This week we celebrated Easter, the day that changed everything. Jesus conquered sin and death! We have the hope of eternal life if we place our faith in Him. While we set aside a day every year to celebrate Easter, Jesus' death and resurrection are something that we should celebrate every day. Although we get caught up in the food, the egg hunts, and the baskets, it is so important that we reflect on what Jesus did for all of humanity.
What is your favorite Easter tradition?
1. Why is it important for each one of us to stop and remember Easter, the day Jesus conquered sin and death?
2. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-23. According to these verses, why does the resurrection make all of the difference for followers of Christ?
1 Corinthians 15:12-23 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
1 Corinthians 15:12-23
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
3. Read 1 Corinthians 15:50-58. According to these verses, why do followers of Christ have victory over sin and death?
1 Corinthians 15:50-58 What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever.
But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
4. Why do these verses say we should work hard? Why is 1 Corinthians 15:58 a good conclusion to Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 15?
5. Who was the first person who shared their faith in Christ with you?
6. What hope do these verses from 1 Corinthians 15 give you in your own life?
7. Who do you know who needs the hope of Christ? How can you share that hope with them?
This time of year is a time when many of us set aside time to reflect on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. One way that Scripture calls us to reflect on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection is by celebrating The Lord's Supper. Take time to do that today with your group. If time permits, read through the going deeper portion of today's study with your group, which will culminate in celebrating the Lord's Supper together. If your group needs a time-sensitive option, read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 as a group and participate in The Lord's Supper together after reading with bread and juice to represent Christ's body and blood broken and shed for us.
Before we participate in The Lord's Supper together, it will be helpful and meaningful for us to search Scripture to see what it teaches us about the Lord's Supper. Take some time to read through the following passages with your group, answer the questions that follow, and then partake in The Lord's Supper together using some form of bread and juice.
Passages to Read:
Exodus 12:1-14. These verses tell about the very first Passover meal, which is what Jesus and His disciples were celebrating when the Lord's Supper took place. (Because this passage is longer, read these verses individually, and after everyone has read, come back together for discussion.)
Read Luke 22:14-20
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Celebrate the Lord's Supper: Now that you have studied and discussed the significance of The Lord's Supper, take time to celebrate together. Give each group member bread and juice to eat and drink. One last time, read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26. Next, together eat the bread, then drink the juice. As you do this, remember the sacrifice Jesus made so that you could have freedom from sin and death.
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Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
Romans 8:31
What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
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