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The Upper Midwest

Family of Churches

Family Group Midweek Lessons


April 3, 2013

April 3

Checkmate on Death
This Family Group Bible-Talk is intended to supplement the March
29th Good Friday sermon at the MSPCOC. Although having attended
or listened to that lesson is helpful, it is not required to take part in
the following discussion.
Opening Questions & Illustration:
- What do you know about the game of chess? (It would be
helpful to have an actual chess board and pieces out during
this Bible Talk for a visual aid).
- Ask people to share any little facts they know about chess
(maybe some obscure moves like castling or en passant), or a
quick story about a fun memory regarding chess.
- As you make a move, chess is one of the few games that has an
out clause. Ask anyone if they know to what you are referring.
- The out clause in chess is that you can make a move but keep
your finger on the piece. As long as you do that, you can cancel
that move and get out of it.
- It would be funny to think about being able to do that same
thing in everyday life. Can you think of any scenarios in your
life where having a do-over or out-clause might be handy?
- To our surprise Christianity itself has an out clause as well
(and its not to fall away). What is it?
- If no one can come up with the answer, ask them to turn over
to 1 Corinthians 15
Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Group Questions:
- What is the out clause for Christianity that Paul gives here?
- The whole of our faith is based on the resurrection of Jesus
Christ. If it didnt happen then we can all go home. If it did then
that changes everything.
- Why is the resurrection of Jesus so vital to our faith?
- What do you think verse 19 means?

Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-8


Things to Think About:
- Paul pins the hope of the resurrection of Christ on the eyewitnesses. Think
of just three of them:
- James was a skeptic of his brother Jesus during his lifetime but became a
leader in his church because he witnessed the resurrection
- Paul was a persecutor of the church but became a powerful proponent of
it because he witnessed the resurrection
- Peter was a coward but became one of the boldest men to ever live and
died a martyrs death because he witnessed the resurrection
- This is just some of the evidence for the resurrection but it is already very
powerful. These men didnt claim to have heard about resurrection but to
have witnessed it themselves which makes the fact that all three died as
martyrs much more powerful because people dont die for a lie.
- What impact has the resurrection of Christ had on your life?
- Does it still have the same day-to-day impact that it has always had?
Read Philippians 3:10-11
Group Questions:
- What do you think Paul meant by this statement?
- How does Pauls statement challenge you personally?
Read 1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Group Questions:
- We started with a chess analogy, lets finish with one: checkmate
- What are our biggest enemies in life? (Certainly they are sin and death)
- What hope and encouragement does this passage give, as it describes sin
and death being put into checkmate?
- What does this passage challenge you to do in your daily life?
- How should truly believing that in Christ we have overcome death already,
even though we will die physically, change the way we go about everyday
life?
Final Thought:
- What can you do this week to better know the power of his resurrection?

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