What is your favorite picnic food?

**John 21:1-14**

Some interesting things: the number of fish are counted; the disciples didn't recognize Jesus at first, but then knew it was him; Peter gets completely dressed and then jumps into the water. Peter often leaps without looking, which leads us to today's conversation.

Why are the disciples back up in Galilee? When we are surrounded with uncertainty, don't we also look for the familiar? Did the disciples think their time with Jesus was over? Were they confused about why they had been following Jesus in the first place?

Asking the men to throw their nets off the other side of the boat is a throwback story to Luke 5:1-11.

Peter knew that Jesus heard him deny Jesus. Even though Peter is bounding toward the shore to see Jesus, wouldn't you expect the conversation after the denial would be difficult?

In Mark 16:7, the angel tells the women to go and tell the disciples "and Peter." Why would Peter be singled out specifically? Had he resigned his discipleship with the denial? Even if he had lost his status as being a disciple, was he not still chosen by Jesus? Jesus had a job for Peter.

**John 21:15-19**

Why is Peter asked three times if he loves Jesus? Is it because of the three denials? Notice that Jesus isn't calling him by his nickname, "Peter," but by the more formal, "Simon, son of John." Why is this?

When Jesus asks, "Do you love me more than these?" what does he mean by _these_?

There are two different meanings of the word _love_ here: Agape, which is the unconditional love we get from God; Philia, which is the love shared between siblings and best friends.

1\. Jesus asks Peter if he loves him unconditionally (agape). Peter responds he loves Jesus in a brotherly way (philia).

Why does Peter not think he can answer with unconditional love? Is it a feeling of being unworthy; is it a feeling of being inauthentic? Even though Peter doesn't feel like he can offer his unconditional love, Jesus still believes in Peter; still has a job for him.

2\. Jesus again asks about unconditional love; Peter again answers with brotherly love.

3\. Jesus now asks about brotherly love; Peter agrees with brotherly love.

There is little doubt that Peter eventually discovered unconditional love for Jesus, but he was not ready at this time. But Jesus was not going to give up on him. Instead, Jesus was willing to meet Peter where he was.

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**Acts 3:1-16, 4:5-12**

When has your name been misspelled or mispronounced?

What was the beggar probably expecting from Peter and John? Was he expecting much?...aren't beggars often just ignored? The beggar's healing was immediate and full!

The people expect that Peter has some special power that allowed him to perform this miracle. Peter wants to be sure people know the credit goes to Jesus. How had Peter depended on his own power, instead of Jesus's, before? How did that work out for him?

Annas and Caiaphas were among the council of religious leaders who decided to crucify Jesus. How would you feel being Peter or John appearing before these men? Where did their courage come from? Can the Holy Spirit offer us courage today? Why don't we tap into that?

We know the names of all the main characters in this story except for the beggar. Why is the beggar nameless? Are there nameless people in our society? Should there be?

Why did the religious leaders want to know in whose name this miracle was performed? There is power in a name. Has your name ever been misused? God is clear that God's name is not to be misused. How is God's name often misused?

The name of Jesus doesn't just offer healing. It also offers salvation. What is salvation? Our hope come from the fact that God not only loves us, but has _chosen us_ to spend eternity with. This hope is secured with the empty tomb--Jesus has power over death. We all know people who need to know this hope. Let us come together and proclaim the hope that is in the name of Jesus!

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Happy Easter!   

John 20

Have you ever received news you could not believe?

Mary Magdalene found the tomb open and empty. What did she assume happened? John and Peter run to the tomb. What do they see? They did not yet understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead...why did Jesus have to rise from the dead? It says that they saw and believed. Can you believe without understanding? Why did they go home?

Why does Mary not recognize Jesus? Does his resurrection do more than just bring him back to life? Has his physical appearance changed or been enhanced somehow? Why doesn't Mary react to the angels? Why did the angels and Jesus wait to appear to Mary?

Why does Jesus greet the disciples with "Peace by with you?"

Why doesn't Thomas believe the other disciples? Why does Jesus appear again? If Thomas is a doubter because of this one story, don't all of us have to take on that title, too?

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Matthew 26:17-35 -- The Last Supper

What is meal time like at your house?

Why is it significant that this was the Passover celebration? What is Passover about? How does the plague of death passing over the houses of the faithful connect to Jesus and his sacrifice?

How do you think the disciples would have reacted when Jesus announced he would have been betrayed? Why was Judas confused that Jesus was talking about him? What may have motivated Judas to lead the Jewish officials to Jesus? Is there any clue as to where Judas may have been sitting? If they are sharing the same dipping bowl, they may have been sitting right next to each other. Why would Jesus seat his betrayer right next to him?

Jesus is not motivated by rationale. He is motivated by love.

When Jesus breaks the bread and says, "This is my body," it was matzo bread, and there would have been an audible snap.

