Luke 24:1–8 1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8Then they remembered his words.

GOD SURPRISES AT THE UPPER ROOM AND BY THE SEA OF GALILEE.

•   The disciples became servants of others. They were known for their love.
•   The disciples (early Christians) lived for different goals—they lived for Jesus.
•   The disciples were committed to the new Kingdom. Whatever nationality, or race, or kingdom (nation) someone was from was secondary. God’s Kingdom is a Holy (set apart) nation.

Luke 24:36–49 36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

THE RESULT: THE DISCIPLES LIVED SURPRISING LIVES.

• The disciples became servants of others. They were known for their love.
• The disciples (early Christians) lived for different goals—they lived for Jesus.
• The disciples were committed to the new Kingdom. Whatever nationality, or race, or kingdom (nation) someone was from was secondary. God’s Kingdom is a Holy (set apart) nation.
• The world can seem out of control, that God is at the mercy of evil people. This is simply not true.
•   Death isn’t what we thought it was. It’s a door way. (Next Sermon Series: One Minute After You Die)
•   They had courage and purpose in the face of trial, even unto death.
•   Knowing God serves, saves, and surprises leads us to a surprising life style.

Colossians 2:13-15 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:1–6 1Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:14–21 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

DO YOU LIVE A SURPRISING LIFE?

•   Look at way you live.
•   What do you live for?
•   Are you surprising?

QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUPS OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:

Passages to consider: John 20

1. What impacted you or surprised you about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as you heard it this year?
2. Read John 20:10-18, or John 20:19-22, or John 20:24-30. What is surprising in this passage? A) How do you see the people respond to Jesus?
3. What surprises you about God these days? B) Where is there awe? Where might there be doubt?
4. Glorious Exchange has looked at the God who serves, who saves, who sacrifices, and who surprises. What has God shown you about Himself this season? B) How is that impacting how you respond to life?
5. Who, in your world, needs to know this amazing God and His good news? A) What is your part in sharing Him with them?