God is near, and findable. But not completely.
God is always with us, but we don’t always notice. This week is about slowing down and paying attention. Where have you seen kindness, beauty, or a sense of peace? Where has something in the Bible caught your attention? God can speak through all kinds of moments: quiet ones, surprising ones, ordinary ones. We just need to keep our eyes and ears open. When we look and listen, we might see that God is already working in our lives and in the world around us.
Mini-adventures
Pick one of these challenges to try out this week. As you do it, pay attention to the ways in which God might show up.
- Read the whole account of Jesus’ death and resurrection in John 18–20. What do you notice most as you follow it through?
- Watch a film about the Easter story - perhaps Jesus of Montreal, or The Chosen. (Avoid The Passion of the Christ due to extreme violence)
Get talking
Noticing God often begins with stories - both from the Bible and from our own lives. When we listen to scripture together, we look more closely and sometimes see things we hadn’t seen before. The Easter story invites us to pay attention: to the details, to people’s reactions, and to the surprising ways Jesus is recognised. Talking about what we notice helps us see God at work in new and deeper ways.
John 19:16–30 - The crucifixion of Jesus
John 20:1–18 - The empty tomb, Mary meets Jesus
- How do the different people in the story respond to what they see - soldiers, disciples, Mary?
- How do these passages encourage us to notice God’s presence in unexpected ways?
- In your own life, who or what has helped you recognise God more clearly?
- How might God be inviting you to respond to this passage?
Get inspired
- What do you notice in this artwork?
- How does it make you feel?
- What do you notice in this artwork?
- How does it make you feel?
Get deeper
This week we’re exploring Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why did it happen, and what does it mean for saving us from sin? A quick heads-up—this is a really big and sometimes tricky topic, one that people have wrestled with for centuries. There are different ways to understand and interpret this but it’s right at the heart of the Christian faith. We can’t save ourselves but the good news is that we don’t have to: God has done it. So let’s take some time to explore what salvation means.
- This sketchnote is the only one that doesn’t feature our main character. We wanted to convey the point that this is all down to God. How does it make you feel that all this happened at God’s initiative?
- Which of the four descriptions of atonement (redemption, sacrifice, defeat of evil, new creation) resonates most with you?
- Which do you find the least helpful?
Prayer
Loving God,
You are the Father who runs to meet us,
the Mother who embraces us with open arms.
Thank you for your boundless love and forgiveness,
even when we wander far from you.
Holy Spirit, guide us home.
Help us to return to you with open hearts,
and to celebrate when others do the same.
Teach us to love without judgment,
to forgive as we have been forgiven,
and to welcome all into your grace.
May we reflect your mercy in our lives,
and share the joy of your reign with everyone we meet.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.