SERIES SUMMARY

At Fellowship Greenville, we desire to reintroduce people to Jesus and the life that He offers. We realize that each of us growing as disciples of Jesus is imperative to us being about God’s mission of redemption in our circle of influence. Therefore, as we continue to grow with more and more people joining us, we want to take several Sundays this summer and articulate our discipleship values, while also inviting everyone to the discipleship pathway available to them here at Fellowship Greenville.

PASSAGE GUIDE - Story: Our story of grace intentionally lived out in God’s story of redemption. 

Luke 24 unfolds as a powerful reflection on the significance of story—how our broken, confusing, or unfinished stories find meaning when they are joined to God’s redemptive narrative. The chapter opens with the women coming to the tomb expecting to encounter death but instead being met with the shocking declaration that Jesus has risen. Though confused at first, they remember Jesus’ words and rush to tell the others. Their story, once filled with grief and disillusionment, is now redirected by the truth of resurrection.

The road to Emmaus opens with a picture of two people walking away from what they thought was the end of their story. They are disappointed, hurt, and confused, believing that the hope they had placed in Jesus was misplaced. Yet Jesus meets them in their sorrow. He listens to their pain and patiently unfolds the Scriptures, showing how everything they experienced fits into the larger plan of redemption. This moment reminds us that Jesus often meets us not at the end of a cleaned-up story, but right in the middle of our mess, inviting us to see our pain through the lens of his promises.

Their eyes are finally opened when Jesus breaks bread with them—a simple, ordinary act that suddenly makes the divine visible. In that instant, they realize he had been with them all along. Though he disappears, their despair is transformed into joy. They return to Jerusalem, their story rewritten—not by new circumstances, but by new understanding. Their hearts, once burdened by grief, are now burning with purpose. This transformation beautifully illustrates the truth that when we let our stories be shaped by the story of Christ—by his presence, his Word, and his resurrection—what once felt like an ending becomes a beginning.

Later, Jesus appears to the disciples, confirming the reality of his bodily resurrection. He invites them to touch his wounds and eats in their presence to prove he is not a ghost. But more than that, he opens their minds to the Scriptures and reframes everything they’ve lived through. He commissions them to carry his story forward—to proclaim repentance and forgiveness to all nations. Their imperfect pasts do not disqualify them; instead, their personal stories become mirrors to God’s great redemptive story that he has been writing since the beginning of time. God does not erase their humanity—he redeems it, inviting them to bear witness as people who have been changed.

The chapter closes with Jesus’ ascension, not as a vanishing into mystery, but as a culmination of his earthly mission and a launch point for the story that will continue through his followers. The disciples worship him with joy and return to the temple praising God, their lives fully caught up in something far greater than themselves. Luke 24 is more than history—it’s an invitation. No matter how fragmented or flawed our stories may be, when they are joined to God's story, we find hope, purpose, and healing. Our stories are not too messy, too far gone, or too small. They matter to God, and in Christ, they are made new.

*We are a church located in Greenville, South Carolina. Our vision is to see God transform us into a community of grace, passionately pursuing life and mission with Jesus.

SUGGESTIONS FOR COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION               

Remember, these are “suggested” questions. You do not have to go through every single one of them. You do not need to listen to both sermons at both campuses to participate in the discussion. 

OPENING PRAYER

Open by taking each part of the four-part narrative before the Lord, remembering his sovereign provision and grace. Take time to reflect on his story in thanks and humility. 

READ THE TEXT

Read all of Luke 24 for context or read just Luke 24:13-35.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• What aha’s did you have or what stood out to you from the text or the sermon?
• Have you ever thought of the Bible as one big story? 
• There are many ways to tell the story of redemption, what are some ways that you would tell God’s story of redemption? 
• Why is story, not Gospel, Heart or Mission, our first characteristic of a Disciple? 
• What role does Scripture play in helping the disciples—and us—make sense of our personal stories?
• Have you ever had an experience where your understanding of your life changed because you saw it through God’s story? What happened?
• What does Luke 24 teach about the kind of people God uses to continue his mission—especially those with broken or unfinished stories?
• How might your current struggles or doubts look different if you believed Jesus was walking with you right now, like he did on the road to Emmaus?
• Do you usually tell your life story with Jesus as the Hero? Why or why not? 
• Choose one of the 4 movements (creation, fall, redemption, new creation) and explain how your story mirrors “ The Story of God”. 

PRACTICE OPTIONS

• Life in Community: Ask one friend of yours who is a follower of Jesus to tell you their story of grace. 
• Life with Jesus: Spend time in prayer and journal what dominant theme or narrative you are giving your life to right now. 
• Life on Mission: Take time this week to write out your 3-5 minute story of grace. Then share that with a trusted friend. 

CLOSING PRAYER

Read Revelation 21:1-8, spend time in prayer praising God for how he makes all things new, how he is transforming our stories and the story of the world. Give specific examples of thanks for how God’s story has transformed your individual stories.