Cape Christian
Pastor Cory
I Can’t Believe… Easter Sunday
INTRODUCTION
Friday was horrible beyond words. Saturday was also awful in a very different way where words were absent and hope was all but gone. But then Sunday came. Resurrection happened! The tomb was empty and Jesus is alive! This reality helps us as Fridays and Saturdays continue to come into our lives. The hope of that Sunday informs us of His power and goodness through all the other days we experience. Sunday is all about redemption. Redemption only has value if we choose to draw upon a Source that actually has value. What Jesus provided for all of us on the cross has infinite value. That value is ours when we choose to believe. Let’s accept all Jesus has provided for us. We need it all!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Gift cards- they are great and they can also be not so great. There may be some good gift card stories to share in your group. Have you ever received a gift card for a store or restaurant that was less than awesome? Please explain. Have you ever tried to use a gift card only to find out that it had little or no value left on it? Please explain. Have you ever misplaced a gift card that you know had value on it or wanted to use a gift card and realized you did not have it with you when you wanted to spend it? Please explain. Ah, gift cards. Gotta love ‘em and sometimes you’ve gotta hate ‘em!
Jesus paid an exorbitant price for our sins. He paid it all! He paid to redeem us. WIth a gift card as you context, what does it mean for your sins to be paid for (redeemed) by Jesus? What is your role in getting your sins paid for (redeemed)?
“Jesus became like us so we could become like Him.” What does this mean to you?
For the past three weeks we have been looking at the life of Peter. Peter was passionate, often wrong, and Jesus chose him. We can learn from Peter what we should do and we can also learn from him what we should not do. What have you learned from Peter?
Peter and John were both human. They made mistakes, had egos, allowed things to matter that should not have mattered, and they were chosen by Jesus. What are some human traits you see in other Christ-followers that give you hope of how Jesus can use you despite your own humanity?
Jesus loved His disciples, but He also liked them. How do you think Peter was able to deal with his obvious failures and still face Jesus? We know how we deal with our own failures and the taunting voice of shame and regret in our heads. It would be foolish to assume Peter did not deal with this. How would you respond to Jesus asking you “Do you love Me?” He asked him three times! Put yourself in Peter’s spot. How would you have felt? How would you have responded?
How do you respond now to your own failures? How do you respond to grace and mercy? Do you allow yourself to accept chances you know you do not deserve?
Peter grew through his mistakes. Peter grew to know Jesus and to trust Him through HIs failures. Often we want to grow in Jesus through our successes. That way is much more desirable. If we are willing to learn from both our failures and successes we have LOTS more opportunities to grow. It takes humility to grow through our failures. How willing are you to allow your failures to be your teachers?
MOVING FORWARD
You have been redeemed. You have a Savior who adores you and who knows everything about you. He chose to redeem you for the full value of all your sins. He loaded your redemption card with plenty of value to pay for it all! Choose to believe you are free and that all your sins are paid for. Also choose to believe that you have nothing to do to pay it back. You get to live out of the life He has given you. Live freely so that others see your freedom and want what you have. Just know they actually don’t want what you have, they want Who you have. Jesus!