Scripture and questions for study and reflection:
Read John 20:1-7 and Matthew 28:1-10.
How has the empty building due to the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your understanding of the empty tomb? How might it affect the way you live out your faith when the pandemic is over?
Pastor Mick quoted 1 Peter 1:3 several times – “Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” Why do you think he dwelled on the Scripture? How might reflecting on that Scripture help you to have a truly Happy Easter?
Do you agree with Pastor Mick that hope is as necessary to life as food, water and air? Why or why not?
Pastor Mick talked about Tom Hanks’ character in the movie Castaway. What two things gave him hope to carry on? Why do you think that was? What did Hanks mean when he said of the one element, “This package saved my life”? How could that be?
From where do you derive your hope? Has the current pandemic highlighted and reinforced this for you? If so, how?
What does the phrase “Today is the first day of the rest of your life” mean to you? What does it mean in light of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
What did Pastor Mike Slaughter of Ginghamsburg Church mean when he said, “God does some of his best work in cemeteries”? What might that mean for us today?
Where in your life do you need to experience a little “Resurrection Hope” today?
Prayer for the Week:
Lord Jesus, thank you for filling our lives with resurrection hope. Thank you for giving us everything, including your own life, that we might have life ourselves that is both abundant and eternal. Help us to put our full trust in you and expect miraculous things when we surrender our lives to you. We love you so much Jesus, and we offer this prayer in your strong and holy name. Amen.