Good Friday Services – April 3, at 12n, 3, 4:30, 6, & 7:30 – Before there is the resurrection and new life, there is darkness and death. We want to encourage you and your life group to attend a Good Friday service to feel the heaviness and weight of the cross so that you can also experience the joy, celebration, and new life of Easter in a deeper and more profound way!
Lean In // 5 minutes
What are things that don’t change in life?
Sample answers may include:
• Death
• Taxes
• Getting old
• World systems (government, economic, etc.)
• Teaching old dogs new tricks
• UCLA fans and USC fans not getting along
Leader Note: Transition your group into the Look Down by highlighting how this week’s passage challenges the idea that things don’t change in life.
Look Down // 10 minutes
Leader Note: Before reading the passage, ask the question and encourage group members to take notes and write down observations. This week’s passage is written in story form and is longer than usual. As you read, it may be helpful to break it up into sections (IE- 11:1-16; 17-37; 38-44).
What do learn about death and life from the passage?
Sample answers on death:
- Jesus promises that death is not the end (v. 4)
- God uses even death for His glory (v. 4)
- Jesus holds the power over death (v. 11)
- Jesus speaks of death in ways we don’t understand (v. 12)
- Death causes confusion and questions about God (vv. 20, 32, 37)
- Jesus grieves the death in our life (v. 33)
- We doubt that God can bring dead things to life (v. 38)
Sample answers on life:
- Jesus is the resurrection and the life (v. 25)
- Where there is death, there is opportunity for resurrection and new life
- Jesus promises life to those who believe in Him (vv. 25-26)
- God turned a sad and hopeless event into a time of belief and celebration
- Jesus’ words have the power of life (vv. 43-44)
- Jesus allows us to participate in bringing life to others (vv. 39, 44)
- New life points to God’s glory (v. 40)
Look Out // 10 minutes
What causes people to lose hope? Where have you seen it?
What causes people to regain hope? What does it look like?
Leader Note: This question is designed to get your group thinking about where they have seen the principles of this passage in the world today. Have they ever seen someone lose and regain hope? What did it look like and what were those defining characteristics?
Look In // 20 minutes
What are things in your life that you think will never change?
Sample answers:
- I’ll never get out of debt
- I’ll never hear God’s Voice
- I’ll never get out of this place
- My family will never come to know the Lord
- My relationship will never be reconciled
- I’ll always have this stronghold
- I’ll always have this addiction
What would it look like to “roll away the stone” and trust Jesus?
Leader note: In the passage, Jesus’ desire was to bring Lazarus from death to life but he asked others to trust him and roll away the stone. In a similar way, Jesus’ desire is to bring life to our places of death. But, there is a part we play in trusting Jesus and His power and opening up those places that are dead and decaying.
Live It Out // 5 minutes
How would experiencing Jesus’ new life in those areas impact you and others?
Easter 2015…is the celebration of new life! Like a spark exploding out of the darkness of death – it’s the event all of eternity hinges upon. Jesus overcame the power of death to bring us abundant life, hope and new beginnings. We want everyone in our community to experience the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection and the gift of a life lived out in full color offered to you this Easter! We have a part to play in this celebration. From inviting our neighbors and friends to serving on the weekend we encourage you and your Life Group to jump all in! Sign up to serve here.
Easter Services: April 4- 4pm & 6pm // April 5- 8:30a, 10a, & 11:30a
Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.