Opening Discussion

• When you think about the afterlife or heaven, what comes to mind?

Read and Discuss

John 20:19-21

19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

• What do you think the disciples were feeling and discussing before Jesus showed up?
• Why does Jesus say two times, “Peace be with you?”
• Why does Jesus’ resurrected body still have scars?
  • How did showing the disciples His scars help them believe it was really Jesus?
• Do you think we will have our scars in the afterlife?
  • If so, how will having those things redeemed actually help us worship more?
• What are some reasons people have trouble believing in the resurrection of Jesus?

John 21:1-14

1 After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way:

2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana of Galilee,Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples were together.

3 “I’m going fishing,” Simon Peter said to them.

“We’re coming with you,” they told him. They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

4 When daybreak came, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. 5 “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?”

“No,” they answered.

6 “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish. 7 The disciple, the one Jesus loved, said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied his outer clothing around him (for he had taken it off) and plunged into the sea. 8 Since they were not far from land (about a hundred yards away), the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish.

9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish lying on it, and bread. 10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus told them. 11 So Simon Peter climbed up and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish—153 of them. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

12 “Come and have breakfast,” Jesus told them. None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

• Why had the disciples returned to fishing?
• What are some things we can learn about Jesus’ resurrected body from this passage?
• What does this tell us about how our bodies may be in the next life?
• When you hear Jesus say, “Come and have breakfast,” what emotions and feelings does that stir up?
• What glimpses of heaven can we gather from this passage?

Apply it!

• Who can you talk to this week about what happens after you die?
  • What are some ways you can approach this conversation in a hopeful way?

Memorize it!

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.”

Prayer TACOS

Thank God for giving us a glimpse of heaven through Jesus’ resurrection.

Adoration- Worship the Lord for coming back to life and defeating death

Confess any doubts you may have about the resurrection and ask the Lord to help you with those things

Others- pray for someone you know who has trouble believing that Jesus came back to life.

Self- Ask the Lord to give you an opportunity to share with someone this week the good news of Jesus