What are Sermon Notes?
Below is an outline for the sermon preached on Sunday morning. Accessing these notes allows you to take the sermon home with you. Feel free to add your own notes!
At the end of the sermon you can email yourself those notes from that day.
We hope this is a helpful resource for you as you dive deeper into the Scriptures and the messages preached at New Life Church.
Easter: Turning Stories Around
Text: John 20:1-23
Big Idea: Jesus' resurrection turns our stories around
Introduction
- We have parts of our stories we want turned around
- We want a good story
- Our stories need a turnaround, and Jesus offers it
- John 20: 1-23
Mary & the Disciples' sorrow moves
- v.1-7
- The story is one of sorrow
- v.8-10
Sorrow turns to joy
- v.11-18
- Mary's story of sorrow turns into joy
- v.19-20
- The Disciple's story of sorrow turns into joy
Jesus' resurrection turns sorrow into joy
- v.21-23
- Forgiveness of sin
- Jesus is your substitute
- 1 Cor 15:20-22, 54-57
Jesus' resurrection turns your story around
- Jesus' resurrection turns your story around
- v.31
- Choose Him or not. Will you let Him have the pen and write a new story?
Conclusion
- Jesus' resurrection turns your story around
Life Group Questions
- What’s a moment that impacted you from the Easter service this year? It’s sometimes fun to hear how different aspects of the morning impact people!
- Read the resurrection account from the book of John: John 20:1-23. What did you learn about the resurrection that you hadn’t before? Particularly in how it relates to the Gospel?
- Here, we see how the disciples’ story turns from sorrow to joy because of Jesus’ resurrection. Why do you think His resurrection made such a difference for them?
- What difference does Jesus’ resurrection make for you and your story, personally?
If you need help answering this, start by asking: what’s a part of your story that you want to turn around? Then brainstorm, what power the resurrection has to change the trajectory of that thing and to bring joy? (Use your group to think through this, if needed.)
- Ultimately, this all leads to a choice. Will we let Jesus have the pen and write our stories? It takes courage to surrender our stories to Him, even if we believe that He’s good. Take a moment to assess: where are you at with this? What does it look like for you to give Jesus the pen right now? Try to be specific.
- How can the text, message, or your group help encourage you to step into that kind of surrender this week?
- Close your time in prayer. We encourage you to spend time in gratitude for how Jesus steps in as our substitute, and how the power of His resurrection turns our stories around - both now and in the future. Also pray for your group members to continue surrendering their stories to Him. If there were specific plans made, encourage one another to pursue those things and to find joy in the process.
