Oasis Bible Study – Wed 11 April, 2012
Overview of Study
After the First Easter, Jesus re-appeared among His disciples on several occasions. He comes to them with a message of peace and a mission to tell the world of His Good News. Our challenge is to think about how Christ appears to the world through us and what mission we are meant to presently fulfill.
Approaching God
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came back to the disciples to reassure them of God’s power and to teach them new lessons of faith. Open our hearts and minds to Your message and ministry for us today. In Your Name, we pray. Amen.
Scripture: John 20:19-31
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Input from Group
Why did Jesus return to be with His disciples? How did they initially react?
What kind of peace was Christ bringing to them? how did that peace help them in their predicament?
How did Jesus give them the Holy Spirit? Where have we encountered a similar experience in the Bible?
What was the purpose of the gift of the Holy Spirit? Why did Jesus emphasize the ministry of forgiveness?
Why do you think Thomas was not originally there? What made Jesus come back for him?
How did Thomas react to Christ’s reappearance? Is Christ our Lord and our God?
Service Applications
The Resurrection is the keystone of our faith. Without it, the Christian church would never have come into existence. How does the Resurrection affect our lives, our faith, and our churches today? Where can we show the power of Resurrection in our community?
For silent prayerful reflection: If Jesus reappeared to me today, how would that alter my life? Do I live my life as if Christ is always with me? Why/why not?
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