1. Power of the Resurrection November 8

2. Think About It When was a time you told a true story that other people found hard to believe? Today we look at some important news – God’s Power demonstrated by the resurrection It was totally true but was hard for many to believe when they first heard it God’s resurrection power is still at work in people’s lives today

3. Listen for how Jesus friends react to the empty tomb. John 20:1-18 (NIV) Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. [2] So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" [3] So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

4. Listen for how Jesus friends react to the empty tomb. [4] Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, [7] as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

5. Resurrection Shows God’s Power Suppose you are a news writer … fill in the – Who? – What? – When? – Where? – Why? – How?

6. Resurrection Shows God’s Power What were some potential reasons (in Mary’s mind) for the tomb being empty? Why do you think Mary assumed someone had taken the body? What did the two disciples do when they heard what Mary had to say? How do you think the presence of the burial clothes would contradict Mary’s assumption about someone taking the body?

7. Resurrection Shows God’s Power If you had been either Mary, Peter, or John, what thoughts would have run through your mind when you discovered the empty tomb?  Note: God’s power over life and death is dramatically displayed in Jesus’ resurrection.

8. Resurrection Shows God’s Power What part to you think Mary’s emotions play in her reaction God’s power displayed by the empty tomb? How do our emotions in a crisis prevent us from seeing God’s resurrection power at work?  Our emotions are not the important part of the “train” of our Christian life.

9. Listen for possible evidence of confusion. John 20:8 – 10 (NIV) Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. [9] (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) [10] Then the disciples went back to their homes

10. Resurrection Shows Jesus Is God’s Son How did John respond to what he found in the tomb? What statements in verses 8 and 9 seem curious and maybe even contradictory? How do you think they might explain this seeming contradiction if they were here today?

11. Resurrection Shows Jesus Is God’s Son Consider elements of our faith that we believe but don’t fully understand … – the Trinity – the indwelling of the Holy Spirit – why God would love us enough to die for us – the how of creation and the universe – the when of the Second Coming of Christ

12. Resurrection Shows Jesus Is God’s Son  It is entirely possible to place your faith in trust in Jesus by believing in His death and resurrection without fully understanding the theology regarding salvation  Personal experience was (and still is) the key to experiencing impact of the Truth of Jesus’ resurrection in our own lives  Believing is seeing!

13. Listen for what new and different things Mary sees. John 20:11 – 18 (NIV) [11] but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb [12] and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. [13] They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." [14] At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there,

14. Listen for what new and different things Mary sees. but she did not realize that it was Jesus. [15] "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." [16] Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

15. Listen for what new and different things Mary sees. [17] Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " [18] Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

16. Boldly Proclaim Jesus the Resurrected Lord What different things did Mary see? Why do you think she didn’t recognize Jesus? What are some reasons we might fail to see Jesus’ presence at work in our lives? What do you think finally cause Mary to recognize Jesus?

17. Boldly Proclaim Jesus the Resurrected Lord Why would Mary have wanted to cling to Jesus? What instructions did Jesus give Mary? Jesus told Mary to go tell the disciples of His resurrection. This was also part of the “don’t cling to me” command. What has God called us to do?

18. Application Consider searching for Jesus like Mary, Peter, and John did – Go to where you can find out about Him – Ask people who should know – Read what God’s Word says about Who He is and what He has done

19. Application This week focus on the certainty of Jesus’ resurrection – Our loved ones are with Jesus in heaven – The same power that raised up Jesus from the dead is at work in your life – I can live a victorious life because Jesus conquered death – When we face death we need not fear as the world fear

20. Application Note Mary’s response to Jesus’ instructions – She didn’t hesitate, she was sure of her message – Neither should we hesitate – We should be equally certain about our faith in Him when we tell others

21. Power of the Resurrection November 8