08/30/2026
We are looking forward to seeing you as Pastor Chris continues the Study in the Book of Mark with “Hope Lives On”. Join us at GCC Kendallville at 9am or 11am or live here on Facebook.
Below is our Study Guide. Please share the message and be sure to follow GCC on the Bible app
The Gospel of Mark — “Hope Lives On”
Mark 15:42–16:13
Read Mark 15:42–47. Who was Joseph of Arimathea, and what did he risk by asking Pilate for the body of Jesus?
Read Isaiah 53:9. How did Joseph’s wealth and the use of his tomb help fulfill Old Testament prophecy about Jesus’ burial?
Read Mark 16:1–4. What obstacle were the women worried about as they approached the tomb? What can the already-moved stone teach us about worrying over obstacles before we reach them?
The sermon says, “We sometimes confuse ‘I can’t explain it’ with ‘God can’t do it.’” Why do we sometimes limit what we believe God can do based on what we can understand or explain?
Read Mark 16:5–7. Why is the angel’s statement, “He has risen; He is not here,” the foundation of Christian hope?
The women came to the tomb expecting to find a dead Jesus even though He had told His followers He would rise again. Why is it sometimes difficult to trust what God has said when our circumstances seem to say something different?
Read Mark 16:7. Why do you think the angel specifically said, “tell His disciples and Peter”? What does Peter’s inclusion teach us about grace, restoration, and failure?
Read Mark 16:10–13. Why did the disciples struggle to believe the reports that Jesus was alive? How can fear overpower faith in our lives today?
The sermon says, “Faith doesn’t mean believing God will always do what we ask. Faith means knowing that He can do it, and trusting Him even when He chooses not to.” What is the difference between genuine biblical faith and simply expecting God to give us what we want?
Personal Application: What is the biggest “stone” in your life right now—something that seems too large for you to move? How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope and confidence to trust God with it?
Closing Thought: The cross looked like the end. The tomb looked like defeat. The stone looked like an impossible obstacle. But the tomb was empty. Jesus is alive. Hope lives on.
