The Invitation - End of Week 6

INTRODUCTION
The following is a guide to help facilitate discussion between you and the person you’re studying with or with your Connect Group. Feel free to add, subtract, or change questions to fit the conversation, and pray for the Spirit to lead in all things.

OPEN QUESTIONS
It may seem like a trivial place to begin this week’s conversation on such an important topic, but to get us talking, share about a time you’ve been pulled over or cited for the appearance of breaking the law.  What was it like to be standing before the person in authority?

HEAD

1. Read Luke 23:1-25 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
2. What feelings and emotions do you experience as you read how Jesus was treated in these final moments?
3. Why do you think Pilate was going to have Jesus flogged and then released?  If he was innocent, why hit him?
4. Isn’t it odd that everything the crowd accused Jesus of was all the things Barabbas was guilty of?  Why are we willing to compromise to get what we want?
5. Read Luke 23:26-56 together and share any wisdom, insights, or thoughts that come to you from the reading.
6. Look at how often Jesus thought of others in this time of unspeakable and indescribable pain (both physically and spiritually): he tried to encourage the weeping women, he prayed for forgiveness over those nailing him to the cross, and he raised himself on the nail in his feet to pardon the criminal on the cross.  How could he continue to think of others even in these moments?
7. The Roman officer who oversaw the execution had witnessed 100’s, if not 1,000’s, of these before.  What do you think was so different about this one that made him exclaim, “Surely this man was innocent (or righteous, or the Son of God in other accounts)?”

HEART

1. When you stare at the face of the Savior who willingly gave up His life for you, what thoughts go through your mind?  What feelings go through your heart?
2. Watching the One who created everything, breathed life into everything, and took His last breath is hard.  What are some ways that you and I can practice remembering His gift to us beyond Easter?

HANDS
If you haven’t done this in a while, or maybe ever, what would it take to dedicate or rededicate your life to Jesus today?  If you haven’t done it before, what’s keeping you now?  Call a friend and tell them you want to give your life to Jesus.  Reach out to a pastor with the question of the Eunuch in Acts 8 - “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” (Acts 8: 36)


WORDS TO LIVE BY
“So let everyone in Israel know that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts of the Apostles 2:36-38 NLT