Key Passage: “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons…” Luke 8:1-2
God redeems our pain and suffering.
REVIEW: God created mankind in his image, without sin, and with free will.
- READ: Genesis 1:27 “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
- DISCUSS: What relationships are you most tempted to control? What fear(s) might be behind your desire for control, and what might it look like to offer love instead?
REVIEW: Adam and Eve rejected God and introduced sin and death into the world, but Jesus entered into our suffering without sin and offered his life in place of ours.
- READ: Romans 5:21 “So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
- DISCUSS: Do you truly feel forgiven by God, or are there things that still cause you to feel guilty or shameful? How can you invite Jesus into those places?
REVIEW: When our pain drives us toward God, he redeems us with forgiveness and new life.
- READ: Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”
- DISCUSS: How has God redeemed your life (in other words, what freedom and hope have you experienced through Jesus)?
ASK:
What else did you get from this week's sermon? What actions or next steps can you take to apply it to your life?
PRAY:
Pray for the forgiveness and new life of Jesus to fill our hearts in a fresh way and for his freedom to expand into every area of our lives.