Session one of this study guide focuses on our neglect of the resurrection. Having seen just how important the resurrection is to us, this session covers chapters two and three, and the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
Adrian invites you to discuss these questions with him and each other on Twitter, just include @adrianwarnock in your Tweet, or follow the link to read others posts.
To discuss any of these questions online, please tweet your thoughts (you are welcome to post more than once!) or comment on Facebook.
We begin once again with a short video:
Christians can often simply assume that Jesus rose again without thinking about why we believe he did. The material addressed in these chapters is therefore vital for us in helping us to build our confidence and hope. For without Jesus’ resurrection, as we saw last time, we are of all men to be most pitied. We can only be confident of our own faith and salvation to the extent to which we are confident in the resurrection of Jesus. We must also be careful to obey 1 Peter 3:15 which urges us “in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.” Having this material ready to discuss with people who are not yet Christians is vital if we want to share the gospel. When we tell someone we believe that Jesus rose again (which is the essential component of the gospel announcement) we better be ready to tell them why we think that! Amazingly, some apologetics courses no longer include this kind of material, which was once very well known by all evangelicals.
QUESTION ONE. What would the world look like today if, when Peter and John ran up to the tomb, the body was still there?
Read the Bible accounts of the visit of the women to the tomb: Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18
QUESTION TWO. Do you believe these accounts are credible eye-witness testimony? Consider the differences between the accounts. Could these represent “normal” inaccuracies often seen in witness accounts? What would that mean for the doctrine of the inerrancy of Scripture? Do these accounts “mesh” together if seen as being the same event told from different women’s perspective? Read the relevant section of chapter two and see if you agree with how the events are woven together there.
QUESTION THREE. How does it make you feel to know that the women were the first to bring witness to the resurrection?
Adrian summarizes the resurrection appearances of Jesus as follows:
Jesus met with people when they were alone, with a small handful of people, in a group of twelve or more, and in an assembly of hundreds. He met them in a formal gathering, over a meal, in a home, in secluded countryside, at work, and in the middle of a busy city. Jesus can still meet people today in all these situations. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20), and “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
QUESTION FOUR. Do you agree that Jesus can and does meet with people today in each of these situations? How does this happen given that he is in heaven? Explain the role of prayer and Bible reading in this process, and discuss some of your own experiences of meeting Jesus.
QUESTION FIVE Which of the following theories to explain away the resurrection do you find most plausible, and the least plausible and why? Opposing theories: Resurrection as a myth, the disciples lied, someone snatched the body, they went to the wrong tomb, Jesus merely swooned, they saw hallucinations. Why do you believe none of these theories are true and instead that Jesus really did rise again?
Prayer
Thank God for raising Christ from the dead. Ask him to strengthen your own faith. Pray that he will give you an opportunity to talk with someone soon about why you believe Jesus rose from the dead.
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