{"id":931178,"date":"2025-04-07T14:07:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-07T18:07:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.episcopalchurch.org\/?post_type=bible_study&#038;p=331178"},"modified":"2026-06-23T13:38:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T17:38:47","slug":"bible-study-easter-3-c-may-4-2025","status":"publish","type":"bible_study","link":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/bible_study\/bible-study-easter-3-c-may-4-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Bible Study: Easter 3 (C) \u2013 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/lectionary\/easter-3c\/\">RCL: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/E3-2025-Bible-Study-Graphic-1024x576.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-331185\" style=\"width:512px\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-acts-9-1-6-7-20\"><strong>Acts 9:1-6, (7-20)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reflecting on Saul\u2019s conversion, I\u2019m moved by the depth of God\u2019s grace that meets him even amid hostility. Saul\u2019s experience on the road to Damascus is a powerful reminder that God&#8217;s transformative call can penetrate even our greatest resistance and blindness. I recognize my own moments of spiritual blindness\u2014times when my prejudices or assumptions prevented me from truly seeing Christ in others. Saul\u2019s healing through Ananias also highlights the necessity and beauty of Christian community, emphasizing that God\u2019s transforming work often involves the care and ministry of others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In what ways do you relate to Saul\u2019s experience of spiritual blindness, and where do you sense God\u2019s invitation toward deeper understanding?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How might God be calling you to participate in the spiritual transformation of others, just as Ananias did for Saul?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-psalm-30\"><strong>Psalm 30<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Psalm 30 speaks directly to my experience of moving from despair into hope. The psalmist&#8217;s journey from mourning to dancing echoes my own story of experiencing God\u2019s healing and restoration amid personal difficulty. It reinforces my conviction that resurrection is not only a historical event but also an ongoing reality experienced through God\u2019s continual renewal in our lives. Reflecting upon this psalm deepens my awareness that God\u2019s faithful presence is consistently transforming sorrow into joy, despair into gratitude.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When has God transformed your mourning into joy, or despair into hope? How has that shaped your faith journey?<strong><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How might seeing resurrection as an ongoing spiritual reality affect the way you respond to future moments of difficulty or despair?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-revelation-5-11-14\"><strong>Revelation 5:11-14<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scene in Revelation stirs my imagination, painting a powerful picture of universal praise for the resurrected Christ. The multitude of voices\u2014heavenly beings, humanity, and all creation\u2014reminds me of the cosmic significance of Easter. This vision challenges me to broaden my understanding of worship, recognizing it not simply as a personal practice, but as participation in the joyful celebration of Christ\u2019s victory that spans all creation. It also pushes me to consider how my discipleship can reflect Christ\u2019s universal lordship through compassionate care for the world.<strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How does imagining yourself as part of this cosmic worship gathering expand or challenge your current practices of worship?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Given this vision of universal redemption, what practical actions might you take to align your daily life more closely with God\u2019s redemptive purposes?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-john-21-1-19\"><strong>John 21:1-19<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reading John\u2019s account of Jesus\u2019 resurrection appearance on the shore evokes deep gratitude in me for Christ\u2019s persistent willingness to offer restoration. Jesus\u2019 gentle questioning of Peter after Peter\u2019s painful denial feels profoundly personal, revealing a savior who meets us exactly in the spaces of our greatest regret and vulnerability. The threefold repetition of \u00abDo you love me?\u00bb not only reinstates Peter but also provides him with clear direction\u2014\u201cFeed my sheep.\u201d For me, this narrative is an encouraging reminder that restoration and forgiveness lead directly into mission and responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Can you recall a moment when Jesus met you compassionately in your own places of regret or failure? How did this encounter renew your sense of purpose?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In practical terms, what might feeding Jesus\u2019 sheep look like in your current circumstances or community?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-2785f3a2-38d9-405f-83c6-049932d26169\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Easter-3-Bible-Study.docx\">Word \u2013 Easter 3 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Easter-3-Bible-Study.docx\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-2785f3a2-38d9-405f-83c6-049932d26169\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-file\"><a id=\"wp-block-file--media-266323c3-025a-4ea9-8914-cae310d3c185\" href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Easter-3-Bible-Study.pdf\">PDF \u2013 Easter 3 (C) Bible Study<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Easter-3-Bible-Study.pdf\" class=\"wp-block-file__button wp-element-button\" download aria-describedby=\"wp-block-file--media-266323c3-025a-4ea9-8914-cae310d3c185\">Download<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RCL: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20); Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19 Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) Reflecting on Saul\u2019s conversion, I\u2019m moved by the depth of God\u2019s grace that meets him even amid hostility. Saul\u2019s experience on the road to Damascus is a powerful reminder that God&#8217;s transformative call can penetrate even our greatest resistance and blindness. I&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[23,22,52,3],"tags":[196],"class_list":["post-931178","bible_study","type-bible_study","status-publish","hentry","category-bible-studies","category-easter","category-sermons-that-work","category-worship-and-prayer-menu","tag-easter-3c"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":23,"label":"Bible Studies"},{"value":22,"label":"Easter"},{"value":52,"label":"Sermons That Work"},{"value":3,"label":"worship_and_prayer_menu"}],"post_tag":[{"value":196,"label":"Easter 3C"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/931178","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bible_study"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/931178\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":951755,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bible_study\/931178\/revisions\/951755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=931178"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=931178"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.episcopalchurch.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=931178"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}