If Peter has already identified Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, why is he arguing with Jesus here? Peter has a history of relying on his own wisdom and strength rather than on Jesus, and it never goes well. Here, perhaps Peter should have stepped back and reflected on what Jesus was saying. Maybe he should have asked Jesus for strength in facing the temptation of denial.

Nothing surprises Jesus. He knew his betrayer and he denier, and he invited them to dinner anyway. He knows us, he knows our faults and our shortcomings, and he loves us anyway.

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The Transfiguration and Palm Sunday

Have you ever had a celebrity encounter?

Matthew 17:1-13

What happened here? Why did Jesus want Peter, James, and John to experience this? What message did God have for these three? How might this experience have been beneficial to Jesus? Why is it significant that Moses and Elijah are there? How does Peter recognize them? Why does Jesus ask them to not tell anybody about this?

Matthew 21:1-11

What were the people doing with the branches? How many people were probably there? What do they think they were celebrating? How did things change for Jesus by the end of the week? What is the victory that Jesus accomplished? What does this mean for us?

When have you ever mistaken somebody for being somebody else?

Matthew 16:13-20

Why do you suppose Jesus is interested in knowing who people think he is?  Who are some of the people that Jesus is apparently being mistaken for? 

Let’s say somebody were to ask you, Who is Jesus? …what’s your answer going to be?  What was Peter’s answer? Did Jesus seem to be surprised by Peter’s answer? How did Peter get his answer? 

What does it mean to call Jesus the Messiah?

Peter gets a cool new nickname. What does it mean to be the rock upon whom Jesus will build his Church? (Acts 2) Peter gets the keys to the kingdom of Heaven …what does that mean? 

Matthew 16:21-28 What does Jesus say needs to happen? …why does this need to happen? Why does Peter say that’s not what should happen? Why does Jesus call Peter Satan? 

In what ways are followers of Jesus called to deny themselves and take up their own cross?

As we pick up the story, Saul has been trying to kill David . David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but refused, and he had hoped that Saul would see he wasn’t a threat. It didn’t work. Saul was still trying to kill David. David took refuge in Philistine territory, hoping to be safe there. Meanwhile, all this probably took Saul's attention away from fighting the Philistines.

1 Samuel 31:1-6 Why does Saul ask his armor-bearer to kill him? How do you think David is going to feel about this? 

2 Samuel 1:1-16 Something doesn’t seem to add up here …Why would this man lie? Are you surprised by David’s response? David wasn’t very fond of his predecessor, but he respected Saul’s position as being God’s anointed. His response doesn’t seem to make sense, but it's also difficult, sometimes, to make sense of Jesus's commandment to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. It's a good opportunity to reflect upon how we treat and regard those whom we find challenging. 

Saul is dead. David is God’s anointed, but Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, assumes he will be king . This leads to some civil war. Two men (read it in chapter 4) kill Ish-Bosheth and bring his head to David. It’s like a repeat of the story we just read. David is not pleased and has them killed. But then, David becomes king.

He establishes Jerusalem as the capital. He brought the Ark of the Covenant into the City. He led a huge celebration for God. (There’s some great story for you to read in chapter 6.) Meanwhile, David’s army continues to be victorious over their enemies. Things are going well for David ..but he does get tripped up. 

2 Samuel 11:1-5 Bathsheba really didn’t have any say in this matter. The blame here is totally David's. Now, she is pregnant, so people are going to find out. Now what? 

2 Samuel 11:6-11 What is David thinking here? Why didn’t it work? 

2 Samuel 11:12-13 

Try again? Maybe get him drunk first? It still didn’t work

2 Samuel 11:14-17 

What do you have to say about Uriah’s honor?  What do you think of David now? What do you suppose God will have to say about all this? 

2 Samuel 12:1-14 

What do you think of Nathan’s tact in approaching David?  David had a very angry reaction to Nathan’s story…what does that tell you? How do you think David felt when he realized he was the point of Nathan’s story? How do you know? Why does David receive God’s forgiveness?  What is the difference between receiving forgiveness and bearing consequences?

We pick up the story after David had been anointed and defeated Goliath. His victory boosted him to fame. It appears he is becoming more popular than Saul, which stokes Saul's outrageous jealousy. (Even Saul's son, Jonathan, seems to like David better than Saul.)

1 Samuel 18:1-11

What is David so successful? Why does Saul feel so threatened by David? Is it strange that Jonathan doesn't feel threatened? Instead, Jonathan admires David, and that frustrates Saul.

1 Samuel 20:30-24

This is awkward.

How would you characterize Saul? What do you see as his biggest problem?

Jonathan warns David that his father will kill him. He tells David to go into hiding, so David leaves by himself. Remember, Saul had made David a pretty high officer in the army. David was well-known . Now, though, he’s on the run from the king, and he needs food and a weapon. 

