Don Pearson // Northview Campus // April 20, 2025
SMALL GROUP
DISCUSSION GUIDE
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:13-35
REMINDERS
Leader Appreciation Gathering
Each year in May we want to slow down and take time to connect and celebrate our group leaders.
Please join us for our annual Leader Appreciation Dinner on May 7, 6-8pm at The Barn (5330 Kies Rd, Rockford, MI 49341).
We’ll enjoy a great meal, good conversation, and pray for and with one another. It’s always a good time shared with great people!
Questions? Reach out to Kim at [email protected]
TOGETHER IN LIFE
Share with your group something that you’re celebrating in this season of life.
TOGETHER IN THE WORD
THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:13-35
Note: If you are meeting as a group, we encourage you to read the text together out loud.
KEY QUESTION:
- What would it look like for your heart to burn within you at the good news of the resurrection and the presence of Jesus?
GOING DEEPER:
Don describes in the various followers of Jesus a cycle of increasing revelation in believing in his resurrection:
- Sad heart: Peter living with his denials; Cleopas and friend on the road to Emmaus.
- Slow heart: Mary and the women perplexed at the absence of a body at the tomb.
- Burning heart: Cleopas and friend listening to Jesus open the Scriptures concerning the Messiah.
- Sightings that produce belief—Cleopas and friend at the breaking of bread.
From the commentator F. Scott Spencer:
“Jesus is a walking tutorial—He does not impose Himself on the distressed pair. He draws them out step by step, responding to their words about Him and actions toward Him. From stranger to prophet to host.”
Don’s closing question was “Where are you in this process? Jesus meets you where you are.”
Question: Can you relate a time in your life when you may have experienced any or all of these stages of revelation? Where are you now?
Luke 24:45-47
Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The
Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Don then pointed out that it is not written in the OT (in this manner), however, it is written everywhere in the OT. He is talking about the Panoramic View of the Law, The Prophets, and the Psalms.
Question: Take some time, pick a few from this list, and explore the illustrations of the Messiah in these OT teachings.
- Covenant with Abraham
- Sacrifice of Isaac
- Betrayal of Joseph
- Passover
- Manna
- Serpent lifted up
- Leviticus 17:11 (Hebrews 9:22)
- Scapegoat
- David the Shepherd King
- Isaiah prophecies
- Virgin Birth–Emmanuel
TOGETHER IN ACTION
Celebrate Christ’s resurrection!
Ask yourself what it would look like to live all year long with a burning heart and belief in Christ’s death, resurrection, and certain return.
TOGETHER IN PRAYER
Pray that the good news of Jesus’s death and resurrection would completely saturate your heart and mind as you live as forgiven, beloved, and free children of God in Christ Jesus.
