“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” ― Matthew 28:5-7.

Central in all of history is the resurrection of Jesus. After He arose, He appeared to some people. Some of those to whom He appeared were women who had come to the tomb where He had been buried, expecting Him still to be dead. But He wasn’t. In a very short period of time, they went from experiencing deep sorrow to exceeding great joy. They realized that their Savior was alive and quickly went to tell the good news to all the others.

Imagine for a second the scene. Jesus cried, “It is finished.” He died, and the people there knew He was dead. On that same day, He was buried and was in the grave. Then He arose, just as He said that He would. It was real. His body could be touched. Jesus expressed this. He said: “Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” (Luke 24:39).

Yet the disciples did not expect the resurrection. They did not expect it, even though Jesus had spoken of it repeatedly. For example, Jesus had said this to His disciples, “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Matthew 20:18-19). Yet even after what He said would happen did happen, even after He had been crucified just as He had said that He would be, they still did not expect Him to rise from the dead.

So these women came to the grave expecting Him still to be dead. They had seen the place where He was buried two days before.  They went to the grave with some spices that they had prepared to anoint the body of Jesus (Luke 24:1). It was an act of love, to be sure. Yet they should not have been seeking the living among the dead.

As they went to the grave, they thought about the big stone that was put in front of the sepulcher. They wondered who was going to roll that stone away from the opening, so that they could get in. Yet when they got close enough to see the stone, they noticed that it had already been rolled away.

When these women saw and heard Jesus, they came close to Him. They recognized Him. While these women were holding Jesus and worshiping Him, “Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (Matt. 28:10).

Imagine the joy that must have filled their hearts as they quickly brought the disciples the news.

Discussion Questions:

1. What emotions would you have experienced if you were one of these women, finding the tomb empty?
2. How does the resurrection provide hope for today and for eternity? 
3. How does the resurrection inspire you to live out your faith in the world? 

Summary: Easter celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, signifying victory over death and a promise of eternal life. It’s a time for Christians to rejoice in God’s love and grace, and to reflect on the profound implications of Christ’s death and resurrection from the grave.

Easter is special because it celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection, a pivotal event in Christianity that brings hope and offers the promise of eternal life. It marks the triumph of life over death and the restoration of a relationship with God, reminding believers of the transformative power of God’s love. The resurrection of Jesus is the central tenet of Christian belief, proving His divinity and offering hope of eternal life to all who believe in Him. But now that Easter has come and gone, what’s next? Does everything go back to normal? Do we go back to living our regular everyday lives?

The temptation is to return to our safe, everyday routines and view the Easter weekend as the spiritual highlight of the year. Or we could let Easter transform our lives. There were hundreds of people, including the disciples, who saw Jesus after He rose from the dead. Many of Jesus’ disciples were present for His arrest, trial, flogging, and crucifixion. While some fled in fear, others, including Peter, followed at a distance. John the apostle was present at the foot of the cross. The disciples witnessed Jesus being taken into custody, interrogated, and eventually sentenced to death. The Gospels mention various people, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Roman soldiers, who were present and presumably witnessed His death on the cross. Yet, He appeared to over 500 people. Think for a moment about Jesus’ disciples and the hundreds of people who saw Him after He rose from the dead. How could they go back to their everyday lives? If we were there and witnessed what they had, could you go back to life as usual? Probably not.

Knowing that Jesus rose from the dead is widely believed to have had a profound and transformative impact on the lives of the disciples, particularly those who witnessed the resurrection. This belief in Jesus’s resurrection is seen as a primary catalyst for their courage, confidence, and willingness to proclaim the Gospel, even in the face of persecution and death. The same should be true of us. If you know Christ is living and you trust Him as your own Savior, then you should live it out. Tell others. Invest in the lives of others. Let Christ’s love, which so transforms you.

Jesus isn’t just a “good guy” — He’s our Savior, worthy of all praise and attention. We were made for a relationship with Him, a consistent prayer life with Him, and a committed practice of reading His Word. Even in the busyness of our lives, we must tend to our relationship with Jesus every day.

Discussion Questions:

1. In what ways have you let Easter be a passing holiday? How can you change that?
2. What is your basic answer to the question, “Does Easter matter?”

“ Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”).’ – Matthew 27:32-33.

It’s a natural human tendency to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Much of our lives is shaped around this instinct. We’re innately inclined to turn away from what hurts, and to seek safety in what’s pleasurable and familiar. We cling to what’s secure, safe, and feels good in our circumstances and relationships. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, because we were designed to value life.

