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Easter is the single most important day in the Christian calendar. Spend some time talking about why this is true for you. Or perhaps, it isn’t the most important day, Christmas (or something else) is. Why is this? Pastor Jeremy stated 3 areas in which we need to encounter the resurrected Christ. He said that we need to be transformed in our mind, our conscience, and our heart. 1 Corinthians 15:3-9 highlights this. Between mind, conscience, and heart, which led you initially to embrace Jesus as your risen Lord and Saviour? Was it the evidence? Was it the weight of your sin or your need for absolution? Or was it the heart, did you emotionally approach the throne because of felt love, or your need to feel love and acceptance? Yet, we simply can not stay in that one place as we consider the cross, nor can we assume that everyone we speak with will need to encounter the cross in the way we did. In light of that, which area, mind, conscience, and heart, do you need to explore deeper? Here is some conversational direction for the remainder of your time together. Say, out loud in your group, which area you need to look at deeper in your consideration of the resurrection? Mind, conscience, or heart… or a combination of several. Tell others why you feel this way and see if those who know you well would agree. Reread 1 Corinthians 15 together. Now, allow some time for others to speak into each person in your group. Particularly those who have been transformed by Jesus’ resurrection in an area where you have a weakness. For example, one person may be emotionally transformed by the gospel, while another may bend the knee to the Lordship of Christ because of a predominantly conscience related journey. Feed each other, pray for each other. 
This was our first ever, fully online service thanks to the covid-19 situation in the world. Along with this unprecedented outbreak, many people have been experiencing crushing anxiety and panic. At the very least, there has been some low level frustration at having so many good things cancelled! But our message this week is one of hope in the midst of difficult questions and how God's law is evidence that he really cares about what we are truly focused on. Pastor Brennan began with this question, "Why did God use Moses and not send Jesus to deliver his people out of Egypt?" Have you ever thought about this? Wouldn't Jesus have done a better job? Come to think of it, wouldn't he have done a better job than anyone who did anything throughout scripture? Why did he wait so long to come? Has there been a time when you've felt God could have done a better job to step in to deal with your situation and suffering? How did this affect your faith? How have you worked through this with him? If the point of God's activity is human focused then he seems to have done a pretty bad job most of the time. Yet he is all knowing, all powerful, all present, and all loving. So perhaps our perspective is just in need of an adjustment? The law was intended to point the people to something beyond their present reality. It gave them something to look forward to, something to hope for. Read Deuteronomy 5:32-33 together. What is it drawing their attention to? Did they actually ever experience this? Why or why not? Paul wrote in Romans 3:9-20 about the true nature of humanity and the effect of the law. How would you put these 2 things into your own words? Read Romans 3:21-26 together. What did the law and the prophet bear witness to? What does this passage say about the timing of the coming of Christ? What does Paul note as the effect of the coming of Christ? How do your answers to these questions spawn hope? Finish your time together by reading through Hebrews 11:1-12:2. This is a long passage, but there is no better source of hope for us in difficult circumstances. God never promises us an easy life or one free of suffering. What he does promise is that our hope is secure in Christ! How do you plan to let others see the hope you have in Jesus? How do you plan to serve, love, and fight against fear with truth? How can you support each other, as well as those in your immediate neighbourhood over the coming week?
This week, we’re going to look at the implications of Jesus' resurrection. Please take time to read these passages together. For each passage, discuss how it highlights something Jesus accomplished by his death and / or resurrection. What is the significance of his work for you personally, for the church, and for the building of the kingdom of heaven here and now? Be sensitive to the need to pause for prayer and praise throughout your reading. This isn’t meant to be an exhaustive list, and you may not even get all the way through it. Think of this more as a kick-starter for deeper worship. Genesis 22:15-19 Mark 8:31 John 12:23-25 Matthew 27:33-37, Mark 15:29-32 Mark 16:5-7, Luke 24:1-12 Acts 4:23-28 Romans 8:1-11 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Colossians 1:15-23 Ephesians 1:15-23 Hebrews 10:19-25
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