April 8th, 2023
by Sarah Turner
by Sarah Turner
Core Group Discussion Guide
Easter Reflection
"Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless."
— Charles M. Crowe
This week we will be taking a break from our traditional discussion guide. We will be coming together as core groups to reflect, share, and listen. Let's Pray and then discuss these ideas together.
Opening prayer
Jesus, the greatest gift we receive from your resurrection on Easter is hope. We pray that as we come together today that you guide our hearts to share stories of that hope and that we can fill this space with love in your image. In your name we pray, Amen.
Ice breaker
Rose, Thorn, Bud: Go around the circle and share a rose, thorn, and bud from your week.
Rose: something exciting, good, joyful
Thorn: something challenging, unpleasant, uncomfortable
Bud: something new in your life, maybe something emerging or something you are looking forward to.
Reflect: Where in your life are you desiring and hoping for resurrection? Where can you see hardship and move forward with new life?
Head:
Take some time and share your faith story. There is no right or wrong answer, every path towards Jesus is written as it should be. What brought you to the Gathering or to Jesus? Who were the key players in your journey? For larger groups you may set a timer or break up into groups of 2 or 3.
Another twist on this can be: What is the faith journey of your core group? How, when, and where were you developed? What goals do you have as a group? In what areas can your core group grow together?
Heart:
What do you think of when you hear Easter? Share some Easter memories. Maybe they are from this year or maybe they are from 1995.
Hands:
What habits did you practice during Lent that you hope to continue?
Closing Prayer: “Almighty God. You have written our story and you know it well. We thank you for bringing us together to share in your unwavering goodness. We ask that you work through us this week so that we can show love and hope to all of your people. In Your name we pray, Amen”
Easter Reflection
"Easter is the demonstration of God that life is essentially spiritual and timeless."
— Charles M. Crowe
This week we will be taking a break from our traditional discussion guide. We will be coming together as core groups to reflect, share, and listen. Let's Pray and then discuss these ideas together.
Opening prayer
Jesus, the greatest gift we receive from your resurrection on Easter is hope. We pray that as we come together today that you guide our hearts to share stories of that hope and that we can fill this space with love in your image. In your name we pray, Amen.
Ice breaker
Rose, Thorn, Bud: Go around the circle and share a rose, thorn, and bud from your week.
Rose: something exciting, good, joyful
Thorn: something challenging, unpleasant, uncomfortable
Bud: something new in your life, maybe something emerging or something you are looking forward to.
Reflect: Where in your life are you desiring and hoping for resurrection? Where can you see hardship and move forward with new life?
Head:
Take some time and share your faith story. There is no right or wrong answer, every path towards Jesus is written as it should be. What brought you to the Gathering or to Jesus? Who were the key players in your journey? For larger groups you may set a timer or break up into groups of 2 or 3.
Another twist on this can be: What is the faith journey of your core group? How, when, and where were you developed? What goals do you have as a group? In what areas can your core group grow together?
Heart:
What do you think of when you hear Easter? Share some Easter memories. Maybe they are from this year or maybe they are from 1995.
Hands:
What habits did you practice during Lent that you hope to continue?
Closing Prayer: “Almighty God. You have written our story and you know it well. We thank you for bringing us together to share in your unwavering goodness. We ask that you work through us this week so that we can show love and hope to all of your people. In Your name we pray, Amen”
Posted in CoreGroup Discussion Guides
Recent
Do I Trust that Christ’s Sacrifice is Enough? | Lent Devotional Day 41
March 30th, 2026
Christ’s Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem | Lent Devotional Day 40
March 29th, 2026
Working Out My Own Salvation | Lent Devotional Day 39
March 28th, 2026
Serving (at Easter) is Powerful // M-Note 3.28.2026
March 27th, 2026
CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 5
March 27th, 2026
Archive
2026
January
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 1Three Reasons to Worship This Weekend // M-Note 1.10.2026A Mix of Celebrations and Bittersweet News // M-Note 1.17.2026CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 2CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 3Spread the Word: Online Only Worship on January 25 // M-Note 1.24.2026A Hard Lesson to Learn...Life's Not Always Fair // M-Note 1.31.2026
February
CoreGroup Guide | Shift Happens Part 4CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 1CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 2Ash Wednesday - The Party's Over | Lent Devotional Day 1Led Into the Wildnerness | Lent Devotional Day 2Take a Step Back to Grow Closer to God // M-Note 2.21.2026Celebrating Lent - An Oxymoron? | Lent Devotional Day 3CoreGroup Guide | Power of Serving Part 3Let's Journey With Openness | Lent Devotional Day 4What we Mean by "Penal Substitution" | Lent Devotional Day 5The Cross - Sin and Nearness | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 6The God Who Doesn't Look Away | Lent Devotional 2026 Day 7Worthy of Belonging | Lent Devotional Day 8Confession Without Self-Hatred | Lent Devotional Day 9The Repairer | Lent Devotional Day 10The Lamb of God | Lent Devotional Day 11Why Did Jesus Have to Die? // M-Note 2.28.2026
March
Turning the Lights On | Lent Devotional Day 12CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 1Love That Leads to Change | Lent Devotional Day 13Like Ads for Love | Lent Devotional Day 14Who are You…Really? | Lent Devotional Day 15Nothing Between Us | Lent Devotional Day 16Let It Rip | Lent Devotional Day 17Christ + Nothing | Lent Devotional Day 18An Unjustifiable War // M-Note 3.7.2026CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 2A Queer Atonement | Lent Devotional Day 19In Christ Was Life, the Light For All People | Lent Devotional Day 20Failure and the Invitation To New Imagination | Lent Devotional Day 21Jesus & Queerness: Entertaining Angels | Lent Devotional Day 22The Least of These | Lent Devotional Day 23The Good News For All Creation - and the Strange Wonder of God’s People | Lent Devotional Day 24Ready to Receive an Invitation // M-Note 3.14.2026Christ’s Death Frees Us So His Reconciling Life Can Flow Through Us | Lent Devotional Day 24 CopyFeminist Atonement Theory | Lent Devotional Day 26CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 3Time to Tear Down | Lent Devotional Day 27God Doesn’t Glorify Violence, Man Does | Lent Devotional Day 28God Shares in Our Emotions, Death, and Resurrection | Lent Devotional Day 29A Meal that Matters | Lent Devotional Day 30The Cross is About Community | Lent Devotional Day 31Only Later Did It Begin to Make Sense | Lent Devotional Day 32CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 4Jesus is Liberator of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 33The Bigger Picture - Exodus, Jesus, and the God of the Oppressed | Lent Devotional Day 34Marginalized Prophetic Voices Emphasize God’s Character | Lent Devotional Day 35Freedom from Sin is both Personal AND Communal | Lent Devotional Day 36Christ’s Victory Empowers His People to Serve | Lent Devotional Day 37Jesus and Community | Lent Devotional Day 38CoreGroup Guide | Why Did Jesus Have to Die? - Part 5Serving (at Easter) is Powerful // M-Note 3.28.2026Working Out My Own Salvation | Lent Devotional Day 39Christ’s Triumphal Entry in Jerusalem | Lent Devotional Day 40Do I Trust that Christ’s Sacrifice is Enough? | Lent Devotional Day 41
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12The Loneliness of Fear | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 13Not Through With You Yet | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 14Clinging to Hope | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 15Bring It To The King | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 16Pray When Unsteady | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 17
No Comments