Roots and Leaves

Seniors in High School thru Seniors in College

the student ministry extension for mid-late adolescents

A Discussion Guide for the Easter Season

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your

advantage that I go away if I go, I will send
the Helper to you
John 15:7

week one 2 weeks before Easter

Questions to start conversation:
1. How does your family celebrate Easter?
2. Do you have any significant church experiences related to the Easter
season?
3. What emotions do you experience around Easter?
- Passage to read: Luke 19:28-40 and 20:9-18 How do the account of the triumphal entry to Jerusalem and the parable
relate to each other?

Compare these to Johns account in John 12:12-19. In what ways does John
account for the same dynamics that Luke observes?

Also, the footnote attached to John 12:15 will send you to Zechariah 9:9.
Read it! What does John see happening to Jesus that reminds him of
Zechariahs words?

Describe, as best as you are able to imagine the thoughts and feelings of the
three major groups identified at the triumphal entry (Jesus disciples, the
crowd, and the religious leaders).

What would a triumphal entry look like in todays world?

Compare Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem with his self-prophecy in

Matthew 26:64.

week two 1 week before Easter

Questions to start conversation:
1. What is your favorite goofy Easter thing? (e.g. bunnies, hard boiled
eggs, etc.)
2. Compare the way you treat Christmas to the way you treat Easter.
3. Tell the story of Jesus crucifixion without using any church-y words.
- Passages to read: Luke 22:14-23 and 23:26-43 List several ways that the passages relate to each other.

Also discuss:

How the food elements symbolize sacrifice

How eating is an analogy to belief

How Jesus words to the disciples compare to his interaction with the
repentant criminal

Read Revelation 5. Here we find a high-Christology, meaning that this is

about as fantastic a description as has ever been given of the significance of
Christs death. Do you think the disciples comprehended its significance
while it was happening?

Real life question: is it okay for a person to come to terms with the
significance of Jesus death over time? Why?

week three Easter week

Questions to start conversation:
1. Whose is the most significant death youve experienced in your lifetime?
2. Describe resurrection in terms of emotions, despair/hope, etc.
3. How important is it that the church continues to teach about resurrection?
- Passage to read: John 20:1-29 How many people encounter Jesus resurrection either directly or indirectly in
this passage? List them in order.

What was Marys initial reaction to an empty tomb?

What were Peter and Johns initial reaction to an empty tomb?

How does Mary process this radical surprise when she encounters the risen
Jesus?

Read Jesus own interpretation of his resurrection to his disciples in vv. 19-23.
This scene certainly feels different than the anecdotes before and after it.
What could John be getting at here?

Describe Thomas dilemma before encountering the risen Jesus.

Also describe how Jesus engages Thomas.

John continually compares doubt to unbelief. How do the people in these

anecdotes move from doubt to belief? How does Jesus get them there?

week four the week after Easter

Questions to start conversation:
1. Who is someone you look up to?
2. Have you ever gained a deeper appreciation for someone that
contradicted your first impression?
3. In what ways is it good that Jesus returned to Heaven for the time being?
- Read the passage: Acts 1:1-11
Verse 2 says that Jesus had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the
apostles. In what ways does this clause prepare the reader for Jesus
ascension to Heaven?

Promises from God the Father are very important! How do you imagine the
disciples liked hearing that the Fathers promise would come only in the
Sons absence?

Rephrase the disciples question in v. 6 and Jesus reply in vv. 7-8 so that it
sounds modern.

- Read the passages: John 14:25-28 and 16:4b-15 What themes here match up with the account in Acts 1?

How significant is it that Jesus said it was better for the world that he returns
to Heaven?

What would a truly Christian perspective of Jesus physical absence from

Earth sound like? Have you ever been tempted to say or think things to the
contrary?

week five 2 weeks after Easter

Questions to start conversation:
1. What are the parts of each year that you look forward to the most?
2. Have you ever waited for someone youve never met? What was that like?
3. Name a few things the early church did after Jesus returned to Heaven.
- Read the passage: Acts 1:12-26 Go back to vv. 12-14 and describe what you know of the personal story of
each one listed here.

What does it mean that they were devoting themselves to prayer?

What is the issue that Peter leads the group to address? In what ways do the
results affect Matthias? What about the other 11 apostles? What about the
120 person group?

- Read the passage: Acts 2:1-36 Is there any significance to the timing of the coming of the Holy Spirit? (The
day of Pentecost is a feasting day, celebrating the harvest.) Also, compare v.
2 to John 3:6-8.

What opportunity does the confusion of the nearby crowd afford to the
apostles?

Verses 16-21 are an explanation of what the people are seeing and hearing
that day. Luke is making a point to his readers also. What is his point?

But vv. 22-36 explain why such phenomena are meaningful (check out v. 33).
In explaining, he compares King David to the risen Jesus. How are they
similar, and how are they different?

What conclusion about Jesus does Peter lead his audience to at the end of his
speech?