1. Have you ever experienced a time when your wildest expectations were met? What occurred and how did you react?
Ask two people to read aloud John 20:19-31, one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to briefly summarize the passage.
2. What do you think Jesus’ sudden appearance behind locked doors and his message of peace would have meant to his disciples?
3. What is the importance of Jesus’ commissioning of the disciples in verse 21?
4. Jesus breathed on his disciples, saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” How and when did the Holy Spirit work in the disciples after this?
5. What is the significance of Jesus’ statement about forgiveness in verse 23?
6. When Jesus appeared to the disciples behind locked doors the second time, why do you think he used the same greeting as he used in his first appearance to them?
7. What lessons can we learn from Thomas’s doubt and subsequent belief?
- Can you recall a time when your faith was restored after doubting the Lord? What happened?
8. When Thomas finally saw the risen Christ in person, he exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” What would it take for the average person today to come to this same conclusion?
9. What does Jesus’ statement to Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” teach us about the essence of faith?
10. Based on our study and discussion, complete the sentence: “I will . . .”
For Next Week: Read and reflect on 1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 12:12-20 as we begin a two-month study of Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
Author: Christian Standard
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