But following God often means coming out of our comfort spots and setting ourselves aside for His glory. He wants us to trust Him, but we can only do that when we let go and obey. More likely, Simon (mentioned in Mark 15:21, Matthew 27:32, and Luke 23:26) had other things to do that day than get personally involved in Jesus’ crucifixion. His plans and agenda were interrupted when he was given an order to carry the bloody cross for Jesus. It was hard work, bloody, and humiliating, but he carried the cross for Christ and walked with him in His most difficult hours. In doing so, he became part of the greatest story in history.

What a powerful example of what Jesus had taught just a short time before. Even more significant is that what Simon was forced to do, Jesus did willingly. He subjected himself to public mockery, severe beatings, and one of the most horrific deaths the world has ever come up with. As the Son of God, He didn’t have to endure anything; He allowed Himself to be a prisoner of the Roman soldiers. Even in those last excruciating hours nailed to the cross, He could have opted out. But Jesus understood his suffering was not about Him; it was the only way to restore sinners to the heavenly Father.

God doesn’t force us to follow him either. He doesn’t put the cross on us, but asks us to pick it up willingly. Our decision will cost us something; there’s heavy lifting, rejection, and personal interruptions. Actually, it will cost us everything. The only way to get the life we work so hard to protect is to give it back to God and trust Him to take care of it.

Luke is the only Gospel that says Simon carried the cross behind Jesus. “As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.” (luke 23:26). All the other Gospels that mention say he carried it. Does Luke want us to remember Luke 9:23, where he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”  

The Christian faith is the cross and resurrection, sacrificial love, and life. We who are followers of Jesus Christ surrender to the life and death of Christ so that he will be glorified through us. Simon carried the cross provided for Jesus, and that is precisely what we must do today. Simon of Cyrene, who followed behind Jesus with the cross, is a picture of discipleship. Christ has gone first, but can we follow in his steps, bearing the cross behind Him? It is reminiscent of the lyrics to the song “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” written by the Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh: “I have decided to follow Jesus; The world behind me, the cross before me; Though none go with me, still I will follow; My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus; No turning back, no turning back.”

Discussion Questions:

1. How is Simon an example of discipleship?
2. What can we learn from Simon’s willingness to help Jesus? 
3. In what ways are we often “compelled” to do things we don’t want to do, but that may be part of God’s plan for us?
   

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.”  – Proverbs 25:28.

The family is sitting around the dinner table enjoying a meal. It is not all that interesting, but everyone is engaged. Suddenly, Aunt Thelma decides to turn her political opinions into moral measuring sticks, and in a matter of a few seconds, people are irritated, heat rises, nerves fray, and the worst version of you begs to come out in a clear, concise rant. But you look around and decide that you will never argue someone into a change of opinion on any topic they are invested in, at least not in the moment or a forum like a family dinner, so you say nothing.

That, in a nutshell, is the concept of self-control. In the Bible, self-control, also known as temperance or self-discipline, is a fundamental virtue, a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and essential for living a godly life. It involves restraint and moderation in thoughts, words, actions, and desires.

But it’s hard to display self-control when it feels like someone else does things out of our control and triggers our basic instincts. When someone else’s actions or statements threaten us, we have a choice. It may feel like we don’t have a choice, but we do. When we react by yelling or flying off the handle, or silencing them with a snappy comment back, it can be seen as a failure to live according to God’s will and can reflect a lack of faith and trust in His guidance.

Isaiah 55:10-11 is a good reminder of how we can tap into God’s power no matter our situation: “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

Did you catch that? The answer to keeping God’s power with me and working in me to produce self-control is letting His Word get inside me. His Word seeping into my mind and my heart will accomplish the things that help me display self-control. So when facing a situation where someone is getting on your last good nerve, remember God’s word. 1 Peter 5:6-8 says, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”

In the moment, choose to have self-control. When somebody is treading on your last nerve, realize that you have an enemy, but it is not the person irritating you.  The devil is prowling and roaring and looking to make us lose self-control. We fight that happening by staying humble and quietly letting God have His way in us right now. And when we do this, God will lift us and our frayed nerves up from this situation and fill us with a much better reaction than what we can give Aunt Thelma in the moment.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some ways we can show self-control by honoring God with our emotions?
2. How can we seek God’s help through prayer to develop self-control?
3. How can we cultivate self-control through accountability and surrounding ourselves with fellow believers?
   

