Study Questions for Groups
By Michael C. Mack
1. Last week we were encouraged to talk to someone about living God’s way rather than the world’s way. How did that go?
2. What challenge did you face last week?
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions.
Ask the third person to retell (not interpret) the story from the passage in 60 seconds or less.
3. What do you notice in this passage that perhaps you’ve never really noticed before?
4. Let’s dig deeper:
• Look at the sensory details, descriptive adjectives and verbs, and similes used in this passage. How do these elements help you picture the events more clearly?
• What emotions do different people display throughout this account?
• Take a few minutes to look at repeated words throughout the passage: afraid, go, tell, worshiped. What does this repetition reveal to you?
• Matthew used words like quickly, hurried, ran, and suddenly. Why did Jesus’ followers have (or need) a sense of urgency in the midst of these circumstances?
• What role does worship have in these events?
• How was Jesus’ presence and his power involved in providing his people with their new purpose?
5. What do you learn about God from this passage?
6. What do you learn about people?
7. Note the various instances of Jesus’ followers obeying directives throughout this passage (vv. 5-8, 10-11a, 16, 20). Why is obedience and not mere knowledge about Jesus’ mission so critical?
8. All of us who follow Jesus—that is, all of us who believe in his death, burial, and resurrection and who have been “buried with him in baptism into death, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God”—have been given a new life (Colossians 2:12). This new life is one of purpose—God’s purpose. As you go into the world this week, how will you carry out your purpose in making disciples?
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
10. What challenges will you face this week as you go?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Matthew 9:1-17 as we continue our study in the Gospel of Matthew with the theme, “Old to New.” You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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