· John 20:19-23 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stoodam ong 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’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
· Jesus provides peace.
· Peace be with you.
· John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not
be afraid.
· PIX: Golden Gate Bridge
· John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
· Jesus wants to give you peace!
· Because he lives, all fear is gone; and I know who holds the future; and life is worth the living, just because he lives
· “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
· Jesus provides purpose.
· Everyone has a purpose.
· To glorify God means to live your life in a such a way that people say, “What a good God there must be to create a person like him/her.” - John Ortberg
· PIX: Christopher Parkening
· Jesus provides power.
· 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
· Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him, that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
· Jesus provides his church a proclamation.
· 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
· John 3:17: 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
· John 13:35 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Life Group Discussion Questions
Starter: Have you ever done wrong and someone forgave you? What did that feel like?
Dig Deeper:
1. Read John 20:19-23
2. When you think of Jesus suddenly appearing before you, do expect words of shame and blame, or words of peace?
Please share why you might expect one or the other.
3. The disciples react with great joy. In your opinion, what would it take for today’s Christians to react with great joy?
4. Jesus tells his disciples they how have a mission: As the Father has sent him, he now sends them. Please briefly share your impressions of how the Father has sent Jesus and how that informs our mission as Jesus followers.
5. In your opinion, do most Christians live with the power of the Spirit? Why or why not?
6. Verse 23 is difficult to understand. Can you think of a time when a church withheld forgiveness? What was the impact of that decision? Can you think
of a time when a church extended forgiveness? What was the impact of that decision?
