This Week’s Reading: Matthew 28:8–15
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
—Matthew 28:8–15
Introduction and Ice Breaker
If you were only allowed three non-screen games for the rest of quarantine what would they be? i.e. Monopoly, Mafia, Catch Phrase, Apples to Apples, Settlers of Catan, Charades, etc.
What are the biggest ways your “normal” has changed over the weeks of quarantine? How are you feeling about that?
Themes to Consider
The Resurrection Changes Everything: Easter is a moment to re-evaluate and re-orient our lives around the new life of Jesus
The World is Changing Because of COVID-19: This time in human history is also offering us a re-evaluation moment
We Have a Choice Before Us: What will we allow to shape and define our lives?
Discussion Questions
Where do you see the power of remaining in control in your life? Where is it needed? Where is it harmful?
Have you ever gone to great lengths to avoid having to change? How does this relate to the long pattern of cover-ups in human history?
How do you relate to these three moments as a picture of salvation in Christ? What has your experience been like? (Greetings: they are welcomed in, and there is an embrace; Do not be afraid: Jesus’ peace becomes their peace; Go and tell my brothers: and they are sent on a mission of love.)
What are you holding on to that it might be time to let go of? Could be thinking or behavior or ways of working or habits.
How do you experience the power of Christ’s resurrection?
Guided Prayer
Imagine being face to face with the resurrected Jesus as he appeared to the disciples. Take a minute of silence to see him, and hear what he would say to you.
Thank God for the welcome that he offers even if we choose skepticism, doubt, and safety. Thank God that he is Emmanuel — God with us. He did not leave us as orphans but gave us his presence (John 14:18).
Confess the areas where peace is missing in your heart. Let his resurrection peace be your peace. Hear him say: “Peace be with you.” Say to him “I receive your peace” or “Help me to receive your peace.” Ask God to make you aware of who He is sending you to on a mission of love in this moment.
Quotes
"Denying the resurrection left everybody’s world-view intact. The Jews could continue as they had done. The Romans could go on running the world their way. Philosophers could still debate their lofty doctrines. Nobody would need to make radical readjustments. But if the resurrection of Jesus was true, and if people were to start reordering their lives by it, they would be on a collision course with the rest of the world." —N.T. WRIGHT
"...Get ready, my friends. What is about to be unleashed on American society will be the greatest campaign ever created to get you to feel normal again. It will come from brands, it will come from government, it will even come from each other, and it will come from the left and from the right. We will do anything, spend anything, believe anything, just so we can take away how horribly uncomfortable all of this feels... It will be funded like no other operation in our lifetimes. It will be fast. It will be furious. And it will be overwhelming. The Great American Return to Normal is coming. From one citizen to another, I beg of you: take a deep breath, ignore the deafening noise, and think deeply about what you want to put back into your life." —Julio Vincent Gambuto
