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A day of rejoicing

You’ve heard the Easter story before. You know about the empty tomb, the angels, and you know "He is risen." But what if the real moment… isn’t the empty tomb? What if it’s when Jesus simply says… “Hello.”

 

 

Opening Prayer

Begin by inviting God's presence into your gathering. Ask the Holy Spirit to open hearts and minds to see Jesus in new ways—both in Scripture and in one another.

Icebreaker

Share a time when someone greeted you in a way that made you feel truly seen and welcomed. What made that greeting memorable?

Key Sermon Points

  1. Every Sunday is Resurrection Sunday - We don't celebrate resurrection once a year; it's an everyday way of living.

  2. Jesus Shows Up in People - If resurrection is real, Jesus doesn't stay trapped in a tomb or only in heaven—He shows up in the faces of people around us.

  3. Resurrection is About Encounter, Not Just Information - Jesus' simple greeting "Hello" reminds us that God invites us into relationship, not just knowledge.

  4. Don't Just Look Up—Look Around - We encounter the risen Christ in the people we meet, especially those who are hurting, overlooked, or counted out.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Message

  1. The pastor mentioned that "every Sunday is a little Easter." How does this perspective change the way you think about weekly worship and daily Christian living?

  2. What stood out to you about Jesus' first word to the disciples being simply "Hello" or "Greetings"? What does this tell us about Jesus' heart after the resurrection?

  3. The women at the tomb weren't expecting to encounter a risen Lord—they came prepared for death. When has God broken into your life unexpectedly with new life?

Going Deeper

  1. The sermon challenges us to "see the face of Jesus in all the people you meet." Who in your life is hardest to see Jesus in? Why do you think that is?

  2. Read Matthew 25:31-40 together. How does this passage connect with the sermon's message about seeing Jesus in others?

  3. The pastor said, "God always meets us with life." What areas of your life feel dead or hopeless right now? How might God be meeting you with resurrection life in those places?

Personal Reflection

  1. Think about the "saints" sitting around you in church. How does viewing fellow believers as reflections of Jesus change how you interact with them?

  2. The sermon mentions seeing Christ "in people who are hurting, in people who have been overlooked, in people who have been counted out." Who fits this description in your community? How can you encounter Christ by serving them?

Key Takeaways

  • Resurrection is a daily reality, not just an annual celebration
  • Jesus greets us with "Hello"—resurrection is relational, not just theological
  • We encounter the risen Christ in the people around us
  • God breaks into our grief and hopelessness with new life
  • Our job is to see Jesus in others, especially when they can't see it themselves

Practical Applications

This Week's Challenge (Choose One or More):

  1. The "Hello" Practice: Each day this week, intentionally greet someone as if you're greeting Jesus Himself. Pay attention to how this changes your interactions.

  2. See Jesus in the Overlooked: Identify one person in your life who is hurting, marginalized, or counted out. Take one concrete action to serve them this week (a meal, a visit, a phone call, etc.).

  3. Sunday Resurrection Reminder: Set a reminder on your phone for every Sunday that says "Resurrection Day!" Let it prompt you to celebrate Christ's victory throughout the week.

  4. Journal Reflection: Write about where you need resurrection in your life right now. Where do you need God to break into your silence with new life? Share this with one trusted person and ask them to pray for you.

  5. Small Group Service Project: As a group, plan to serve together in a way that allows you to encounter Christ in others (food pantry, nursing home visit, neighborhood cleanup, etc.).

Closing Reflection

Read together: "Because I live, you will live also." (John 14:19)

Reflect: The same Jesus we can't wait to see in heaven is already here—in this room, in your life, in the people you'll meet this week. What would change if you truly believed that?

Closing Prayer

Invite group members to share one area where they need to experience resurrection life this week. Pray for one another, asking God to help each person see Jesus in themselves and in others, and to experience the greeting of the risen Christ: "Hello—here I am."