Don Pearson // Northview Campus // April 27, 2025

SMALL GROUP
DISCUSSION GUIDE

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:30-49

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!

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TOGETHER IN LIFE

Share something you read, heard, or saw recently that was uplifting.

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:30-49

Note: If you are meeting as a group, we encourage you to read the text together out loud.

KEY QUESTIONS:

• How can we live in a world of chaos, suffering and disillusionment with hope, joy and peace?
• The closing paragraphs of Luke’s gospel start with the disciples in the chaos and disillusionment of Jesus’ death and end with them filled with joy and worship.  What makes the difference?

GOING DEEPER:

Last week Don shared the cycle that the followers of Jesus had gone through:

• Sad Heart
• Slow Heart
• Burning Heart
• Sightings

We pick up the story in Luke where Cleopas and his companion had returned to Jerusalem and found the eleven disciples and those who were with them to share that they had seen Jesus. When they arrived the other believers were talking about their own sightings of Jesus. As they were talking, Jesus appeared to them! They were startled, frightened, troubled and doubting.

Jesus said:

• “Peace be with you”
• “Why are you troubled?”
• “Why do doubts arise?”
• “It is I Myself”
• “Touch Me and see”
• “A ghost does not have flesh and bones”
• “Do you have anything to eat?”

Jesus wanted them to experience Him by seeing, hearing, touching and taste (Jesus ate broiled fish in front of them)

Don shared that we all have a split heart: one side can experience amazement, and the other side is more cynical and skeptical. The disciple and believer’s initial reaction was likely a combination of the two sides of the heart.

Questions:

• Is there a time in your life where you had a difficult time believing something because it was so unusual or amazing? What steps would you take to determine whether it was true?
• Why do you think Jesus appeared in this manner to the believers? If you were present at this gathering, what would have convinced you that Jesus was resurrected?

Don used the example of a stool to illustrate the Stages of Faith.

1. In my mind, I believe: I can look at the stool and believe it is built to hold me up.
2. In my heart, I trust: I can trust that when I sit on the stool it will be sturdy and will allow me to rest on it.
3. In my life, I demonstrate loyalty: I would have to sit on the stool and demonstrate that I was correct to put my faith in the stool.

Don shared that there are many cultural influences on our beliefs:

• Science and Technology
• Origin
• Material
• Absurd
• Individual

Question: 

• Discuss as a group how you feel each of these influences impacts you personally and as Americans. Is it the same in other parts of the world?

In Luke 24:45-47 NIV it is written:

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.”

Jesus wanted his believers to have a panoramic view of God’s plan as prophesied in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Himself. He wanted to give them what they needed to be able to go out and witness to the world.

Questions: 

• What obstacles keep you from being able to see God’s plan and provision for your life?
• What practical approaches help you keep your heart open to amazement with God even when things are not going your way? How do you keep cynicism from overcoming your sense of amazement?

TOGETHER IN ACTION

TOGETHER IN PRAYER

Pray for one another that you would experience the abiding joy that comes from putting your hope in the One who never fails.