We wanted to put a study guide together based on the Cross and the classes we had last year. The Cross is the central theme of our faith – consequently it must be at the center of everything we are and everything we do. This is in no way meant to be a comprehensive study on the subject. Really, there is no way to exhaust a study on God’s love and sacrifice for us. There is no way to thoroughly study all that the Cross means in our life. The aim of our life is to constantly go back to the Cross for our purpose, our direction and our motivation. As we continue to grow, our prayer is that this ‘basic’ of living cross-centered lives never gets old and that we remain amazed by God’s love and grace.Hope of the Cross
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
The message of the Cross is the power of God!
The Cross and all that happened there present such an unlikely hope – it was such an unlikely rescue. For God to choose something so hideous, so evil & grotesque shows how amazing His grace is and the lengths he went to reconcile us to Him.
Read Isaiah 52-53.
This passage describes what Jesus went through, what God was doing and what our perspective on Christ’s sufferings should be.
What goes through your mind as you read this? What new appreciation can you gain as you really meditate on these verses? Is there anything here that you have not noticed before?
The Cross gives hope.
- Hope for Salvation
Read Romans 1:16, I Corinthians 15 and Colossians 2:13-15.
Write out thoughts and memories of what you were like before you became a Christian. As you think about these memories, what do you see that you have been saved from? - Hope for Truth & Security
Read John 14:27 Is this hard to believe? Accept? What things/events/situations make you feel insecure? Confused? Afraid? How can focusing on these words of Jesus and thinking about the Cross help you in difficult times when Satan tries to feed your insecurity?Also read – John 3:16; Ephesians 1:13-14 and 2:1-7 In what ways does our culture and society define self-worth for us? How does the Cross define our worth? (hint: it says volumes about how much you are worth to God!)
Thought – “Peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God.”
John 16: 33
- Hope for Healing
Read Isaiah 53 again and also 1 Peter 2:21-25Jesus was wounded to help us heal our wounds. What is the hardest thing that has ever happened to you? What are some wounds that you have?
Read Matthew 14:36 It says that all who touched Jesus were healed. Of course, in this particular passage it is talking about physical healing – but in a sense, Jesus is the source of all healing. Why is it hard to let go of hurts? What hurts are hard for you to let go of? How can understanding the Cross help you to let go?
- Hope for Change
Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 This passage says that because of the Cross we are made new! At the Cross there is the power to change. Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection give us hope to change – we can be different. What do wish you could change right now, this very second? What plagues you and never seems to go away or you can’t seem to conquer it? How often do you look at the Cross as the hope for change in your life? What can you do today, how can you change your mindset and begin to look at the Cross for hope?
Read Romans 12:1-2 and Galatians 2:19-21 How do these scriptures speak to change and the hope we have to change by the Cross?
Note: The Cross is about transformation. It is meant to transform us not help us “manage” sin. It is about victory – not sin management. What sins have you allowed yourself to live with or “manage”? How will the Cross help you to TRANSFORM?
Read Isaiah 61:1-3 and John 12:27 This is why Jesus came – to give us hope, to offer reconciliation.