changed life due to an encounter with the risen Christ.

We noticed 2 things about Thomas (1) He had (probably) isolated himself from his mates (vs24) and (2) he was skeptical (vs25-26). It is remarkable that he was skeptical since he had all the evidence before him - the testimony of his best mates, the empty tomb, the testimony of Mary, the previous predictions of Jesus (betrayal…handed over to authorities…suffer + die….BUT ON THE 3RD DAY rise again) and he had already seen the resurrection power of Jesus in action (John 11.16). But he was skeptical - because his worldview wouldn’t allow for a physical resurrection….no worldview allows for it. The Greeks = dualism (body is bad, spirit is good), Jews = resurrection at the end of time for all God’s people in a perfect world and Us = science tells us dead people don’t rise! The resurrection was as strong an intellectual barrier then as it is now!

What broke his worldview? What will break our worldview? An encounter with the risen Christ (vs26-28). But what about all those that don’t meet Jesus in the flesh….who are not as “blessed” as Thomas? Well look what Jesus says (vs29) - the blessed state is if you believe even though you don’t see! Why would anyone believe if they hadn’t seen Jesus (like most people at the time…he was only around for 40 days - cf Acts 1.2-5)? They believed the evidence of the eye-witnesses (Mary, the 10 disciples, Thomas….) including JOHN who wrote a book for future generations to believe and have life (vs30-31). The evidence is there and can break your worldview if you are open to it and see through the eyes of faith!

But there is another reason to believe the resurrection....it is verse 28…the story of thousands and millions of changed lives down the years, starting with Mary and Thomas…and even to the people who got baptised on Sunday. Lives that have been changed as they have met the risen Christ by his Spirit. And what does it mean to be a Christian, to have your life turned around by Christ?

(1) It is to look at the risen Jesus and declare with Thomas (a Jew) “you are the almighty creator God who is Lord of history” - and isn’t it amazing that Jesus accepts Thomas’ worship!

(2) It is to look at the risen Jesus and declare with Thomas (a Roman citizien) “you have my ultimate allegiance not Caesar….even if that means I die” - and we all have our own “Lord and God” that needs to be ‘let go of.’

What an encouraging (for those who doubt) and challenging (for those who want to live for Christ) story!

Reflection and Application

(1) What do we know about Thomas? What is he like? See John 11.16, John 14.5 + John 20.24-25. How do you relate to Thomas?

(2) What evidence did Thomas already have that the resurrection was historical fact? Why didn’t he believe? Why do people today struggle to believe in the resurrection?

(3) What changed Thomas’ mind (vs26-28) and what do Jesus + John put in place to help us see that the resurrection is true? (vs29-31)

(4) As a group try and summarise the evidence that the resurrection is a historical reality (not fiction) and help each other articulate this to your skeptical friends. Download for free a chapter from Mark Driscoll’s latest book on the resurrection - http://theresurgence.com/doctrine-launched-free-chapter

(5) Why is verse 28 such a remarkable claim? What does mean to be a Christian? How does this affect your life as you celebrate Easter this year? What did it mean for Thomas that Easter?

(6) How does this story help us when we have doubts? What should (and shouldn’t) we do?

(7) How does this story encourage or challenge you?

(8) Pray for your unbelieving friends that this Easter the reality of the historical resurrection would cause them to investigate more and come to faith. Do invite them to the next Intro Course on Wednesday 28th April.

*****PLEASE NOTE***** these reflections and application questions are to be tailored by whoever is leading the study. You do not have to do all the questions and you can add in extra questions. If it says that you are to “meditate or reflect” on a bible passage that is to be done during your time of sung worship (not in the study).