Third Sunday of Easter

 

Opening Prayer

Savior God

We cry out Lord, Lord

and you answer our plea.

In our darkest hour

YOU come to us

YOU give us comfort

Because YOU know what it feels like to suffer.

May we sing YOUR praises forevermore

Our Lord, our Deliverer, our Redeemer!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41

• Have you ever been confronted about a wrongdoing? Could be about drinking the last of the coffee and not making more or something more serious.
• How does it feel to be accused of something whether you did it or didn’t do it? Are the feelings similar or different?

Revelation 5:11-14

• Describe how the universe cries out to give God glory.
• What can you do to show glory and give honor to God today?

 John 21:1-19 or 21:1-14

• Are you seeking Jesus? John recognized Jesus on the shore…where do you see Jesus today?  He is within reach!
• Jesus cooks breakfast on the shore for His friends; how can you express your love to your family and friends without expectation?

 

General Questions for Journaling

• Are there teachings in the church which you don’t talk about because you don’t understand them? What keeps you from learning about these things?
• What is your favorite thing about your faith? How do you know it is your favorite?
• Where do you feel most comfortable sharing your faith? With whom do you share it?  How can you stretch your reach a little this week?
• When have you gone against the law? Why did you?  Did you get caught?  Where there consequences suffered?  Would you do it again?
• Do you have a “pain plan” on how to deal with suffering or loss in your life? These experiences are inevitable, how can you prepare yourself to be able to get through the hard times?
• How could you being prepared to deal with your pain help others?
• What are you doing to keep Easter alive in your life right now?
• Where is God calling you to care for others? How are you called to care for others?
• Have you missed your call or are you already living it out and need to be renewed in your passion?

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

ALL:  to welcome me onto solid ground!

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

 ALL:  to give me a warm embrace!

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

 ALL:  to help satisfy my needs!

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

ALL:  to share with me our daily bread!

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

ALL: to remind me of my call!

Leader:  Lord, you await me on the seashore

ALL:  to restore my faith!

 

 Challenge for the Week:   Each and every person suffers at one time or another, each of us also sacrifices something for another person, for their job or for their health.  It is also often the practice for us to point out how we have made a sacrifice for someone or something so others know we have given up time or money for the sake of another, generally this is in the form of a complaint.  Consider if Jesus took this same attitude we do when we suffer for the sake of another?  Perhaps instead of complaining we should sacrifice a bit more in order to spend more time with Jesus.  We never hear of Jesus complaining about His suffering or how sacrificing His life for us was a mistake.  We do however, know He asked God to remove the suffering but Jesus had to go through the pain; He had to give up how He wanted to spend His time in order for the resurrection to happen!  How might our lives be different if Jesus didn’t go through the pain of Good Friday in order to restore us all at Easter?