It does not take long to look around and see that things are not how they are supposed to be. With all of the sickness, disease, and heartache surrounding us, it is clear that we have a problem: sin has taken over and ravaged everything. But, praise God that there is hope because when we were lost in sin, God set forth a plan to rescue us by sending His son Jesus to pay the price for our sins and die for us on the cross.
BREAK THE ICE
Even in the middle of the difficulties we face because of sin, what is a moment of hope that you have had recently?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. Describe the state humanity was in after sin entered the world.
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Romans 8:20-23. How do you see creation “groaning’ even today, as the apostle Paul describes in this verse?
Romans 8:20-23
"Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us."
3. Read Hebrews 9:11-15. How did the sacrificial system change from before Jesus came to after He came?
Hebrews 9:11-15
"So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood-not the blood of goats and calves-he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. 13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant."
"So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood-not the blood of goats and calves-he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. 15 That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant."
4. What is the significance of Jesus’ position as the Great High Priest?
Application
1. When was a time you experienced the forgiveness that Jesus offers as our Great High Priest through His sacrifice?
2. What difference does knowing that Jesus is the final sacrifice and our Great High Priest make?
3. Who is someone you know who needs the hope that Jesus brings?
MOVING FORWARD
Next week we are celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have hope. Easter is when many people who do not usually attend church are willing to come. Think of someone you can invite who does not have a relationship with Christ. Share this person with your group. After everyone has shared, pray together. Pray that God would work in each of these people’s hearts and make Himself known to them.
GOING DEEPER
We heard in the weekend sermon that there are three kinds of evils that cause the pain and evil that we face in this world. Unfortunately, many people tend to blame God for the struggles and hardships that we face instead of these evils that are the causes of our pain and struggles. Let’s take a few minutes together to look at what Scripture teaches about these evils and how Jesus has ultimately overcome them.
Moral Evil:
One of the most heartbreaking evils in this world is moral evil. Moral evil is the pain that we humans cause on other humans. Sin has caused us humans to hurt each other in unspeakable ways. In these instances, those people who have hurt us are the cause of our sin and heartache, not God. Praise God, however, that Jesus did something to save us from ourselves and rescue us from our sin.
1. Read Mark 7:14-23. What does this passage of Scripture teach about much of the pain and heartache we face in this world?
Mark 7:14-23
14 "Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand. 15 It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart." 17 Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. 18 "Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer." (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes.) 20 And then he added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you."
14 "Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. "All of you listen," he said, "and try to understand. 15 It's not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart."
17 Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. 18 "Don't you understand either?" he asked. "Can't you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn't go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer." (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God's eyes.)
20 And then he added, "It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you."
2. Read 1 John 1:8-9. How does Jesus bring hope when it comes to moral evil?
1 John 1:8-9
"If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."
3. How do these passages of Scripture you have read help you better understand the case behind some of the difficulties and hardships we face in life and how Jesus stepped into our pain to do something about it?
Natural Evil
Some of the hardships we face in our world result from natural evil. These are the floods, earthquakes, famines, hurricanes, pandemics, sicknesses, and more that take place and wreak havoc on the world and in our lives. Once again, when these natural evils come upon us, we tend to blame God instead of the natural evil caused by sin. In an act of Grace, God did something about these natural evils, and one day everything that was destroyed by natural evil will be restored.
1. Read Genesis 3:17-18. According to this verse, what is the cause of the natural evils that take place in this world?
Genesis 3:17-18
"And to the man he said, "Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains."
2. Read Romans 8:20-22. In what ways does creation groan?
Romans 8:20-22
"Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time."
3. Read Revelation 21:1-4. What hope do we have when it comes to the natural evils that we face in this world?
Revelation 21:1-4
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, "Look, God's home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."
Demonic Evil:
The final evil we heard about during the weekend sermon is demonic evil. Scripture teaches that Satan and his demons are active and cause some of our heartache and pain. The enemy tempts us and causes us to make decisions that we never wanted to make. Many times people blame God instead of our enemy working against us. While we will always be at war with Satan and sin on this earth, we can have hope that, in the end, Jesus has overcome Satan and his demons. He gets the final say.
1. Read 1 Peter 5:8. What does this verse teach us about the cause behind some of the heartache and pain that we face?
1 Peter 5:8
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."
2. Read Colossians 2:13-15. How did Jesus defeat Satan and his demons?
Colossians 2:13-15
"You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
Reflect:
Rather than focusing on all of the pain, heartache, and aches we face on this earth, we can focus on Jesus and how He has overcome it all. This is good news, and we have the privilege of sharing that good news with others. When we share the good news of the hope that Jesus offers, we get to be a part of Jesus’ restoration process. Do you have people in your life who you are sharing your faith with? If so, take a few moments to share how it is going. If not, make a list of three people you know who need the hope of Christ that you can begin sharing with. When you are finished talking about these people, pray together for each of these people. Pray that God would work in their hearts and make Himself known to them.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
"You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy." 1 Peter 1:8
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