Bible Study - MATTHEW KING AND KINGDOM: The Cross
Sermon-Based Bible Study – April 10, 2022
- What is something God has done for you that you are thankful for? What is something you are celebrating? How have you experienced God’s love and faithfulness this week?
- Where are you experiencing stress, anxiety or discouragement? How would you like to see God move in your life or in the life of someone close to you?
- What did you hear in this week’s sermon that was new or particularly interesting? Did anything stand out to you as puzzling or troubling?
- Read Matthew 27:33-44. The Romans used public crucifixions to punish guilt, humiliate and shame victims, and terrorize the public. Which of these do you think caused Jesus the most suffering? Why?
- Read Matthew 27:45-54 and Psalm 22:1. Chris mentioned that the Gospel writers record 21 prayers of Jesus and this is the only one in which he does not address God as “Father.” What do you think is the significance of that? Have you ever felt like God had forsaken you?
- Darkness in scripture is often used to depict evil, death and judgement. When Jesus was crucified there was darkness from noon till three. Jesus’s prayer comes toward the end of this period of time. What does the darkness say to you about what was happening on the cross? What does the prayer Jesus shouts while on the cross say to you about how he felt? How he perceived the meaning of the darkness?
- The prayer Jesus shouts on the cross seems to come from his sense of being alienated from God. Have you ever shouted a prayer to God that was born out of an acute sense of alienation from God?
- Isaiah 53:5-6 reminds us that Jesus “was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” On the cross, Jesus was our substitute in a couple of ways: he stood in our place to endure the punishment for sin; and he stood in our place and endured being alienated from God. Which is most meaning for you? Why?
- Do you think people in our culture view sin as a serious issue? Why? What does the story of the cross reveal about how God views sin? What does the story of the cross reveal about God’s love for us? What does it say to us about where He is when we are in season of darkness?
- What is a simple, next step you could take in obedience to what the Spirit is saying to you through this time in the Word? Who would benefit, or be interested in hearing about what you’ve learned in this study?