“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” ― Luke 14:28.

A cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the economic feasibility of a project or decision by comparing its projected costs and benefits. It involves listing all costs and benefits, converting them to a common monetary value, and then comparing them to determine if the potential benefits outweigh the costs. The project is generally considered worthwhile if the benefits exceed the costs.

Cost-benefit analysis is pretty common in business, but what about doing a CBA with Jesus? How do we weigh the benefits versus the costs of following Jesus? Many people want to follow Jesus but without thinking about the hard parts because following Jesus is hard. The Apostle Paul knew the cost of following Jesus. He wrote in a letter, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.”

What will it cost you to follow Jesus? Each of us has our cross to carry, and your struggle may differ from others, but the challenging part is you don’t get to pick your struggle. Jesus does. If you follow Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him. Trusting Jesus even when you don’t know the details of how He’s going to do it. You don’t even know where the difficulties are. You don’t know the details, but you follow Jesus because you trust them. You follow because you think He can care for you, even if you don’t know how. You trust Him. In other words, it is faith.

Abram was a man with amazing faith. “The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you” (Genesis 12:1). For Abram, the cost of following the Lord is that you have to leave your home and go to a different country. You would have questions. Where are we going? How long will we be gone? How far away is it? Is it hot there or cold? What’s my job going to be? Abram didn’t get to know those details. So, does he trust the Lord? Verse 4 says, “So Abram departed as the LORD had instructed…” If you keep following Jesus, you’ll need to trust Him.

So how did Abram do that? The Lord promised him that it would be worth it. He said, “I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3).

It will be worth it for you too.  You don’t know what it will cost you to keep following Jesus. Following Jesus can lead to a more profound sense of joy and happiness, rooted in faith, hope, and the love of God. While happiness can be found in various aspects of life, the promise of eternal life and a relationship with God through Jesus offers a unique and profound source of joy that transcends earthly limitations.

Discussion Questions:

1. Following Christ means dying to yourself. What does that mean in practical terms?
2. Do your views and opinions influence your friends? Why or why not? How do your peers respect your beliefs and values?

Summary: “Taking up your cross” signifies a daily commitment to self-denial, sacrifice, and following Christ’s teachings, even when facing hardship or opposition. It’s a metaphor for a life of discipleship, where one willingly embraces the burdens and challenges of following Jesus rather than prioritizing one’s own desires or ambitions.

In preparing them for His coming crucifixion, Jesus talked to His disciples about their cross.  He left no doubt what discipleship meant: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Jesus was speaking to the disciples, to the crowd that followed Him, to all the people who have lived from that day to today and us.  He laid the groundwork for us to understand what it means to be a disciple following Him. We need to live crucified lives.

Jesus gave them all a word picture that people in those ancient times understood very clearly but were still probably shocked at those words. Undoubtedly, many people— even the disciples — believed Jesus was about to bring a glorious and powerful kingdom to earth. Many had already drifted away, and now this statement. What He was saying to them and saying to us is to crucify — to put to death — our plans and desires. We’re to stop trying to gratify the flesh. Our taking up is a matter of bowing down. Jesus never hid the cost of discipleship. He calls us to bow in absolute surrender to Him. This isn’t a mystical, deeper life activity for some spiritual super-elite; it’s for all who desire to follow the Lord.

Surrender is easy when life is running smoothly, but surrendering to God’s will can be more difficult during struggles and trials. Jesus said we would face many troubles (John 16:33). We will likely suffer in some way as we follow in His steps. We do not need to think about this once a year. Instead, we must choose to live dead to yourself every single day. We constantly need to mentally, emotionally, and spiritually see that our old sinful nature has been nailed to the cross.

And while this seems like a lot to ask of us, we can’t forget that the cross can set us free, even now. We are set free because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We need to stay in that position of dying to self, dying to what we want, and dying to what we want to happen.

To die daily is just another way of saying, “Lord, help me see the opportunities to follow you.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What does “take up your cross and follow Jesus” mean? 
2. How does the concept of “taking up your cross” relate to denying yourself and sacrificing your own desires? 
3. What are some concrete ways that we might be carrying our crosses in our daily lives? 

Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” –  2 Timothy 3:12.

People new to the faith can often conclude that Christianity is hard for some and easy for others. They are wrong. The Bible suggests that following Jesus is hard for some, and for others, it is even harder.

