Christ is Risen from The Dead

Small Group Discussion Guide

Based on the message by Pastor Mirek Hufton

1. SERMON RECAP

Pastor Mirek walked the congregation through the full weight of what Jesus endured — from the Garden of Gethsemane through the scourging, the mockery, the cross, and ultimately the empty tomb — so that the resurrection would not be received as a familiar church tradition but as the most costly and triumphant event in all of human history. He challenged the group to understand that the root problem of mankind is spiritual separation from God, and that the cross and resurrection of Jesus are God's answer to that separation. He reminded us that everything Jesus conquered in his death and resurrection — sin, sickness, shame, death, and oppression — becomes ours when we receive him as Savior and Lord.

2. KEY SCRIPTURE

Matthew 28:5-7 (NKJV)

"But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.'"

3. ICE BREAKER

What is the most surprising or unexpected piece of news you have ever been the first person to share with someone else, and how did it feel to deliver it?

4. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Question 1 — Understanding the Problem Pastor Mirek described humanity's core problem not as economic, racial, or cultural, but as spiritual — a separation from God caused by sin. He compared a person living apart from God to a fish thrown out of water or an astronaut cut off from his oxygen supply. Do you agree that spiritual separation is at the root of humanity's struggles? What does that diagnosis change about how we look at the problems we see in the world around us?

Question 2 — The Price That Was Paid Pastor Mirek spent considerable time walking through the specific physical and emotional suffering Jesus endured before and during the crucifixion — the Garden of Gethsemane, the scourging, the mockery by hundreds of soldiers, and the cross itself. He emphasized that Jesus had the power to stop all of it at any moment, as demonstrated when he said "I am" and the entire armed cohort fell to the ground. Why do you think it matters that we understand the details of what Jesus suffered, rather than simply knowing in general terms that "he died for us"? How does the specificity of his suffering affect you personally?

Question 3 — The Torn Veil Pastor Mirek highlighted the moment the temple veil tore from top to bottom — a curtain historians say was sixty feet high, thirty feet wide, and as thick as a man's hand, requiring up to three hundred men to hang. He explained that this was God declaring that direct access to him was now open to every person. Before this moment, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year. How does understanding this historical and spiritual reality change the way you think about prayer and your personal relationship with God? Do you approach God with that kind of boldness, or does something hold you back?

Question 4 — Shame and the Resurrection Pastor Mirek pointed out that Jesus was publicly shamed — stripped, mocked, spat upon, and paraded before crowds — so that shame would not have to be the defining experience of those who follow him. He said plainly, "He was shamed so you don't have to be shamed." Many people carry deep shame about their past, their failures, or specific sins. How does the truth that Jesus took shame upon himself practically change how a believer can approach their own past? Is there a difference between godly conviction that leads to repentance and shame that simply paralyzes?

Question 5 — "It Is Finished" Pastor Mirek explained that the Greek word Jesus cried from the cross — tetelestai — was a financial term meaning "paid in full," the word written across a receipt to show a debt was completely settled. He said this means the sin of all of humanity was fully paid. Knowing that the debt is completely cleared, why do so many Christians still live as though they owe a debt they cannot repay, or as though their sin is too large to be forgiven? What would it look like in everyday life to actually live from the position of "paid in full"?

Question 6 — The Resurrection and Our Lives Pastor Mirek closed by saying that everything Jesus conquered — death, sin, sickness, oppression, depression, hopelessness — is transferred to the believer who receives him. He also issued a personal challenge, sharing that he finds himself wanting to do more for God because of what was paid on his behalf. He asked the congregation honestly where they stand with Jesus and whether they have grown comfortable or passive in their faith. Where has your own walk with God become routine or lukewarm? What would it take to move from obligation to genuine, grateful response to what Jesus did?

5. APPLICATION CHALLENGE

This week, choose one moment each day — whether during a commute, a lunch break, or before bed — to read slowly through Isaiah 52:13 to Isaiah 53:12 in its entirety. Before reading, ask God to let the passage land freshly, as though hearing it for the first time. After reading, write down one sentence in a journal or on your phone describing what stood out and what response it stirs in you. At the next group meeting, come prepared to share one thing from that daily reading that genuinely moved or challenged you.

6. PRAYER POINTS

First, pray for group members who are carrying shame from their past or present — that the truth of the resurrection would break the grip of shame and replace it with the settled confidence that Christ's payment was complete and sufficient.

Second, pray for any person in the group or in the lives of group members who has not yet received Jesus — that the Holy Spirit would create a hunger to be reconnected to God, and that believers in the group would have both the courage and the opportunity to share the gospel clearly in the coming week.

Third, pray that the full weight of what Christ suffered and accomplished would not fade after the Easter season but would remain vivid and motivating — producing lives marked by genuine holiness, grateful service, and bold faith.

7. MEMORY VERSE

Colossians 1:14 (NKJV)

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins."

This guide was prepared for small group use based on the Easter message "Christ is Risen from The Dead" delivered by Pastor Mirek Hufton.