Rom 1:16-20 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (17) For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” (18) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (19) For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. (20) For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

1Co 1:17-24 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. (18) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (19) For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” (20) Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (21) For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (22) For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, (23) but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, (24) but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Why does the Cross feature so significantly in our society?

The death of Jesus reverses all that is wrong in the world

What is wrong with our world?

It all started with Adam and Eve but impacted everything

Nicky Gumbel:-

   Pollution of Sin – break one you break them all. (James 2:10)

   The power of Sin – Jn.8:34 “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin”

   The penalty for sin - Rom.6:23 “The wages of sin is death”

   The partition of sin – Is.59:1,2 Barrier between us and God. Eternal Isolation.

But God was not surprised or defeated by this and promised to put it all right .

Which brings us to the Cross

 “He (that is a man) will crush your head! Gen.3:15

The Cross - conquered the evil one,

was victorious over sin and its consequences,

and dealt with all the brokenness of our rebellion

The Big picture words which help us begin to understand:

Propitiation

Reconciliation

Atonement

Covenant

Justification

Sacrifice

Substitute

The death, resurrection and promised return of Jesus changes everything.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. [for] God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not counting our trespasses against us, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2Co 5:17-19)

QUESTION

   Is the Cross big enough for you and everything you are dealing with?

I am a true Hebrew. As a Pharisee, I strictly obeyed the Law of Moses. And I was so eager that I even made trouble for the church. I did everything the Law demands in order to please God. But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ (Php 3:5-8)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, Rom.1:16

[So] we preach Christ crucified.., Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Cor.1:23,24

Looking from the outside – the cross is foolishness, weak, powerless, defeat

Paul declares – the Cross is in fact the power of God, the wisdom of God!

CS Lewis...

So let's consider the cross, lean on God and be transformed!

NOTES AND QUESTIONS FOR BIBLE STUDY

WEEK 1    WHY THE CROSS     Colossians 2:6-15         Sun.15th Feb       

WARM UP:

As a group - Make a list of the most momentous events in History.

Use a whiteboard or butchers paper to record them.

Now rate them in order of significance!

Now ask:   Where would you put Adam and Eve and the fall?

                  Where would you put the crucifixion of Jesus?

Invite the participants to share of a time when they did something foolish or wrong.

Discuss – Which events in history have had an impact on your own story? How?

BIBLE STUDY

1. Read Isaiah 59:1-14 and Romans 1:18-32

Talk about and list all the ways sin has had an impact on our world and on your life.

Again use butchers paper or a white board.

The Bible says the Cross is God's answer to these problems. 

The Bible does not give a definitive answer to the question of How, but instead uses a number of picture words to help us understand its effect.

For each word. 

 Read the bible passage and try and find an example which illustrates what it means

ATONEMENT - (Psalm 79:9)

Describes how humans can be reconciled with God “at One ment” (“to make amends”)

REDEMPTION – (Exodus 21:28-30, Romans 6:23)

Ransom (payment of price) paid to release prisoners of war, or slaves from bondage

PROPITIATION – (Romans 3:25)

The turning away of anger by the offering of a gift

RECONCILIATION – (Ephesians 2:14,15)

To make up after a quarrel, by taking away the cause

COVENANT – (Jeremiah.31:31-34)

Our connection with God is now based on his promise and action, not our state and actions 

JUSTIFICATION – (Romans 5:18,19)

Legal concept by which one is demonstrated to be in the right. No longer subject to any legal claim.  

SACRIFICE – (Hebrews 13:11,12)

Offering to appease another, particularly one who has been wronged

SUBSTITUTE – (2 Corinthians 5:14,21) to take the place of another. In the case of Jesus to be punished and suffer death instead of us. 

FORGIVENESS – (1 John 1:9)

To let go of the hurt and pain of someones wrong doing.

Can forgiveness occur if the debt remains or there is no apology

Can you forgive and not forget?

Which of these words are most difficult for you? Why?

Which word is most significant for you? Why?

 SOUL TRAINING – EXERCISE FOR THE WEEK

Take a note during the week of when the world is not as it should be.

Imagine what would be different if the actions/effect of the cross was fully at work in response to the sinful action.

If you are the creative type...

Draw two pictures that depict a world where sin is rampant,

and a world where sin is absent.

Bring it to the next Life Group

If not...

Write a letter to God telling him how the world could be better, or what you would like Him to do about the mess.

FOR FURTHER REFLECTION

Read: Isaiah 59:1-14 and Romans 1:18-32

Make a list of all the ways sin has had an impact on you and your world. See if your list can reach 100

Consider the 9 descriptive words and write your own definition of each using NO religious language. If it helps use a modern illustration.