Groups Discussion Guide
Read Scripture. Go Deeper. Ask Questions. Take Action.
Keep the passion alive
Scripture
3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Main Idea
Jesus’ resurrection is sometimes seen as an ending, but the resurrection is really a new beginning. Jesus spent forty days after the resurrection teaching, explaining, and encouraging the disciples and others, however they couldn’t seem to see past their personal hopes and preferences. While Jesus later ascended to Heaven, He promised the disciples a helper in the Holy Spirit and gave them a charge to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. He marked a new starting point and asked them to keep the passion alive.
Christian hope is a defiant belief that death does not get the last word.
Discussion Questions
- How would you plan to spend forty days with an incredible teacher and counselor?
- What is something you’ve read, watched, or listened to many years ago that you only recently realized had a totally different meaning?
- Have you ever misplaced your hope and passion? What happened?
- How can Jesus care for your daily needs and your eternity at the same time?
Summary
Jesus remained with the disciples and those close to Him for forty days after the resurrection. He wanted them to go forward and be His witnesses with the help of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
Forty is an important biblical number representing transition, trial, and testing.
- Noah and 40 days of flooding
- Moses and 40 days on Mt. Sinai
- Israel in the desert for 40 years
- Jesus' temptation for 40 days
With the new helper and a new charge, Easter is a fresh start, a new beginning. You don’t have to wait. The mission didn’t end with an empty tomb.
The resurrection is the starting point, not the finish line.
Despite Jesus’ clear warnings He would be crucified, the Disciples still didn’t understand. The Disciples fled, fearful the Roman state would execute them as they did to Jesus.
- Matthew 16:21-23
- Matthew 17:22-23
- Matthew 20:17-19
- Mark 8:31-33
- Mark 9:30-32
- Mark 10:32-34
- Luke 9:21-22
- Luke 9:43-45
- Luke 18:31-34
Instead, the Disciples wanted to know if Jesus was going to restore the kingdom to Israel, and remove the Romans from power.
When your passion is misplaced, your hope gets confused.
“Christian hope is a defiant belief that death does not get the last word.”
Think of something from long ago that you only recently learned had a totally different meaning. The Disciples took their personal hopes and dreams to Jesus. One of them being a new government and the end of Roman rule. Jesus had other plans and the Disciples simply couldn’t see it.
As Jesus departed, two angels appeared and asked them why they were staring at the sky. Jesus will come back in the same way he departed.
The resurrection isn’t a high point to look at, it’s a hope to live by.
The resurrection is paradoxical. Jesus rose, yet He remains. He never tells you to deny reality. He just tells you what to do about it. Jesus knows today is important. He gives us our daily bread and at the same time we seek His will be done. You can be the best in your daily life, but remember it won’t last forever. Do not be seduced by success. The hope of Jesus will sustain you when everything in you wants to give up. Jesus transforms us from victim to victor.
Keep the passion alive, be His witnesses here and to the ends of the earth.
Take Action
- Think about any relationships in your life where someone has been trying to teach you something but you hear something different?
- Memorize Acts 1:8
- Pray to Jesus to help you be the best you can be, but not be seduced by success.
- How is your Christian hope? Is it in the right spot? How does it make you feel that Jesus does not give death the last word?
