Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Luke 24:1-9; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
April 9, 2023
Responsive Reading – Luke 24:1-12 (ESV)
Leader: 1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices
they had prepared.
Congregation: 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Leader: 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Congregation: 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling
apparel.
Leader: 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them,
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?
Congregation: 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in
Galilee,
Leader: 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on
the third day rise.”
Congregation: 8 And they remembered his words,
Leader: 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Congregation: 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the
other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
Leader: 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Everyone: 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by
themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
1. You need to realize YOU want something MEANINGFUL in life.
Luke 24:1-4 (NLT) – But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices
they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in,
but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared
to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
A. LOOKING FOR PEACE
B. LOOKING FOR JOY
C. LOOKING FOR VALUE & PURPOSE
D. LOOKING FOR COMMUNITY
E. LOOKING FOR REAL LOVE
Amos 5:4 (ETRV) – The LORD says this to the nation of Israel: “Come looking for me and live.
2. You need to realize looking for the RIGHT thing doesn’t matter if you’re looking in the
WRONG place.
Luke 24:5-6a (NLT) – The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men
asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from
the dead!
Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT) – “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust
destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and
rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires
of your heart will also be.
3. You need to know you can ONLY find what you’re LOOKING for if you look in the RIGHT
place.
Luke 24:6-9 (NLT) – He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in
Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he
would rise again on the third day.” 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back
from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.
Luke 24:35-40 (NLT) – Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as
they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36
And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be
with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost!
38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look
at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because
ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
A. Only GOD can meet your need for PEACE.
John 14:27 (NLT2) – “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is
a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
John 16:33 (ESV) – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world
you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Colossians 3:15 (ESV) – And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were
called in one body. And be thankful.
B. Only GOD can meet your need for JOY.
John 15:11 (ESV) – These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy
may be full.
John 16:24 (ESV) – Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that
your joy may be full.
John 17:13 (ESV) – But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may
have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
C. Only GOD can meet your need for VALUE and PURPOSE.
Matthew 10:28-31 (NLT) – “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your
soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—
one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And
the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a
whole flock of sparrows.
Acts 11:23 (NKJV) – When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them
all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.
D. Only GOD can meet your need for COMMUNITY.
John 1:11-13 (NLT) – He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed
him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a
physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) – So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens
along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.
E. Only GOD can meet your need for real LOVE.
John 3:16-17 (NKJV) – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
1 John 4:10 (NLT) – This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a
sacrifice to take away our sins.
L.I.F.E. Group Questions
1. Have you ever had to look for something you lost for an extended period of time? Did you find it?
Explain
2. How did you feel when you could not find what you were looking for?
3. How did you feel when you finally found what you misplaced?
4. Why did the women go to Jesus’ tomb? (24:1)
5. What did the women find once they arrived at the tomb? (24:2)
6. What happened while the women were wondering what had happened to Jesus’ body? (24:4)
7. What did the angels tell the women about Jesus? (24:5-7)
8. What did the women do after they were told Jesus had risen from the dead as He had predicted?
(24:9)
9. What do you think is the greatest need you have between unconditional love, belonging or having
value and purpose? Explain.
10. Has accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior helped you find what you really needed? Explain
11. If the gospel is such good news, why are you sometimes reluctant to tell others about how Jesus
Christ saved you and can save others?
12. How does this story encourage you to share your faith with others?