We met this week to continue “Christianity Explored” Session 4 “THE CROSS” as we work through Mark’s gospel.

As normal we kicked off with a time of sharing Tests & Testimonies, which as always was such a blessed and encouraging time.

This was followed by a time of worship, during which a prophetic picture / word was shared:

“Someone carrying two heavy shopping bags filled to the top with stuff, the worst part is going home and unpacking the bags and putting the shopping away in the right place, but the Lord was saying bring your heavy bags to him and he will unpack them as he knows exactly where to put things and he will sort it out for you, trust God with all things”

“Then another picture was of the word flush away and the Lord asking someone to let go of something, I had an image of something being thrown into the toilet that was no good for someone and blocking them from receiving more of the Holy Spirit, but if they put it into the toilet and pull the chain it will flush away and God will fill them up more. like when a toilet system refills back with water when it gets flushed” 

We moved on to Christianity Explored by recapping the last sessions with a time of question and answers. We had the normal time of scripture reading (Mark 8:22-23) followed by small group discussions on questions in the handbook and a video, where we learnt the following:

Jesus said “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

• Jesus’ death on a cross wasn’t a tragic waste of life. It was a rescue

• Jesus taught his followers that He must be killed. He came to “give His life as a ransom for many”

• As Jesus was dying on the cross, darkness came over the whole land, God was acting in anger to punish sin
• On the cross, Jesus was in some way “forsaken” or abandoned by God, as God punished sin

• Jesus gave himself up as a substitute, to be punished on our behalf. He bore the punishment that our sin deserves, so that we can be rescued

• When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). Because of the cross, the way is now open for people to approach God

• The People who saw Jesus’ die reacted in different ways:

1. The soldiers missed what was happening
2. The religious leaders were convinced they already knew the way to God
3. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, gave in to the crowd
4. The roman centurion recognised the identity of Jesus: “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39)

We then had a great time discussing the following set questions

1. How would you feel if someone else deliberately took the punishment for something serious you had done wrong?
   
2. Which of the reactions to Jesus’ death is most like your reaction?
3. Jesus said he came “to give his life as a ransom” for sinners (Mark 10:45). What will you do with your sin?

We finished by encouraging everyone to read do some homework by reading Mark 8:30 – 10:52 and then answering the questions set in the handbook. Ready for discussion and question time next week

Thank you, Jesus, for another great evening at Hope Central, You will build Your church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it…

Thank you Taste & See for your continuing prayer support please continue to do so it is vital

(Psalm 24) This is the generation of those that seek him, that seek your face, O God of Jacob (v6)

A generation with clean hands and a pure heart

A generation with baptised with fire

A generation who pursues and loves Jesus

A generation with a simple but powerful faith

A revival generation

Can you hear those dry bones RATTLING…..