While there are many blessings that come with being a Christian, there are also important costs that come with following Christ. The benefits outweigh the costs and a life with Christ is the best gift we can ever receive. But following Jesus will mean facing difficulties. We will not face some of the difficulties people faced in the Bible, over the centuries and even our brothers and sisters around who face daily persecution. That doesn’t mean that following Jesus is easy for the rest of us.

In 2 Timothy 3:12,  Paul doesn’t mince words. If you want to follow Jesus and do the things He did, you are going to face pushback. It’s a scriptural guarantee—following Jesus is not easy. Mark 8:34 adds, “Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.” If you actually want to follow Jesus, He says that you need to die to yourself (take up your cross) and follow Him. The Scripture continues right after in Mark 8:35: “If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

One day, a man went up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what can I do to gain eternal life?” (Luke 18:18) From his question, it seems that he really wanted to follow Christ. Jesus responds and tells him to follow the commandments. The man was probably pleased because he responded, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” Then Jesus looked at him lovingly and said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor…” The man walked away from Jesus sorrowfully – he didn’t want to give up his stuff.

Like many people today, the young ruler failed to understand that following Christ comes with a cost. He didn’t consider that Jesus would ask him to give up his greatest possessions.

The Bible is clear: Following Jesus comes at a cost. One of the worst lies of modern Christianity is that following Jesus is easy. Following Jesus is not easy. It’s life-giving and so much more. But “easy” is not an applicable word.

But for anyone willing to pay that cost, they will find life. You will find real contentment within yourself when nothing is left except for Jesus. There, Jesus will prove that He is all you have ever needed.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of the challenges or sacrifices you anticipate making as you consider following Jesus more fully? 
2. How does the concept of “counting the cost” relate to your own life and choices? 
3. In what ways might your life or relationships be affected if you prioritize following Jesus over other priorities? 

“ Golf… is the infallible test. The man who can go into a patch of rough alone, with the knowledge that only God is watching him, and play his ball where it lies, is the man who will serve you faithfully and well” – P.G. Wodehouse.

You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate what’s known among golfers as a “mulligan.” What is it? A mulligan is a do-over, an opportunity to try again after hitting a bad shot. Mulligans aren’t in the official rule book of golf. It’s more like an informal courtesy among recreational golfers. Say you hit a ball off the tee, and it ricochets off a tree trunk into the pond, never to be seen again. That’s when you might hear a compassionate golfing buddy say, “take a mulligan.” If it weren’t for the mulligan, most people would quit playing golf after their first time trying because hitting that little white ball is so hard, and second chances make it easier and more enjoyable.

Look and you will see the mercy of a mulligan throughout the Bible. Time after time, God gave people who hit poor shots another opportunity. Peter is one example. At the Last Supper, Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Him three times before the rooster crowed. Peter, of course, vehemently protested, boasting that he was ready to go to prison and to death. “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.” (Matthew 26:35).

It didn’t take long for Peter to fail. After Jesus’ arrest, Peter was sitting outside in a courtyard when a servant girl recognized him and claimed he was with Jesus. He denied it. Later, another servant girl and bystanders further questioned him, and each time, Peter denied knowing Jesus, even swearing and cursing to prove it. After the third denial, a rooster crowed, and Peter remembered Jesus’ prediction, leading him to weep bitterly.

Peter had failed and failed miserably. He must have replayed those denials again and again in his head. He probably assumed he could never make it right because Jesus had died. When Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to the disciples, Peter must have been thrilled that Jesus was alive, but you have to wonder if the feeling of failure lingered. Whether he still deserved to be a disciple may have been running through his mind.  Yet, Jesus had promised Peter during the Last Supper that Peter seems to have forgotten: “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:32 NIV). Did you catch that? “And when you have turned back…” Jesus expected his disciples to get back into the game after his failure.  Did Peter Fail? He did. Peter was given a second chance at discipleship. He received a spiritual mulligan, a do-over in ministry.

Maybe you are struggling with a sense of failure today and wondering if you’re beyond hope. While we don’t want to go out of our way to fail because there can be consequences, we do need to trust that God is a God of second chances and miracles.

Discussion Questions:

1. What does the idea of “mulligans” or second chances mean to you personally?
2. Do you believe in the concept of “mulligans” or second chances in life, and why or why not?
3. How does the idea of “mulligans” or second chances impact your view of forgiveness from others and yourself?