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Sermon Discussion Guide - 04/05/2026
Kings and Kingdoms:
The Risen King
Sermon Recap
On the first Easter morning, nobody showed up expecting victory. The women came carrying spices because they believed the story was over, but the empty tomb revealed that Jesus had told the truth all along: He is the risen King, and His resurrection meets us in places of grief, fear, regret, and surrender. The heart of the message is that Easter is not just something to celebrate, but something to surrender to, because if Jesus walked out of the grave, He has the right to lead every part of our lives.
Ice Breakers
What is one smell that instantly reminds you of a specific memory?
- What is something people always expect on a holiday, and you would be totally fine skipping?
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If you had to run somewhere dramatically like Peter ran to the tomb, where would you least want it to be?
Discussion Questions
- Context: In Luke 24, the women came to Jesus’ tomb carrying spices. They were not expecting resurrection. They came grieving, assuming the story had ended, but the empty tomb showed that Jesus was already doing something bigger than they could see.
- Application: What is one area of your life that you may be treating as final, but where Jesus might still want to bring hope, healing, or new life?
- Context: The sermon points out that the women’s first reaction was fear, not comfort. That fear did not make them faithless; it made them human. Even when Easter meets us in our pain, change can still feel scary, and we often cling to what is familiar, even when it is not healthy.
- Application: Where do you sense fear is keeping you from trusting Jesus more fully right now?
- Context: The angels told the women to remember what Jesus had already said. The resurrection was not a surprise to Jesus. He had spoken clearly, but grief had made it hard for His followers to hold onto the truth. Sometimes we don't need brand-new information; we need to remember what Jesus has already made clear.
- Application: What truth about Jesus do you need to stop negotiating with and start living like it is really true?
- Context: A key turn in the sermon is that the resurrection changes the question. It is no longer just, “By whose authority does Jesus do these things?” The question becomes, “What are we going to do with a King who walked out of the grave?” If Jesus rose from the dead, then surrender is not irrational; it is the only fitting response.
- Application: What would it look like for you to let Jesus be King in that area instead of continuing to wear the crown yourself?
- Context: The women moved. Peter ran. Nobody in Luke 24 treated the resurrection as an interesting idea and then stayed still. The sermon emphasizes that living kings demand a response, and that the empty tomb creates movement even before every detail is fully understood.
- Application: What next step of surrender, obedience, or trust might Jesus be inviting you to take now, even if you do not have everything figured out yet?
Prayer
- Make sure to spend time in prayer as a group when you meet.
- Have group members share prayer requests, and pray for them.
- You could have one person pray for all the requests, or each member pray for one person.
- Keep a record of those requests and ask about them on a weekly basis.
Leader Tip
Pay attention to who has spoken and who has not. A healthy group is not just about good answers, but shared participation. A simple invitation like, “I’d love to hear from someone who hasn’t shared yet,” can help make space without putting pressure on anyone.