PDF Small Group Discussion questions for bible study on the Mass readings for Easter Year A B C Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8 Matthew 28:1-10

Bible Study Discussion Questions

Bible Study Discussion Questions

Bible Study Discussion Questions

April 5, 2026

Easter Sunday

VIDEOS & PDF STUDY GUIDESFR. TIM PETERS - SLIDESAGAPE BIBLE
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Larry Broding

Easter Story in Scripture

Brief Summaries of Sunday’s Readings from Mike Fletcher

OUTLINE

I. Introduction: Seeking the Scriptural Source

  • The Premise: Moving beyond cultural traditions to examine the foundational biblical texts.
  • The Core Question: What is the actual event, proclamation, and implication that has echoed for 2,000 years?
  • The Sources: A unified picture drawn from the New Testament (Gospels, Acts, and the Letters of Paul).

II. The Event: The Empty Tomb (The Gospel of John)

  • The Setting: A quiet, early morning discovery by Mary Magdalene.
  • The Initial Reaction: Confusion and fear that eventually transform into understanding as Peter and John arrive.
  • The Catalyst: The Easter message begins with an absence—the empty tomb—rather than a grand divine vision.

III. The Proclamation: Public Testimony (The Book of Acts)

  • The Messenger: The Apostle Peter transitions the event from a private mystery to a bold, public testimony.
  • The Core Message (Three Steps):
    1. Credibility: Establishing the apostles as chosen, direct witnesses.
    2. Simplicity: Proclaiming that Jesus, who was crucified, was raised by God.
    3. Mission: Revealing the command to preach this news to the entire world.

IV. The Implication: Personal Transformation (The Letters of Paul)

  • The Theological Backbone: Explaining why the ancient event matters.
  • Key Metaphors for Change:
    • Corinthians: Clearing out "old yeast" to make a fundamental break from corruption and old ways of living.
    • Colossians: Seeking "what is above" to completely reorient one's life.
  • The Takeaway: The resurrection is not a historical footnote, but a catalyst for radical, day-to-day personal transformation.

V. Conclusion: Alleluia and the Ultimate Victory

  • The Definitive Response: "Alleluia" as the ancient, triumphant exclamation of praise, joy, and victory.
  • The Context: Easter as the ultimate triumph that the preparatory season of Lent leads directly toward.
  • Final Reflection: A call to consider how this ancient narrative continues to shape modern understandings of joy and victory.
QUESTIONS / DISCUSSION GUIDE

April 5, 2026: Easter Story in Scripture

The Easter Narrative Structure

Q: How does the Easter story progress from private discovery to public proclamation?

A: The narrative moves from Mary Magdalene's dawn discovery of the empty tomb in the Gospel of John (creating confusion and fear), through Peter and John's investigation, to the Apostle Peter's bold public proclamation in Acts that "Jesus who was crucified was raised by God," transforming a private event into world-changing testimony meant for the entire world.

Theological Framework

Q: What theological foundation does Paul provide for understanding Easter's significance?

A: Paul's letters establish Easter's theological backbone through metaphors like "clearing out old yeast" (symbolizing corruption) and seeking what is above, framing the resurrection as a catalyst for personal transformation and complete reorientation of life rather than merely a historical event.

Liturgical Preparation and Celebration

Q: What is the relationship between Lent and Easter in the liturgical calendar?

A: The season of Lent serves as preparatory period leading to Easter's ultimate triumph over death, culminating in the Triduum when Jesus conquers sin, death, and the grave, with the return of alleluias marking the beginning of the season of joy.

The Victory Message

Q: What does the word "Alleluia" represent in the Easter context?

A: "Alleluia" functions as an ancient exclamation of praise and joy, embodying the sound of victory that encapsulates the joy of the empty tomb, the boldness of proclamation, and the hope of new life in a single triumphant word.

Practical Easter Living

Q: What specific actions are believers invited to take on Easter Sunday?

A: Easter invites believers to renew baptismal promises, receive the Eucharist with fresh gratitude, and choose one way to live Resurrection joy—either by sharing the good news with someone or performing an act of love.

Core Easter Declaration

Q: What is the central proclamation that defines Easter faith?

A: The foundational message is "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:6), establishing that Christ's Resurrection is our victory—death no longer has the final word, grace triumphs over sin, and new life is offered to all who believe.

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Edrianne Ezell


Vince Contreras



Father Corrigan, OFM

FRIAR MUSINGS | INDEX


Father Clement Thibodeau

ECHOING GOD’S WORD

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE VISUAL AID

The above bulletin insert was created using Nano Banana Pro with Gemini 3.0. The infographics draw inspiration from the content found in Fr. Clement Thibodeau's Echoing The Word weekly column which was published nearly a decade ago. It may be used by any non-profit ministry.

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Clean the following transcript up: correct the spelling of the biblical names and theological terms and correcting the Greek phonetic spellings, fix the grammar, remove the verbal stumbles, and organized the text into clear, readable sections using section titles.

Transcript

Enhance Your Study for this Sunday

TheWordThisWeek.NET has put together 32 visual slides drawn directly from Fr. Tim Peters’ comprehensive lectures. Here are a few ways to use this resource:

  • Follow Along: View the slides while listening to Fr. Tim’s commentary for a richer learning experience.
  • Teach & Share: Mix and match the slides to build your own engaging presentations for classrooms or Bible study groups.
  • Publish: Parishes and non-profits have full permission to crop and feature these visuals in weekly bulletins or print publications. Please credit Father Tim Peters and TWTW.

1st Reading – 8 Slides

Permission for use granted to non-profit ministries. Please credit Father Tim Peters, STD. and TWTW.

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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Responsorial – 4 Slides

Permission for use granted to non-profit ministries. Please credit Father Tim Peters, STD. and TWTW.

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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2nd Reading – 3 Slides

Permission for use granted to non-profit ministries. Please credit Father Tim Peters, STD. and TWTW.

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

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Gospel – 11 Slides

Permission for use granted to non-profit ministries. Please credit Father Tim Peters, STD. and TWTW.

CONTINUE SLIDESHOW

THE WORD THIS WEEK infographics are based off Father Tim Peters' presentation. They were created using using GOOGLE’S AI Gemini 3 Pro. You are free to use them in any non-profit ministry. Please give credit to Father Tim Peters, S.Th.D and THE WORD THIS WEEK.

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create a modern 8.5×11 infographic with large images and arial bold fonts based on the following text. Do not plagiarize rahter paraphrase give summaries . Place a single line in the footer: Inspiration for this infographic is from Scott Hahn’s Catholic Bible Dictionary.

The Empty Tomb


The Basis of Christian Hope


The One Sent


Our Own Stench


Jesus’ Empathy


Spirit of Life!


Jesus Shouted, Lazarus, Come Out!


More Commentaries


Disclosure: As an “Amazon Associate,” Fr. Felix Just, S.J. who compiled the above bibliography earns a very small commission from qualifying purchases made after someone clicks on the above product links.

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