Community Group Questions: October 26th-November 1st

October 26th, 2025
by Karissa Smith

Luke 24:1-12

24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Key Takeaways from the Sermon

The Reality of the Resurrection - The empty tomb and the testimony of witnesses confirm that Jesus truly rose from the dead.
The Word as Foundation - The angels reminded the women that Jesus had told them He would rise. Our belief in the resurrection is primarily grounded in God's Word, not just our feelings or experiences.
Resurrection Power for Daily Life - The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to believers for every challenge, sin struggle, and circumstance we face.
Our Future Hope - Because Christ was raised, we too will be resurrected with imperishable, glorified bodies.
Stop Seeking the Living Among the Dead - We must stop looking to the world for hope and life, and instead look to the risen Christ.

Understanding the Text

The Women's Journey (Luke 24:1-3)
- What was the original intention of the women going to the tomb? What does this tell us about their emotional and spiritual state?
- How would you have reacted if you arrived at the tomb and found it empty?
The Angels' Message (Luke 24:4-8)
- Why do you think the angels asked, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" What was the significance of this question?
- The angels pointed the women back to Jesus' words. Why is this important? What does it teach us about the foundation of our faith?
The Disciples' Response (Luke 24:9-12)
- How did the apostles initially respond to the women's testimony? Why do you think Luke included this detail?
- What does Peter's response teach us about doubt and investigation in our faith journey?

Personal Reflection

Seeking the Living Among the Dead
- In what ways do we sometimes "seek the living among the dead" in our own lives? Where do we look for hope, life, or answers apart from the risen Christ?
- Share an area of your life where you've been looking to the world for solutions rather than to the resurrection power of Jesus.
The Foundation of Hope
- The sermon emphasized that the resurrection is the foundation of ALL hope. How does this truth change the way you approach:
  - Sin struggles?
  - Family challenges?
  - Difficult relationships?
  - Uncertain circumstances?
Believing God's Word
- The angels' primary argument was "He told you this would happen." How confident are you in God's Word as the basis for your beliefs?
- Share a promise from Scripture that you're holding onto right now. How does the resurrection give you confidence in that promise?

Future Resurrection
- How does the promise of our own future resurrection (imperishable bodies, eternal life with Christ) impact the way you live today?
- What difference should it make in how we face death, aging, illness, or loss?

Practical Applications

Choose one or more of the following to practice this week:

Daily Resurrection Reminder
- Each morning this week, before you get out of bed, say aloud: "Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. And because He lives, I have hope today."
- Journal about how this daily reminder impacts your perspective throughout the day.
Identify Your "Dead Places"
- Make a list of areas where you've been "seeking the living among the dead"—looking to the world, your own strength, or other sources for hope, life, or solutions.
- For each item, write out how the resurrection of Jesus speaks to that specific need.
- Pray through your list, surrendering these areas to the risen Christ.
Encourage with Resurrection Hope
- Think of someone in your life facing a difficult situation. Reach out to them this week and encourage them by pointing them to the hope of the resurrection.
- Don't just offer sympathy or worldly advice—remind them of the power of the risen Christ.
Examine Your Hope Foundation
- Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal where your hope is truly placed. Is it in Christ's resurrection, or in other things (your abilities, circumstances, relationships, finances, etc.)?
- Repent of misplaced hope and ask God to anchor your soul in resurrection truth.