Ready for Impact (10 minutes)
Take time to welcome any newcomers and catch up on the past week (over drinks or snacks if possible). Then ask group members to:
- Give an example of life-long love.
(Answers could include grandparents, famous historic relationships like Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, or a pet’s affection for its owner.)
Over this term, we’re looking at how knowing Jesus gives his followers strength to face the common pressures of life in a way that nothing else can.
Pray a short prayer asking that, however much group members have previously come to know God, they’d know him better as a result of your time together.
Impacted by the Word - Part 1 (10 minutes)
In this first section, we’ll consider how wider society tries to make sense of love in the face of death.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
- A poll in Britain found that most people agree with the statement, “Love never dies.” Why do you think so many people believe this to be true?
- What evidence could you put forward if you wanted to disagree with this statement?
Impacted by the Word - Part 2 (20 minutes)
Now we’ll consider the Bible’s evidence that love really is stronger than death.
Download this video to watch offline or read the transcript here.
Read Romans 8:34-39.
- Paul lists a number of things that can make us doubt God’s love (verse 35). Is there anything else you might add to this list?
Paul says that our circumstances can leave us feeling as though we’ve been totally abandoned, like sheep facing slaughter (verse 36).
- What might lead someone to feel like this?
Though it might not always feel like it, Paul insists that Jesus’ love is greater and stronger than anything that might seem to stand in its path - even death.
- Which of the things described in verses 38-39 feels most threatening to you?
- How does Jesus’ resurrection from the dead show him to be stronger than all these things?
As Jesus died, it seemed that death was stronger than love. But as he rose, he demonstrated that love is stronger than death.
- ‘More than conquerors’ (verse 37) means to be overwhelmingly victorious. How can Christians be so sure of Jesus’ love for them?
- How does Paul deepen our sense of confidence in verse 34?
- Given what we’ve seen, how does your outlook on love and death need to change?
In verses 38-39, Paul lists ten things that cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Eight of them are in pairs:
- “Neither death nor life” – there is nothing in our mortal life, or as we face death that can separate us from the love of God.
- “Neither angels nor demons” – no cosmic, supernatural influence can separate us from the love of God.
- “Neither the present nor the future” – nothing in time or space can separate us from the love of God.
- “Nor any powers” – no power, spiritual or political, can separate us from the love of God.
- “Neither height nor depth” – there is no distant place in which we could find ourselves that might separate us from the love of God.
- “Nor anything else in all creation” – this covers everything that is not God! Nothing and no-one in all the universe can separate us from the love of God. That includes ourselves!
Absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God, secured for us through Jesus’ death and resurrection. We can feel totally secure, whatever we face.
Impacting the University (15 minutes)
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead definitively shows that love is stronger than death.
Watch this short video outlining some of the evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead [3 minutes].
- Which of the pieces of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection do you find strongest?
(If you’re still investigating whether Jesus rose from the dead, how do you plan to continue your investigation?) - Does anyone have advice on how to speak about the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection with friends?
Some seekers in your group may want to discuss Jesus’ resurrection more. Here are some potential next steps:
- Listen to the Undeceptions podcast episode, Easter Myths (46 minutes), which considers the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
- Look at and discuss some of the source evidence for Jesus’ resurrection from Mark’s Gospel using Uncover Mark.
- Offer to tell the story of how Jesus’ resurrection has changed your own life.
You may get a sense that some group members are ready to place their faith in Jesus for the first time. See if they’d like to meet with you, outside of group time.
The short video, Roll Away Your Stone (4 minutes), encourages people to consider how they’ll personally respond to Jesus’ resurrection.
- You could ask this friend, “Is there anything still holding you back from accepting the good news of Jesus for yourself?”
- You could ask them if they are ready to pray a prayer like this one:
Dear Father, I’m sorry that I’ve been trying to live my life without you. Thank you for sending Jesus to die in my place. Thank you that he rose again and is alive today. Please forgive me and give me your Spirit so that I might live for you as my Lord and my God. Amen.
If a group member places their trust in Jesus, contact your Staff Worker. They’d love to pray with you and help you make plans for caring well for your new Christian sibling!
Impacting Our Hearts (10 minutes)
The resurrection of Jesus says that death is dead and that love has won. Offer short prayers of praise to Jesus, celebrating that he is stronger than death.
You could conclude your block of praise with this traditional prayer:
God of glory,
by the raising of your Son, Jesus,
you have broken the chains of death and hell:
fill us today with faith, hope and love,
for a new day has dawned
and the way to life stands open
in our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Amen.
If you’re able to sing in your group time, many songs can help you celebrate Jesus’ victory over death, including: See What A Morning; I Cast My Mind to Calvary and It Was Finished Upon That Cross.
Wrap-up – TACOS 🌮
Thank You – Thank everyone for coming, and ask someone to thank God for your time together in prayer.
Ask – Ask those who are new to reading the Bible if they’d like to explore Uncover, a set of sessions in Mark’s Gospel, allowing them to investigate one of the earliest accounts of Jesus’ life alongside one of you.
Church and CU – What does the CU have planned ahead? And what help would group members value in finding a local church?
Others – Who else could you invite to join your CU Impact Group next week? These friends don’t need to be followers of Jesus and may really appreciate being invited.
See You Soon – Tell the group where and when you’ll meet next week, and arrange who will bring snacks. (You might like to alternate healthy and less healthy weeks!). See if anyone would be up for sharing a meal or just hanging out in the meantime!