Read:  Mark 15:16-39

Open

Do you have favorite Holy Week traditions or memories of when God spoke to you clearly through the events of Holy Week?

Dig

In the sermon we were reminded that every religion affirms that there is something wrong with the way things are.  As Christians, we believe that Christ came and died on the cross to fix what is wrong.  Historically, the nature of the problem that Christ came to solve is discribed in various ways:

· The power of death

· Our own sinfulness and divine judgment against sin

· A break in the relationship between God and his creation

· The dominion and power of Satan who seeks to destroy us

How would you describe the primary problem that we need Christ to save us from?

What did the death of Christ accomplish?  How would you explain that to someone who knows nothing about the Christian faith?  What does the Cross teach us about God?  About ourselves?

The sermon said that the Cross is the “final blow to pride and self-sufficiency” and that it “opens the door to joy.”  Can you share with the group how the Cross has impacted your pride and your own sense of self-sufficiency?

Reflect

Is your life characterized by joy?  Share with the group a time when your realization of what Christ did for you on the cross resulted in an overflow of joy in your life?