Lean In // 5 minutes
What’s something incredible you’ve experienced and couldn’t wait to share it?
Sample answers may include:
- Engagement story
- Natural wonder
- Birth of a child
- Hole-in-one
- Celebrity sighting
Look Down // 10 minutes
Leader Note: It may be helpful to break this passage into sections (vv. 1-18; 19-23; 24-31). After each section, ask the Look Down question.
What do you observe about Mary, The Disciples and Thomas?
Sample answers for Mary (vv. 11-18):
- Mary was looking for Jesus in the tomb (v. 11)
- She was overcome with grief because she couldn’t find Jesus (v. 13)
- She expected the worse and was blinded by expectations
- She’s confused
- Jesus appears and Mary doesn’t recognize Him (v. 14)
- Mary believes at the sound of Jesus’ voice (v. 16)
- Upon hearing Jesus’ voice and seeing him, she obeys (vv. 17-18)
Sample answers for The Disciples (vv. 19-23):
- They were gathering in fear (v. 19)
- Even though there was tragedy, they still gathered together
- Jesus speaks peace to their fear
- Upon seeing the Lord, they are filled with joy (v. 20)
- Jesus gives them a mission accompanied with the Holy Spirit (vv. 21-22)
Sample answers for Thomas (vv. 24-29):
- Thomas was not gathered with the other disciples
- Thomas does not believe unless he experiences it for himself (vv. 24-25)
- Jesus brings peace to the believers
- Jesus invites Thomas to touch his hands and side
- Upon experiencing Jesus’ resurrection, he believes (v. 28)
- Jesus shows Thomas but blesses those who believe without seeing
Commentary: At the cross, there were no believers. Rather, there was pain, confusion, hurt, disappointment, and fear at the apparent loss of Jesus. It wasn’t until the tomb was empty and Jesus appears that His disciples believed. John 20:9 is key to understanding the passage as the disciples did not understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
For each section, Jesus showed up uniquely. Mary needed to hear Jesus’ voice, the disciples were afraid until they saw the Lord, and Thomas required evidence and experience so he could believe it was Jesus.
Take some time to draw out the different observations, as your group will enter back into the characters in the Look In question.
Look Out // 10 minutes
What are things that keep people trapped in doubt?
Sample answers:
- Fear
- Grief
- Ignorance
- Lack of experience
- Believing that things will never change
- Preconceived ideas
- Disappointment
What moves people toward belief? Where have you seen it?
Leader note: This is a great storytelling question. So, allow group members to share stories and capture their insights. Help your group move past simply listing the reasons “why” people doubt or believe and where they’ve seen the effects of doubt or belief in our world.
Sample answers:
- The endorsement of someone respected
- Undeniable proof—Sight, taste, touch, sound, smell, etc.
- Popular opinion
- Events—September 11, act of compassion/love, loss of a loved one, etc.
Look In // 20 minutes
Who do you identify with from the passage and why?
What can you grab onto from Jesus’ words/actions to Mary, The Disciples, and Thomas?
Commentary: In the passage, Jesus responded in different ways to the different needs. As your group identifies with one or two of the characters, help them grab onto a word or phrase that speaks to them.
- Mary – “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”; Jesus’ compassion/love; Calls her by name; “I have seen the Lord!”
- The Disciples – I am present among you; “Peace be with you!”; Joy at seeing the Lord; “I am sending you”; Receive the Holy Spirit”
- Thomas – “Peace be with you!”; See & Touch; “Stop doubting and believe”; Your doubts are ok, I can handle your doubt, they don’t separate you from me; You’re not left out
Live It Out // 5 minutes
How could you bring the hope of the resurrection to those around you?
Key Verse: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
Key Thought: Easter: the best news ever!
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Learn More About Flow Questions: Check out Kenton Beshore’s book Ask in the Irvine Campus Bookstore for more on the Flow Question model.