April 4
The Characters of Easter // We are The Good Thief // Luke 23:32-43 – Paul Gazdik
3 Questions
- How did last week’s action challenge go? (Prayerful take one action that will draw you closer to Jesus.)
- (Jesus) You became what you were not, so that I might become what I was not. Martin Luther – 2 Cor 5:21.
- Read Luke 23:26-43. It’s all in the approach. Compare how various people approached Jesus. How would you describe your approach to Jesus over recent weeks?
2 Prayer Prompts
- Praise God for so great a love and salvation (cf Romans 1:18-21, 3:21-26)
- Ask God to grow a greater humility towards him and hunger for him in you and in his church.
1 Action
Read and meditate on 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 daily asking God to change the way you see him, yourself and others
March 28
The Characters of Easter // We are Judas // Matthew 27:1-10 – Paul Gazdik
3 Questions
- How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn? (Team up with someone as you pray the prayer prompts this week.)
- Read Matthew 26:6-16. How might Mary’s anointing of Jesus with expensive perfume have fueled Judas’ decision to betray Jesus (Cf John 12:1-6)
- Recall the closing three application handles and discuss them, thinking through practical ways of engaging in each one this week. (Three applications: Practice sober judgment, deal with issues in your heart or it will deal with you, and keep going to Jesus.)
2 Prayer Prompts
- Praise God for his grace that is greater than our denials and betrayals.
- Ask God to show you where disappointment/resentment might be bubbling up in you.
1 Action
- Prayerfully take one action this week that will draw you closer to Jesus (ie joining a LifeGroup, joining Freedom Session, asking to be baptized, inviting someone to Easter or the Easter Egg Hunt, journaling and praying through your God disappointments, working through forgiving someone etc).
March 21
The Characters of Easter // We are Peter // Matthew 26:69-75 – Paul Gazdik
3 Questions
- How did last week’s action challenge go and what did you learn? What has God been saying “no” to you? How could this be a gift? What might be the greater Yes?
- Read Matthew 26:69-75. Looking back on your life (recent and past) can you discern times you were angry with God and why?
- Read John 21:15-17. What good work of breaking and rebuilding is God doing in your life today? In the last year, what role has Covid played?
2 Prayer Prompts
- Modeling 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, start by praising God for the good things he has given and then move to thanking him for how he uses the hardships too. Be specific.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to help you surrender to God’s work of disciplining and breaking.
1 Action
- Team up with someone as you pray the prayer prompts this week. Check in and encourage one another and share what God is showing you.