Herein lies the stunning truth of God’s grace. God knows every darkened corner of our existence, every rebellious thought, every distorted passion, every insecurity, every prodigal’s venture to a faraway land, and still he chooses to reach out with forgiveness.
MARK MCMINN
Connect
1. On a scale from “overthink everything” to “go with the flow,” how would you describe your decision-making style? Why?
2. When you hear the word “decision fatigue,” what part of your life immediately comes to mind?
3. If you could instantly make one “Big D” decision in your life right now, no fear, no hesitation, what would it be?
Discuss
1. The crowd, when Jesus entered Jerusalem, wanted Him to meet their expectations (political/military), not actually transform their hearts. Where are you tempted to shape Jesus into what you want instead of surrendering to who He is?
2. The message highlights that we often compare ourselves to others instead of recognizing God’s holiness. How have comparison and “I’m not as bad as…” thinking affected your view of sin, grace, or your need for God?
3. Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane shows both honesty (“take this cup”) and surrender (“not my will”). What would it look like for you to pray that kind of surrendered prayer in your current situation? What makes that hard?
4. When the curtain in the temple was torn, possibly reflecting not just access being opened, but the anguish and cost of what God was doing it symbolized that the barrier between God and us was removed through sacrifice.
What does it mean for you personally that you now have direct access to God, and how does understanding the cost of that access shape the way you approach Him?
5.
Action Steps
1. What is one clear step of trust, surrender, or obedience you sense God inviting you to take this week? Take a moment to pray and ask Him to make that step clear and give you the courage to follow through.
2. Who is one person in your life that God may be putting on your heart to invite to Easter? Take a moment to pray for them by name and ask God for an opportunity and the courage to invite them this week.
Prayer
Ask for prayer requests and close with a time of prayer.