Discussion Questions:

1. What makes it "good news"?
Cleopas had all the right facts about Jesus, but it didn’t understand the necessity of the resurrection. Why is there no “good news” if there is no resurrection?

2. Inviting Jesus into our “debrief”
The sermon described the Emmaus road as a kind of honest, messy debrief after disappointment. Jesus enters into that conversation gently, asking questions before giving answers.

• How could this be a model for evangelism and spiritual conversations with other people in your life?
• How can the practice of applying the gospel in our own “debriefs” (your confusion, frustration, or disappointment) be helpful in sharing Jesus with others?

3. Reading the Bible with the “key”
Jesus shows that all of Scripture points to him- and without that “key,” it’s easy to misunderstand the whole story.

• How have you seen your understanding of the Bible change when you view it through the lens of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection?
• Are there parts of Scripture that still feel confusing or disconnected?

4. From understanding to encounter
The disciples understood the Scriptures before they recognized Jesus, but their lives changed when they personally encountered him (“their eyes were opened”).

• What is the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly encountering him?
• What moments in life helped move your faith from intellectual understanding to a “burning heart”?