Easter Sermon Guide: 2025

Easter Sermon Guide: From Brokenness to Restoration through Jesus

Download the sermon guide to print here.

In this powerful Easter message, we journey through the transformative power of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This guide explores how Jesus brings restoration to even our most broken places — from Mary Magdalene finding forgiveness at Jesus’ feet to Peter experiencing renewal after his greatest failure. Like them, we are invited to experience Jesus’ saving grace that brings complete restoration and new purpose to our lives.

This sermon emphasizes:

• Easter is about encountering Jesus and experiencing His transformative power in our lives
• Jesus came to save us from our sins and to be “God with us” (Emmanuel) — removing our burdens and ending our loneliness
• Mary Magdalene’s story demonstrates how experiencing forgiveness leads to profound worship and devotion
• Peter’s story shows how Jesus specifically seeks to restore us in our places of greatest failure
• Jesus’ resurrection proves His power over sin, death and darkness
• Just as Jesus restored Peter at the same type of fire where Peter had denied Him, He offers restoration in our places of greatest shame
• God’s grace transforms our greatest failures into our greatest testimonies for His glory

Key Scriptures:

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which translated means, ‘God with us.'” Matthew 1:23

“For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47

“Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53:4-5

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

“So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My lambs.'” John 21:15

Lifegroup Questions:

• What is a something God is doing in your devotional life this week?
• Break up into 2’s and 3’s and ask each other:
  • How is your devotional life going?
  • Is it both the time and quality you want?
  • How can we help each other?

Table Questions:

1. Jimmy shared his childhood Easter experiences that missed the true meaning of Easter. What celebrations or traditions might distract you from encountering Jesus at Easter?
2. The sermon emphasized that Jesus came to “save us from our sins” and to be “God with us.” Which of these aspects of Jesus speaks most deeply to you right now — and why?
3. Mary Magdalene’s story shows how “whoever has been forgiven much, loves much.” How has experiencing God’s forgiveness shaped your worship and devotion to Him?
4. Think about Peter’s restoration at the charcoal fire — the same type of fire where he had denied Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you need Jesus to meet you and bring healing?
5. Jimmy shared Heather Ray’s powerful testimony of finding grace at the cross after years of addiction and brokenness. How have you seen Jesus transform someone’s greatest pain into their greatest ministry?
6. The message highlighted how Jesus specifically asked for “Peter” to be told about the resurrection. How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus specifically seeks you out in your failures?
7. We all experience “dark Saturdays” — waiting periods between our pain and God’s deliverance. What helps sustain your faith during these seasons of waiting?
8. Peter’s greatest failure became the platform for his greatest ministry. How might God be preparing to use your failures or weaknesses for His purposes?
9. The Scripture says Jesus bore “our griefs and sorrows.” What burden do you need to surrender to Jesus today, trusting His declaration that “it is finished”?
10. Jimmy emphasized that our response to grace should be desperation that “locks into grace,” producing transformation. What might desperate pursuit of Jesus look like in your daily life this week?