Pair 1
Begun
Week 6 of 6 · A New Beginning
First day of the new creation
Led by Margreth · 2026-12-14
Easter is not only “Jesus rose.” It is Genesis restarted in him.
Genesis reading
Genesis 1:1–5; 2:7; 3:8–9
John reading
John 20:1–23
Set the table
Genesis sets up
Genesis begins with a first day: light out of darkness. It gives breath to Adam. After the fall, God seeks the hiding pair with a question — “Where are you?” — and exile closes the garden. The Bible’s opening movement is creation, life, seeking, and loss.
John accomplishes
John stages resurrection as a new first day. While it is still dark, the tomb is empty. In a garden the risen Lord seeks Mary by name. Then he breathes on his disciples and sends them with peace and forgiveness. Exile’s reverse is mission.
Walkthrough
Leader guide — teach aloud or adapt.
1.Read Genesis 1:1–5 and John 20:1 back-to-back. “First day” is John’s signal flare. Easter morning is not a random miracle date; it is new creation dawning after the finished work of Week 5.
2.Stand with Mary in the garden (John 20:11–16) and hear Genesis 3:9 underneath. The God who asked “Where are you?” now speaks a name — “Mary.” Seeking love has resurrection power. Tears and mistaken identity give way to recognition.
3.Then teach the breath. Genesis 2:7 and John 20:22 belong together. The risen Jesus does what only the Creator does: he breathes life onto a people. This closes Weeks 1–2. Word, Spirit, and life are given to a new humanity for a new mission.
4.End with sending. Genesis ended garden access with exile and a sword. John 20 ends with peace, forgiveness, and “as the Father sent me.” The series’ tagline is not branding — it is theology: A New Beginning.
Core pairs
Walk each pair: Genesis → John → the accomplished line.
Pair 2
Begun
Teach notes
- Retell the six-week arc in two minutes before you teach: Word → Spirit → Light → Seed → Finished → First day.
- Linger on “Mary.” Personal seeking is not sentimental; it is Genesis 3 healed.
- When Jesus breathes, connect back to Week 2 explicitly so the series feels one story.
- Commission the group concretely: one person to forgive, one place to carry peace, one fear to leave in the empty tomb.
- Celebrate without rushing. New creation is news before it is homework.
Watch for
- Reducing Easter to “Jesus is alive” without new-creation meaning.
- Skipping the breath and going straight to application slogans.
- Leaving the series as information instead of sending.
Key takeaway
In Jesus’ resurrection, the story Genesis began reaches a new beginning for us.
Challenge
Live one ordinary task this week as “first-day” work: do it as someone already belonging to the new creation.
Discussion
- How does calling Easter “new creation” change how you face failure and death?
- Whom is Jesus sending you toward with the peace he speaks in John 20:21?
- Where do you still live as if exile has the last word?
- Looking back over six weeks, which “accomplished” line do you most need to believe?
Closing prayer
Risen Lord, Breath of new creation: seek us by name, fill us with your Spirit, and send us with your peace. Begin us again. Amen.
After the study
Week recap
Walk the published slide recap for Week 6 · led by Margreth.
Open recap