NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.
This week's Bible study, for Easter Sunday, March 31, is adapted from the Bible Studies for Life curriculum.
Lesson Title: Seeing or Recognizing?
Bible Passage: John 20:1-18
Discussion Question: If you had been at the empty tomb, what would you have been your response -- joy, faith, doubt, or fear?
Food for Thought:
This week's lesson focuses on the resurrection story found in John 20. Perhaps you can remember the day you recognized Jesus for who He is -- God's Son and your Savior. You may recall the time, place and occasion when the truth of who Jesus is changed your life forever as you submitted to His lordship. If you ask people about "life changing moments," they will list things such as their wedding day, the day their first child was born or the death of a parent or someone important to them. These can be life-changing days of course, but not in the same way that encountering the risen Lord changes your life!
As you drive through your neighborhood to church on Easter Sunday morning, many of the people who live around you will still be asleep. Easter Sunday won't be anything special to them; it's just another day off and a day they can spend doing whatever they like before the work week starts anew on Monday. These people may "see Jesus" as they drive by our church buildings, see the Christian jewelry we wear or read the Christian slogans and Bible verses on our T-shirts, but they have not yet recognized Jesus as Savior and Lord. They see, but they don't recognize.
Recommended
Will you reach out to people this week and encourage them to attend church and Bible study with you? Will you build relationships with them for the purpose of winning the right to share the Gospel? Will you help them recognize Jesus as Lord through your lifestyle and the testimony of Scripture?
The March 31 lesson is the evangelistic emphasis for the spring quarter. Because this is Easter Sunday, be especially sensitive to opportunities to share the plan of salvation with your group members and Easter guests.
People tend to be more open to attending church on Easter than on other Sundays throughout the year. Who will you invite to attend with your family this year?
Questions we'll explore in the March 31 lesson include:
-- What convinced you that Jesus has risen from the dead?
-- Can you "see" Jesus without believing in Him?
-- What role did Old Testament passages play in corroborating accounts of the resurrection for first-century believers? What role do the passages play for us today?
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life is a life-stage focused family of resources that addresses key issues in the lives of adults and students. LifeWay is making improvements to Bible Studies for Life that take effect in this fall. To see those improvements, go to
www.biblestudiesforlife.com/fallpreview .
Other ongoing Bible study options for all ages offered by LifeWay can be found at LifeWay.com/SundaySchool.
Ken Braddy, manager of LifeWay's adult ongoing curriculum, regularly blogs about Sunday School and small groups at
sundayschoolguy.wordpress.com.
Copyright (c) 2013 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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