LIFEGROUPS: WEEKLY DISCUSSION GUIDE – 8/8/21

by | Aug 6, 2021 | adult ministry, Church Wide, LifeGroup Guide

SERIES: The Gospel of Mark          

TITLE: Week #13 – “The Resurrection of Jesus”

Mark 16:1-8 

MESSAGE PREVIEW: 

We conclude our “Gospel of Mark” series this weekend as Pastor Brian looks at Mark 16:1-8. Here is a preview of this week’s message. 

INTRODUCTION

  1. It seems like resurrection from the dead is an impossibility. It’s not natural. In fact, the most common argument against Christianity is to deny the resurrection. 
  2. Why? Because if Jesus isn’t raised from the dead, the whole thing is a farse. But since He is raised, He is Lord. He restores all things, and He has the power to forgive sins granting life eternal. 
  3. Do you really believe this? (I didn’t say nod your head because you’re in church and you know you are supposed to believe this.) Do you believe it?
  4. Let’s look at two important realities of the resurrection. 

TWO REALITIES OF THE RESURRECTION 

  1. The resurrection of Jesus is a powerful promise fulfilled. (Mark 16:1-6) 
    1. Let’s look at some verses that predicted the promise of the resurrection. 
      1. Mark 8:31 ESV “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
      2. Mark 9:9 ESV “And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”
      3. Mark 9:31 ESV “…for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.”
      4. Mark 10:34 ESV “And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.” 
      5. Mark 14:27-28 ESV “And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”
    2. The women are the first to know, why? 
      1. Likely because they never fled. They never denied Jesus. They remained faithful and attentive to Jesus. 
      2. Mark 15:40-41, 47 ESV “40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem… 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.”
      3. We do not have to be afraid. We have hope. 
    3. “The living are consumed with death but the Crucified One is consumed with life.” 
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ESV “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
  1. The resurrection of Jesus instantly yields restoration. (Mark 16:7) 
    1. A restored relationship with Jesus. 
      1. The disciples left Jesus and fled. 
        1. Mark 14:50-51 ESV “And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.”
      2. Peter flat denied Jesus. 
        1. Mark 16:66-72 ESV And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.”
      3. Mark 16:7 ESV “But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 
        1. He knows our sin before we ever commit it.
        2. He knows we will run.
        3. He knows we will deny Him.
        4. He still restores us in our repentance and through His resurrection. (Gospel)
    2. An eternal restoration of all things. 
      1. 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 ESV “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.”
    3. A restored reality for the believer. 
      1. John 11:25-26 ESV “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

OUR RESPONSE 

  1. Do you believe this? 

ICEBREAKER QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION

We are just days away from the beginning of a new school year. Even if you do not have kids, this time of year can still carry with it an excitement, anticipation, and the feeling of a fresh start as we move into a new season of the year. Use the following questions to begin you discussion this week. 

Q: What God moments are you recognizing and celebrating as we begin this new season?

Q: What are you most looking forward to as we step into this new season?

Q: What changes are coming in your life that could bring excitement and/or some challenge? 

Q: How is God growing you, encouraging you, or challenging you as you step into this new season? 

Pray as a group – thanking God for how He is at work and praying for the start of this new school year and season. 

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Ask and discuss the following questions.

Q: Why is the resurrection of Jesus so central and necessary to our faith? (Read 1 Corinthians 15:14-23). 

Q: Do you believe Jesus was resurrected from the dead? Why? 

Q: What are some questions and/or arguments against the resurrection of Jesus? How can we as believers speak to them? 

Q: How is the resurrection of Jesus a powerful promise that he fulfilled? 

Q: Why were the women the first to know that Jesus was raised? What is significant about this? (Mark 15:40-41,47)

Q: How does the resurrection of Jesus instantly begin the process of restoration? 

Q: How does Jesus respond to the disciples, especially Peter, who fled and even denied him? 

Q: How could we be tempted to deny Jesus in our lives today? What does this teach us about how Jesus responds to our sin? 

Q: How does the resurrection of Jesus give us hope for what awaits us when our earthly lives end? 

Q: How should the resurrection of Jesus practically impact how we live today? 

WRAP-UP

As we wrap-up our study in the Gospel of Mark, let’s take some time to share what God has taught us, and how he impacted us this week and through our series. Use the following questions to guide your conversation: 

  1. What did you hear? 
    1. What is your one “take-away” from this week? How did God speak specifically to you through this passage and study? 
    2. What is one “take-away” from our series on the Gospel of Mark?  
  2. What do you think? 
    1. How did this passage and study affirm, challenge, or change the way you think about the resurrection? 
    2. What about the series? How did God affirm, challenge, or change the way you think?
  3. What will you do? 
    1. What is your next step? How will you take the truth of God’s Word and apply it to your life this week?   

SCRIPTURES FROM THIS WEEK’S MESSAGE: 

  • Mark 16:1-8, Mark 8:31, Mark 9:9, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Mark 14:27-28, Mark 15:40-41&47, 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Mark 14:50-51, Mark 14:66-72,1 Corinthians 15:20-27, John 11:25-26

UPCOMING MESSAGES: “Life Together” 

  • August 15 – “Devoted to the Same Things” (Acts 2:42-43)
  • August 22 – “Sharing and Giving Like Family” (Acts 2:44-45)
  • August 29 – “Gathering in Big and Small Ways” (Acts 2:46-47)