What if the Christian life is a lot simpler than we’ve made it?
In this week’s message from our Redeemer and Friend series, we look at one of the most well known but often overlooked moments in the life of Jesus – the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross. It is a scene where time has run out, where there is no chance to fix the past, no opportunity to prove anything, and no way for this man to change his life. And yet, in that moment, Jesus makes a promise that has given hope to people for two thousand years.
This message looks at how simple Jesus made redemption, how easy it is for us to slowly turn our faith into performance, and why spiritual maturity is not about becoming more independent from Jesus, but more dependent on Him. In the end, this story brings us back to a simple but life changing idea – that the most important thing in the Christian life is not how much you know, but where you turn when life reminds you that you are not in control.
If you missed the live service or want to reflect further, you can watch the full message above anytime after. We’ve also included discussion questions to dig deeper into the message and a handout with fill-ins to guide your reflection. You can find the handout by clicking the “Download” button above. Whether you watch this on your own or share it with your small group, we hope this message encourages you.
Discussion Questions
- How would you explain the difference between being around Jesus and actually turning to Him in your everyday life?
- Why do you think it is so easy for people who have been in church for a long time to slowly drift from grace into performance?
- Have there been times in your life when you found yourself trying to earn God’s approval instead of resting in His grace? What did that look like?
- The thief on the cross had nothing left to offer except a turning heart. What do you think it means for us to turn to Jesus in the middle of real life situations like fear, guilt, failure, or uncertainty?
- Why do you think we tend to believe that God is closer to us when we are doing well and further away when we are struggling?
- How should understanding our identity as children of God change the way we see baptism, communion, and being part of a church family?
- What do you think it practically looks like to “remain” in Jesus in the middle of a normal week?
- When something difficult or stressful happens in your life, what is your first instinct and what would it look like to turn to Jesus in that moment instead?
- Peter said, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life.” What do you think he meant by that and how does that relate to your life?
- If the most important thing about learning is turning, what do you think it looks like to grow in your faith over time?
