EE Study Group Discussion Notes Ep. 5

1 Discussion Notes Session 5: I Have the Promise of Eternal Life Begin by watching the intro video with Kyle Idleman that accompanies session five. (1:24) Connecting to One Another Answer the following questions before watching the DVD. • What is your favorite underdog story? What makes underdog stories so appealing? Changing into the Likeness of Christ In Session Five: I Have the Promise of Eternal Life, the setting remains unchanged but the story is refocused from a unique perspective. An indignant thief, sentenced to humiliation and death, watches from atop his crucified perch as Jesus is brought to Golgotha. It is through his eyes that the beginning of true hope is introduced into the crucifixion story. Before watching the video turn in your Bibles and read his story in Luke 23:32-43. • What do you notice in this section of Scripture? Watch Easter Experience: Session Five – I Have the Promise of Eternal Life (26:51) • Did you ever notice that both thieves (Matthew 27:44) originally mocked and jeered at Jesus? Why do people often mock what they don’t understand? • The Bible does not explain what happened in the heart of the thief on the cross, but which of the three options do you think is most likely the agent of change in the thief’s last hours? Why? o Seeing how Jesus endured the physical pain of scourging and crucifixion? o Seeing how Jesus interacted with his mother and the disciples? o Seeing how Jesus was willing to forgive those who were crucifying him? • Who do you most identify with at the scene of the crucifixion? • The thief on the cross was not included in the Bible to demonstrate that everyone deserves God’s grace, but rather to demonstrate that even those who do not deserve grace (those who have sinned) can still receive it. Is it ever too late to ask God for forgiveness? Prayer Idea After taking prayer requests thank God for the work that He has done in your life and the lives of your group members. Praise Him for loving each of you enough to send his son to die even though none of us deserved His salvation. Pray that as your time of Easter Experience is drawing to a close that God would be hard at work in showing your group the next step He would have each of you take. the easter experience2 Cultivating a Missional Life-Taking Your Experience Home During the coming week read and memorize Romans 15:13 NIV “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Cultivating a Missional Life: Taking Your Experience Hom “For the Christian, hope is a future certainty grounded in a present reality.” Victor Shepherd Can you remember when the truth of Christianity became more than just stories but the true story of history in which you were involved? • This week ask yourself the question, “Why do I believe what I believe, and when did I start believing it?” • Meditate on the events, conversations, influences, etc. that led to the relationship you have with God today. • Share your story with at least one other person this week. After a brief encounter with Christ, the thief on the cross was changed. How might you need to change in your relationship with family, friends, the community, etc…? • Show patience and love to the unloving (because He loved you first). • Serve the needs of someone in some small way and give the credit to Christ. • Endure your challenges and hardships without complaining. • Love more, judge less! Notes ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ If you need more tips and materials for running a successful Easter Experience group, be sure to come back to www.easterexperience.com for additional helpful materials!