Theme: You Are Witnesses

Scripture Text:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." ...

            He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
            Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Eight Days

Day 1

Theme: Witness through celebrating life
Text: Why do you look for the living among the dead? (Luke 24:1-5)
Genesis 1:1, 26-31
Psalm 104:1-24
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Luke 24:1-5

Day 2

Theme: Witness through sharing stories
Text: What are you discussing with each other while you walk along? (Luke 24:17)
Jeremiah 1:4-8
Psalm 98
Acts 14:21-23
Luke 24:13-17a

Day 3

Theme: Witness through awareness
Text: Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days? (Luke 24:18)
1 Samuel 3:1-10
Psalm 23
Acts 8:26-40
Luke 24:13-19a

Day 4

Theme: Bearing witness through celebrating the faith we have received
Text: What things? They replied, The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Luke 24:19
Deuteronomy 6:3-9
Psalm 34
Acts 4:32-35
Luke 24:17-21

Day 5

Theme: Witness through suffering
Text: Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory? (Luke 24:26)
Isaiah 50:5-9
Psalm 124
Romans 8:35-39
Luke 24:25-27

Day 6

Theme: Witness through faithfulness to the Scriptures
Text: Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us? (Luke 24:32)
Isaiah 55:10-11
Psalm 119:17-40
2 Timothy 3:14-17
Luke 24:28-35

Day 7

Theme: Witness through hope and trust
Text: Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? (Luke 24:38)
Job 19:23-27
Psalm 63
Acts 3:1-10
Luke 24:36-40

Day 8

Theme: Witness through hospitality
Text: Have you anything here to eat? (Luke 24:41)
Gen 18:1-8
Psalm 146
Romans 14:17-19
Luke 24:41-48