Dr. Don Denyes // Rockford Campus // April 20, 2025

SMALL GROUP
DISCUSSION GUIDE

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:1-35

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!

SIGN UP HERE

Questions? Reach out to Kim at [email protected]

 

Men and Women’s Spring Bible Studies
Sign ups are open now for Men and Women’s Spring Bible Studies. Visit the Events section on the website to learn more.

 

TOGETHER IN LIFE

As you come together following Resurrection Sunday, take a few moments to celebrate God’s goodness in your lives. Share any praise reports or celebrations you’re experiencing. 

 

TOGETHER IN THE WORD

THIS WEEK’S KEY PASSAGE: Luke 24:1-35

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:

Remember His Words

Early in the morning on the third day, several women went to Jesus’ tomb and discovered that the stone had been rolled away. At first they were perplexed and frightened. But when the angels reminded them of Jesus’ words that He would be crucified and on the third day rise, they remembered what He’d said and were filled with excitement. Throughout today’s passage of Scripture we’ll see the importance of knowing and remembering Jesus’ words and the impact this has on our faith and life. 

QUESTIONS

• How did knowing and remembering the words of Jesus equip the women to see and believe what God was doing? 
• Jesus’ words are often both encouraging and challenging. How does knowing and understanding this help you process the joys and challenges of life? See for example John 16:33. 
• Is there anyone in your life who reminds you of Jesus’ words when you need it? Do you encourage those around you with the words of Jesus? 

Reasons for Discouragement

On the same day, two disciples were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. When Jesus came alongside them to walk with them, they were kept from recognizing Him. Instead their demeanor, direction, and discussion showed they were discouraged by the crucifixion of Jesus and all that had happened.

QUESTIONS

• Have you ever walked through a season of discouragement in which your eyes were kept from recognizing the risen and all-powerful Jesus with you? What, if anything, changed that? Looking back, can you see that He was with you the entire time? 
• Read several or all of the following passages: Matthew 28:18-20, Deuteronomy 31:6, Exodus 33:12-17, John 6:37-40, and John 10:28-30. What do these verses tell us about Christ’s presence with His people? Is there ever a time when Christ is not present with someone who belongs to Him? 
• As the disciples began talking, they revealed what was happening in their hearts and their reasons for discouragement. Looking at the slide below, do any of these resonate with you? Are you discouraged by unexpected events (illness, relational struggles, hardship), unbiblical expectations (such as believing that following Christ should come with comfort rather than perseverance in faith), or unresolved mysteries (things you don’t understand)?

From Slow Hearts to Open Eyes

Jesus tells the disciples that the actual source of their discouragement is that they are slow of heart, or slow to believe all that God had spoken through His prophets. After opening the Scriptures to the disciples, Jesus then opened their eyes. As soon as they recognized Jesus, they realized their hearts had been burning within them as He spoke and opened the Scriptures to them.

QUESTION

• Are you ever slow to believe the full truth of the gospel for you? Consider some of the statements below. Do you build your life on these truths daily and allow them to shape the way you think, feel, and behave in every circumstance?
  • Each of us is a sinner deserving of death and separation from God (Romans 3:23, 6:23). But God showed His love for us while we were still sinners by sending His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross and pay the full price for our sins (Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:18).

  • Everyone who believes that Jesus is Lord and has died for our sins and risen again is made into a new person through the forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and given eternal life (John 3:5-8, John 5:24, Romans 10:9).

  • This Holy Spirit lives inside of us and shapes us into Christ’s image, leading us in all holiness and truth and bearing the good fruit of godly hearts, character, and conduct (John 14:17, John 16:13).

  • We are also adopted into God’s family as His beloved children. Nothing can take us away from Him (John 1:12, 1 John 3:1, Matthew 10:28-30).

  • Jesus will return someday to judge the living and the dead and to defeat sin and death once and for all (Acts 1:11, Matthew 24:27-31, Matthew 24:30-31, 1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

  • All who died in Christ will be raised with new resurrection bodies. We will live with Him forever, and His kingdom will have no end (1 Corinthians 15:21-22, 42; Revelation 21). 

TOGETHER IN ACTION

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.