Easter 2026 – Everyone Worships: The Gospel and the Joy of the Risen Christ
OPENING PRAYER
Lord, thank you for the gospel—good news of great joy. Thank you that Jesus lived, died, and rose again in our place. We are grateful that you have rescued us and given us new life. Open our eyes to see Christ clearly, and stir our hearts to respond with joy and true worship. Amen.
INTRO: This week’s sermon reminded us that worship is not optional—it’s built into us. As Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, God has put eternity in our hearts. Every person is worshiping something—whether it’s religion, success, self, comfort, or God.
But the resurrection changes everything. Jesus is not just one option among many—he is alive, and he alone is worthy of our worship. And when our worship is rightly centered on him, it doesn’t lead to duty alone—it leads to joy. The gospel is not just true—it is good news of great joy.
MAIN POINT: Everyone worships—but when our worship is centered on the risen Jesus, it produces real and lasting joy.
SCRIPTURE-DRIVEN DISCUSSION
Begin by reading these passages aloud together: Ecclesiastes 3:11, Romans 1:21–25, and Matthew 28:5–10. Take a few minutes and talk about what stood out to you from the reading or the sermon. Additional references from the sermon include Luke 2:10, John 4:23–24, Colossians 1:15–20, and 1 Corinthians 15:3–4.
APPLICATION QUESTIONS
Q1: What are you worshiping—and what is it producing in you? (Romans 1:21–25)
Reminder: We don’t stop worshiping—we just redirect it. And false worship never produces lasting joy.
– Where do your thoughts, time, and energy naturally go?
– What are you looking to for satisfaction, identity, or security?
– How can you tell when something is giving you temporary happiness but not real joy?
Q2: How does the resurrection of Jesus change your joy? (Matthew 28:5–10)
Reminder: The resurrection turns the gospel into good news of great joy—not just information, but transformation.
– Why is it significant that the first response to the resurrection was joy and worship?
– How does knowing Jesus is alive shape your outlook on sin, suffering, and the future?
– Where in your life do you need to move from knowing the gospel to actually rejoicing in it?
Q3: What does it look like to live in the joy of the gospel? (Luke 2:10; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
Reminder: The gospel is not just something we believe—it’s good news of great joy that we respond to.
– Where in your life has joy been replaced with routine, pressure, or just going through the motions?
– What keeps you from actually experiencing the joy the gospel promises?
– What is one way you can intentionally respond to the good news of Jesus with joy this week?
LET’S REMEMBER: We were made to worship—but we often give our worship to things that cannot satisfy. The gospel is good news of great joy because Jesus is alive. He rescues us from empty worship and restores us to what we were created for. When our worship is centered on the risen Christ, joy is not forced—it is the natural result.
FINAL APPLICATION: Since what we’ve discussed is true and relevant, where in your life have you lost joy—and could it be connected to what you’re worshiping?
What would it look like this week to intentionally turn your attention back to Jesus and choose to respond with joy?
For example: maybe it’s choosing gratitude instead of frustration, speaking about Christ instead of staying silent, or returning to him quickly instead of lingering in sin.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, thank you that Jesus is alive. Forgive us for chasing lesser things that cannot satisfy. Help us turn back to you and worship you with joy. Shape our hearts, reorient our lives, and let our joy reflect the reality of the resurrection. In Jesus’ name, Amen.