April 9 – 15

Weekly Reading for April 9 – 15

Preparing for Next Week’s Message

Sermon Series: Gardens and Graves
Sermon Title: From My Grave to God's Paradise

This reading plan will get your heart and mind set for the next message on April 16, 2023:


Reflecting on the Most Recent Sermon

Sermon Series: Gardens & Graves
Sermon Title: From the Tomb to the Garden
Delivered On: April 9, 2023

VIEW SERMON NOTES

Memorize and Reflect

Matthew 28:5-6
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.


Prayer Direction

Thank Jesus for the truth and glory of His resurrection. Invite the resurrected Jesus to fill your heart, home, and every part of your life. Ask for courage to share with others what the resurrection of Jesus means to you as you live each day.


“Live It!” Challenge

A Simple Invitation – As we begin a sermon series on how to resist the seven deadly sins, consider inviting a friend to church with you. If you invited someone to Easter services and they came, reach out and ask if they would be willing to jump into the upcoming series and see what God has to say to them about life and hope.


Small Group Discussion

  1. Tell about a time you thought you knew how something was going to turn out but things ended up very different than you anticipated.

  2. If you look at what happened when Jesus died on the cross and was buried, how did things look very different just three days later on Easter Sunday?

  3. Read: Matthew 27:45-46 and Matthew 28:2-3. Describe how things changed between the two passages you just read. How would people have been feeling at the time of Matthew 27:45-46 and what would have changed by Matthew 28:2-3?

  4. What spiritual realities seemed to change between these two passages?

  5. Read: Luke 23:44-46 and Matthew 28:8-10. Describe how things changed between the two passages you just read. How would the disciples have been feeling at the time of Luke 23:44-46 and what would have changed by Matthew 28:8-10?

  6. What might have been going through the women’s hearts and minds when Jesus breathed his last and died? What would have been bursting in their hearts and been rushing through their minds when the women met Jesus alive on Easter Sunday?

  7. Read: Matthew 28:18-20. What message and ministry did Jesus give to His disciples after His resurrection and before He returned to heaven in glory?

  8. What do these parting words of Jesus mean for us who follow Him today?