Creekside Community Church
What Jesus Offers - Easter 2019
Creekside Community Church Easter April 21st, 2019 Jeff Bruce, Lead Pastor
Locations & Times
Creekside Community Church
951 MacArthur Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94577, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
1.A Reason to Believe (John 20:26-29)
2.A Reason to Hope (John 20:1)
3.A Reason to Rest (John 21:15-19)
For further thought and discussion:
Getting Started
1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2.Has anyone ever offered you something that seemed too good to be true? Was it?
Going Deeper
3.Read John 20:26-29. How does Jesus’ respond to Thomas’ doubts? What is Christ’s consistent response to the doubts of his followers (see Matthew 11:1-6; 28:16-20; Luke 24:41)? What does Jesus offer to those who are doubting? How might this reshape our thinking on faith and doubt? How does this encourage you personally?
4.All four gospel writers note that Jesus rose on "the first day of the week" (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Why is this detail significant (see Genesis 2:2-3)? What new work is God starting through Christ's resurrection (Rev 21:5)? What kind of hope does the resurrection offer (see Luke 24:39; Romans 8:18-23)? How does this encourage you right now?
5.What does Peter do after Christ's resurrection (21:3)? Why would he return to this line of work? How does Jesus restore Peter's relationship with him (compare John 21:15-17 with John 18:17, 25-27)? What kind of identity does Christ offer us? How is this different from other identities? Why does this lead to rest? How might this encourage you right now?
Application:
6.Jesus offers you a reason to believe, a reason to believe, and a reason to rest. Which of these offers is most appealing to you? Why?
7.If haven’t yet decided to follow Christ, what is currently keeping you from making this decision? Is it a content issue (you don't agree with certain aspects of the Christian faith), a coherence issue (you have an objection to the Christian faith that you can't resolve), or a cost issue (you believe that the decision to follow Christ will cost you something dear)? If this issue was resolved, would you be more willing to embrace Christ as your Lord? Discuss this issue with a Christian friend.
8.What's one thing you can do this week to apply this sermon?
Getting Started
1.What was helpful to you in this week’s sermon? What didn’t you understand?
2.Has anyone ever offered you something that seemed too good to be true? Was it?
Going Deeper
3.Read John 20:26-29. How does Jesus’ respond to Thomas’ doubts? What is Christ’s consistent response to the doubts of his followers (see Matthew 11:1-6; 28:16-20; Luke 24:41)? What does Jesus offer to those who are doubting? How might this reshape our thinking on faith and doubt? How does this encourage you personally?
4.All four gospel writers note that Jesus rose on "the first day of the week" (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Why is this detail significant (see Genesis 2:2-3)? What new work is God starting through Christ's resurrection (Rev 21:5)? What kind of hope does the resurrection offer (see Luke 24:39; Romans 8:18-23)? How does this encourage you right now?
5.What does Peter do after Christ's resurrection (21:3)? Why would he return to this line of work? How does Jesus restore Peter's relationship with him (compare John 21:15-17 with John 18:17, 25-27)? What kind of identity does Christ offer us? How is this different from other identities? Why does this lead to rest? How might this encourage you right now?
Application:
6.Jesus offers you a reason to believe, a reason to believe, and a reason to rest. Which of these offers is most appealing to you? Why?
7.If haven’t yet decided to follow Christ, what is currently keeping you from making this decision? Is it a content issue (you don't agree with certain aspects of the Christian faith), a coherence issue (you have an objection to the Christian faith that you can't resolve), or a cost issue (you believe that the decision to follow Christ will cost you something dear)? If this issue was resolved, would you be more willing to embrace Christ as your Lord? Discuss this issue with a Christian friend.
8.What's one thing you can do this week to apply this sermon?