Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Because Jesus was raised as he predicted, you can trust all his promises.

Digging Deeper

1. When you think about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, what questions arise in your mind?

2. Why is it important to see (and believe) that Jesus’ resurrection is both true and meaningful? What is lost if we abandon either of these?

3. Please read: Luke 24:6–7 “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” It was noted in the sermon that, in verse 6, the angels don’t tell the women to remember that Jesus said the Son of Man would be delivered, killed, and raised—but that he must be delivered, killed, and raised. It had to happen. Why? Why did it have to happen?

4. How does Luke 19:10 (“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”) help us arrive at a solid answer to #3 above?

5. What are some of the historical details Luke provides for us, his readers, so that “we may have certainty” regarding the historical truthfulness of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead?

6. Jesus predicted (promised) that he would rise from the dead, and then he did what he said he would do: he rose from the dead. Does this fact strengthen your confidence that he will do the other things he has promised to do as well? How so?

7. Jesus claimed that he could forgive sins (sins ultimately done against God). How does Jesus’ resurrection from the dead help us trust that through him we truly can find forgiveness for our sin, guilt, and rebellion against God?

8. Jesus promises eternal life to those who trust him. How does his resurrection help us believe this promise?

9. Jesus has promised to come again to take his own to himself. How does his resurrection help us believe he will do what he has said in this regard?

10. Was there anything in particular from this sermon that helped you once again to marvel at the majesty of Jesus in his triumphant resurrection victory over sin, Satan, and the grave? Please share.

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Recognize and depend on the King who saves through dying.

Digging Deeper

Jesus speaks four times in this passage, and each time he does so, he reveals something about himself and his accomplishment on the cross. Jesus’ first words in this passage reveal his authority: the condemned is in control (vv. 26-31).

1. Jesus is the one with all authority, even when he is weak. He is in complete control, even when he has been condemned to die. How does knowing these things are true help us rely on him?

The second time Jesus speaks in this passage, he reveals his mercy: the crucified prays for his killers (vv. 32-34).

2. For some of us, it can be hard to move beyond a particular sin(s) we have done in the past. We struggle to believe that God could actually forgive us for that, and actually love us and accept us. How does Jesus's act of forgiving those who were crucifying him shape your understanding of His willingness to forgive you for what you have done? Please share.

3. At times, we can find it difficult to forgive others. In this passage, Jesus provides help for us by giving us an example to follow (of forgiving one’s enemies). But he gives us far more forgiveness-enabling help than that. What else in this passage do we need to be mindful of when we are struggling to forgive another person?

The third time Jesus speaks in this passage, he reveals his generosity: paradise is freely given to criminals (vv. 35-43)

4. It was pointed out in the sermon that even though the criminal put his faith in Christ, his circumstances did not change. He was still crucified for his crime. But his suffering was no doubt transformed by the knowledge that he had been forgiven of his sin and now had the hope of paradise with Jesus. How have you seen these realities (the forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life) transform your perspective on and experience of suffering/?

5. How might the story of the criminal on the cross trusting in Christ give us hope and courage to continue to pray for the salvation of those in our lives who have thus far been resistant to God’s work in their lives?

The fourth time Jesus speaks in this passage, he reveals his victory: he reconciles through bearing wrath (vv. 44-49)

6. Jesus has fully and completely satisfied the wrath of God that we deserved. This was his glorious victory - on our behalf! Because of this, we can now be reconciled to God through faith in Christ. How can we help each other never forget these precious realities, but instead continue to grow in amazement, wonder, gratefulness, and delight in what Christ has done on our behalf?

Our Response:

7. One of the ways we can rightly respond to this passage is by recognizing Jesus - seeing him for who he truly is. Is there a particular moment(s) in your life when God enabled you to see Christ more clearly for who he really is? What effect did that have on your life? Please share.

8. Another way we can rightly respond to this passage is by relying on Jesus. We can all be tempted to rely on our own “good” deeds, and our own (perceived) goodness / righteousness apart from Christ. Why is forsaking any and all sense of our own goodness / righteousness a key and necessary part of what it means to rely on (trust in) Christ alone for our acceptance before God?

Prayer

Discussion Questions

Sermon Overview

Jesus, the guiltless, was condemned so that the guilty could go free.

Digging Deeper

Read Luke 23:1-25

Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, and yet chose his job over justice. How might we respond when faced with situations like Pilate’s?

How does it affect you to hear that you are “guilty”? Why is it hard to apply this idea to ourselves?

"Under all our sins is the fundamental sin of not keeping God always first.” How can you grow in this as a believer?

Barabbas going free is a picture of what God has accomplished for us in the guiltless Christ being condemned, while we are set free. Listen to the song “I Am Barabbas” by Josiah Queen, and discuss how it impacts you: https://open.spotify.com/track/3GPaQ3dloevmilym0a1V3O?si=2ed9d78d19d945c1.

Have different people read the following passages: 1 Peter 3:18, Colossians 2:21-22, Revelation 1:5b. How are we like Barabbas?

Christianity isn’t fundamentally about doing better for yourself, but receiving what Christ has done for you. How and why can we receive what Christ has done without making that a “work” which we have to do?

Sermon applications: Trust, Praise, and Follow him

How can we communicate the goodness of receiving what Christ has done to people who tend to view Christianity as works-based (non-Christians, legalists, etc.) without going too far in the other direction?

How could we grow in viewing ourselves not by what we’ve accomplished, but by what Christ has accomplished?

Prayer