Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright
Week 15: Part III, Chapter 14 — Rethinking Easter
Read Part III, Chapter 14 of Surprised by Hope. Key passages: 1 Corinthians 15:54–58; Romans 8:31–39; Revelation 5:9–14.
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Wright brings the book toward its close by returning to Easter — arguing that the resurrection of Jesus is not merely a past event to be celebrated once a year, but the present-tense power that propels the Church's life and witness.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Wright argues that Easter is drastically underplayed in most Western Christianity — reduced to one day a year, surrounded by chocolates and bunnies, when it should be the engine of the Church's entire life. Do you agree with this diagnosis? What would it look like for your church community to take Easter more seriously?
2.Wright connects the resurrection directly to the defeat of death as a power — not just the promise that individuals survive death, but that death itself has been dethroned. How does 1 Corinthians 15:54–58 express this? What difference does it make to know that death is already a defeated enemy?
3.Wright argues that the Church's task is to 'implement the victory of Easter.' What does this mean in practice — at the level of a local congregation, a family, and an individual Christian?
a.Can you think of a specific situation in your community where implementing the victory of Easter would make a concrete difference?
b.How does the knowledge that evil has already been defeated change the emotional texture of Christian activism and service?
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