J-Curve Chapter 22 — J-Curve Educational Classes

Class Description: Session 22, Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Repersonalizing the Resurrection: Discovering the Forgotten Half of the J Curve

Before jumping into chapter 22, I wanted to jump back to p 141 to provide a quick, but I think helpful, clarification regarding something that we discussed a number of weeks ago.

There are aspects of our resurrections that are hidden in the deaths we suffer. Recognizing those aspects and the surety of their coming can help to provide the motivation to embrace our J Curves. Not surprisingly, each of these aspects finds us identifying with Christ.

*** We are currently unable to produce video from this session due to technical difficulties.

Class Notes:

1. P 177-78 Read connecting paragraph and first couple sentences of the next paragraph.

a. Let’s consider Romans 8:31-39.

i. If in the resurrection we have the Almighty declaring, “That’s my Boy,” and if we’re hidden in Christ, what should that mean to us? How is this truth designed to combat the doubts any of us struggle against when we’re overwhelmed by our own sinfulness and guilt?

2. P 179 “The instrument of Jesus’s humbling (the cross) was the vehicle for his exaltation. Rising is embedded in dying.”

a. If Jesus had refused to go to the cross (by calling down the 12 legions of angels for example) how would that have short-circuited his exaltation?

b. How was rising embedded in his death? (See John 12:23-25)

3. P 179-180 “If rising is embedded in dying...”over through top paragraph on 180.

a. Conversation w. Scott Weeks re. Steve’s preaching.

b. Can any of us look back on significant suffering in our lives that the Lord used for real good?

i. Andi C. cancer - ministry to Kim

c. How should remembering these kinds of resurrections help us to embrace our present-day sufferings?

4. P 180 1stparagraph: “Jesus is active in death, but passive in resurrection.”

a. What does it take to remain passive in resurrection?

5. P 181 2ndparagraph “Knowing that I do...” read down to the next heading.

a. Because our flesh naturally reacts against suffering, we can find ourselves attempting to short-circuit God’s intentions in resurrection. Can you think of any longer-term suffering that you submitted to where you actually surrendered yourself to his scalpel and embraced the pain? What kind of resurrection did God craft? What did you see in your rearview mirror?

6. In this next section PM begins discussing Christ’s exaltation. How much time do you and I spend thinking about the day that Jesus’s kingdom is consummated? How do you envision participating in his exaltation? What do you expect that to be like?

7. P 183 final paragraph.

a. Do you agree with PM’s assessment here? Has this been your experience?

b. If we’re doing this, why might we be doing it?

c. If this is true, what are we missing by failing to give Jesus’s resurrection appropriate attention and energy? What might the Church stand to gain by giving Jesus’ resurrection the attention it deserves?

8. P 185 second full paragraph “Jesus’s single-word response...” and half-way through next paragraph.

a. Let’s look at John 10:14-15. I love how PM describes knowing how Jesus talks, the way he relates to people. How do you find yourselves recognizing his voice?

b. “”It’s him. He’s alive!” That single word pierced her heart, and she lunged for Jesus, likely falling at his feet.”

i. Does that same thought move us the way it moved Mary Magdalene? What would you and I need to do to get that thought to provide real inertia in our lives?