1 Samuel 21:1-9

Why does David lie to the priest?  Is David justified in telling this lie? If David had told the truth, do you think Ahimelech would have helped him anyway? 

We can "justify" any sin we commit...but it is still a sin. Knowing that he was God's anointed, David should have relied on God more to protect him. Instead, he lied.

1 Samuel 22:11-19

Remember, in the last episode, how Samuel was worried that Saul would find out he was going to anoint a new king…he was afraid Saul would kill him? Apparently, he had good reason . Is David guilty for these deaths? 

David could not have know how far-reaching the consequences of his "little lie" would be. How you ever experienced something like this?

So, Saul begins to pursue David all over the countryside. Some men are loyal to David, but Saul still commands the army. 

1 Samuel 24

Would David have been justified in killing Saul? Why didn’t he? Do you believe Saul’s repenting is sincere? How can you tell if somebody is sincere?

1 Samuel 16 and 17

From the previous 2 episodes...Samuel had anointed Saul as king. Everything started out fine, but Saul soon developed a disdain for God's authority over him. God recognized that Saul's heart was not in the right place, so God removed him as king. Somebody new needed to be anointed, although Saul would not just abandon the thrown.

1 Samuel 16:1

Why was Samuel mourning? He had high hopes for Saul and for his leading God's nation...but he was let down.

1 Samuel 16:2-5

Why was Samuel afraid to go and anoint a new king? What does this fear reveal about Saul's character. How do the people of Bethlehem react when the prophet shows up? Why? What does this tell us about the job of being a prophet? Jesse and his sons are told to consecrate themselves for the sacrifice. What does consecrate mean? 

1 Samuel 16:6-13

Why does Samuel think Eliab must be the chosen one? Where was David? Why had his family not called him in from the field? What can you say about the difference between how his family regarded him and how God did? What does that mean for us?

There is a new battle brewing with the Philistines...

1 Samuel 17:4-11

How big was Goliath? What do you think of his proposal?

The standoff continues for a long time. David is not at the front lines--he's not old enough to be a soldier, but his brothers are. Jesse sends David with food to check how his brothers are doing. When he gets to the front, he gets a couple of ears full.

1 Samuel 17:23-29

Notice the nasty sibling rivalry. Why does David's brother call him conceited and wicked? How does this compare with what we know about David's character so far? The same is true for us...God has an opinion of us and other people do, too. God's voice is the truth; other voices are not God's voice.

Now, Saul wants to talk to David...

1 Samuel 17:32-37

What does David say to Saul to convince him to be allowed to represent the entire nation of Israel in battle against Goliath? What does taking care of sheep have to do with winning this battle? Aside from those facts, what else must be at work here?

Now, it gets a little comical...

1 Samuel 17:38-51

How did David win? What is the most important thing for us to learn from this story? What giants are you facing right now? What other characteristics did David's deep faith bring to him? How can we use that same faith and other characteristics to overcome our obstacles?

John 11:1-44

Have you ever been "dead on your feet?"

What do we know about the relationship between Jesus and Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? (Luke 10 shows that Jesus had visited their home in the past.) It makes sense that they would send for Jesus to help their sick brother.

Why does Jesus delay heading back to Bethany? It didn't seem as though he had pressing business where he was. Jesus said that this illness would not end in death, and the he said that Lazarus had died. Why the contradiction? It ain't over until it's over. Perhaps there is more to the story.

Meanwhile, Jesus says that he is glad he wasn't there to prevent Lazarus' death. There is definitely more to the story.

When Jesus arrives, Martha says that if he had been there, her brother wouldn't have died. Jesus says that Lazarus will rise again and Martha agrees that she expects to reunite with her brother in the resurrection at the end of time. Jesus says that he is the Resurrection, that anybody who believes in him will live even though they die. Martha says she believes in Jesus and what he says, but can she really be processing it all?

When Mary comes out and Jesus sees how distraught she is, he begins to weep.

Jesus orders the stone removed from the tomb, but Martha argues with him, even though she said he is the Messiah. Do we do the same thing? Martha is clinging to her belief that Jesus is the Messiah even though she can't fully comprehend the difficult situation she is in. We should do the same thing.

Jesus prays out loud. Why? Jesus orders Lazarus out of the tomb. Why did Jesus call him by name? What is the impact on the people who witnessed all this?

If Jesus knew all along that he would raise Lazarus from the dead, why was he weeping earlier? What does this say about Jesus' reaction to our heartbreak?

Lazarus had a difficult assignment, but it was worth it for the glory of God. Our assignments can also be difficult and a blessing. Martha and Mary would have described their situation as being bad and yet it turned out to be very good for everybody who was there. We don't have enough knowledge about out situations to call them bad...Romans 8:28 tells us that God works for good in the midst of all things.

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