Bloodline – Part 3: Was There Any Other Way?

Was There Any Other Way?
Bloodline, Part 3
April 13-14, 2019
Steve Tanner

“Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, ‘Sit here while I go over there to pray.’ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed.“ Matthew 26:36-37

“He told them, ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying…” Matthew 26:38-39a

“He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.” Luke 22:44

“’(Jesus) My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Matthew 26:39b

• Jesus Is The Only Way. 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Mosaic Covenant Sacrificial System:

1. Terms are conditional (if/then).
2. Sacrifice is a clean animal.
3. Sins are covered (atonement).
4. Effect is temporary (must repeat).

“Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” Hebrews 10:11-12

Mosaic Covenant Sacrifices Fulfilled in Jesus:

1. Terms are unconditional (Jesus paid).
2. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice and High Priest.
3. Sins are washed away (not just covered).
4. Effect is permanent (no repeat needed).

“By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him.” Hebrews 10:20-22a

“…Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” Colossians 1:27b

 

My Next Step: I will invite someone to Easter service to come and see what Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection.

Read Daily

• Because I trust Jesus as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” I am now clean – Jesus has washed away my sins.
• I have direct access to God because Jesus tore down the barriers that separated us.
• I am now in perfect covenant relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.
• And because Jesus lives in me, I am assured of sharing in His Glory.

 

Life Groups Study Questions
Taking the Talk to Another Level
For the Week of April 14, 2019

Life Groups use these questions to dig deeper into what we talked about this weekend as we do life together in relationships. Find out more about Groups and how to get signed up by checking the “Groups” box on your Connection Card, getting a “Groups Brochure” at the Info Center in the Lobby, going to alivechurch.com/groups, or email us at groups@alivechurch.com.

Connection Points

• What do you remember about Easter from when you were a kid?
• What traditions do you or your family have around Easter?

Quick Review

• Looking back at your Talk Notes, did anything you heard in the service particularly catch your attention, or maybe challenge or even confuse you?

Discussion Starters from the Weekend Talk

Pastor Steve continued our “Bloodline” Series with Part 3: “Was There Any Other Way?” Our big idea was to remember, “Jesus is The Only Way.”

• Read Matthew 26:36-45. (Parallel passages of this account are also found in Mark 14:32-41 and in Luke 22:39-48)
  • Why do you think the disciples had such a hard time staying awake?
  • How does it make you feel to realize the extent of the agony and stress that Jesus was facing?
  • What does this passage say to you about Jesus and his love for you?
• In your Talk Notes, look at the comparison of the Mosaic Covenant Sacrificial System and Jesus’ Fulfillment of those sacrifices. (See Leviticus 17:11 for a reference to the blood sacrifices of the Mosaic Covenant.)
  • Talk about the differences between the old system and Jesus’ fulfillment of those sacrifices.
    • What element(s) particularly stand out to you?
  • What is significant about Jesus being the sacrifice and the High Priest?
  • How did this old system highlight the people’s sin and their need for God?
• Read Colossians 1:27.
  • What do you think about having “Christ in you,” and “sharing his glory?

Digging Deeper

• Read Hebrews 10:1-7
  • What other insights do you see about the old and new sacrificial systems in this passage?
  • How does this whole discussion of old and new systems speak to your everyday life? How is it relevant?
  • How would you address this topic with a child?
• Read Hebrews 10:19-22
  • Highlight all the references to “us” and “we” and “our” as you discuss the personal nature of what Jesus has done for us by offering himself as the ultimate sacrifice.

Taking It Home

• Our Next Step from the Talk is: “I will invite someone to Easter service to come and see what Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection.”
• Steve included a “Daily Affirmation Reading” for us to read every day this week. Read it together as a group. Perhaps you could make it a part of your group prayer time.
  • Because I trust Jesus as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” I am now clean – Jesus has washed away my sins.
  • I have direct access to God because Jesus tore down the barriers that separated us.
  • I am now in perfect covenant relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.
  • And because Jesus lives in me, I am assured of sharing in His Glory.

Pray

• Pray for one another in your Group to intentionally live out the Next Step.

This Weekend:

• Our annual Good Friday Service of shadows is this Friday at 6:00pm and 7:15pm. It is a powerful service you will not want to miss.
• Easter is this weekend! Who will you invite? We have added TWO extra services to accommodate the expected turnout. Services are Saturday at 5:00pm and 6:15pm; Sunday at 7:45am, 9:00am, 10:15am, and 11:30am.