Text of the Day: Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. (John 19:28-29)

Reflection Questions:

1 — Have you ever felt like you “fulfilled prophecy” about your life? Did you do what everyone thought you might? 

2 —Why is it important for Jesus to have fulfilled all the OT prophecies about the Messiah?

3 —Why do you think most of the Jews at the time did not understand what was happening before their eyes? 

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Here are some questions to go along with this week’s sermon:

1 — Why were there no other followers of Jesus at the foot of the cross?

2 — Do you think you would have been brave enough to be there?

3 — Would watching the soldiers take a business-as-usual attitude have frustrated you?

4 — Have you ever been adopted into someone’s family? Have you ever adopted someone?

5 — What does it mean to be a child of God? And who are your brothers and sisters?

6 — What role did women play in the life of Jesus? What role should women have in the church?

7 — How much time do you spend thinking about the cross of Christ throughout the year? Is it central to your faith as a Christian?

8 — For a powerful treatise on the Cross, read John Stott’s “The Cross of Christ.”

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

What does the Cross of Christ mean to you? 

Reflection Questions:

1 — What do you need to get done for your spiritual walk today? What do you need to get done for the more practical aspects of your life? Is there time for both?

2 —How could any conversation from the cross be seen as normal? What do you think the impact of Jesus’ words would have been on his mother and John?

3 —Does the picture of the soldiers playing a game of chance for the garments of Jesus seem sacreligious to you? Why do you think they couldn’t see Jesus for who he really was? Would you have been able to see him for who he was?

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Text of the Day:  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.  (John 19:27)

Reflection Questions:

1 — Have you ever “adopted” someone into your family? What were the circumstances?

2 —Have you ever been “adopted” into someone’s family? What were the circumstances?

3 —How can you show someone that they belong in the family of Christ this week?Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Text of the Day:  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”(John 19:26)

Reflection Questions:

1 — When was the last time you took your parents out to eat, or for coffee, or just to hang out? 2 — If you were on a cross, who would you want to be there with you?

2 —How can you make sure your kids understand the importance of taking care of each other?

3 — Why do you think Jesus gave his mother to John and not any of the other disciples? Was it just that he was there at the cross?Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Text of the Day: but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. (John 19:25)

Reflection Questions:

1 — Was there a time that you heard the gospel in a powerful way from anyone?

2 — If you were on a cross, who would you want to be there with you?

3 —What do you think about where our church is with women in ministry (Adventist church)? Of course, you don’t have to agree with me! Put down your thoughts and do a study to back up your position. It is a good exercise in understanding scripture for yourself.

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Text of the Day: so they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.” This was to fulfill the Scripture which says, “They divided my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” So the soldiers did these things,, (John 19:24)

Reflection Questions:

1 — Have you ever thought that we have been treated unfairly by God?

2 —What would be a fair way for God to treat us?

3 —How can we recognize the grace that comes from God and its value in our lives? What can you do today to show God how much you appreciate what he has given you?

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

Text of the Day: When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts, one part for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom, (John 19:23)

Reflection Questions:

1 — How do you interpret scripture?

2 —What tools do you use?

3 —Do you have a job that might make you more callous to human suffering, like these soldiers?

4 —What can you do to avoid becoming callous or hard to the suffering of others?

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]

As we look at these texts in the sermon today, ask yourself these questions:

1 — What does the crucifixion story mean to you?

2 — Can you identify with any of the characters you have met so far? If so, which ones?

3 — How can you respond to what happened to Jesus that day? Is it possible to respond this much time later?

4 — How do you tell someone that this is the most important story that has ever been told? And how do you have them connect to this story as if it were their own?

5 — How can we avoid the mistakes of both the Jewish leaders and the Roman soldiers?

6 — What is it that you would preserve, rather than following Jesus?

7 — Can you spend an hour in prayer today, thinking of nothing else but of his sacrifice for us?

8 — When you tell someone of the crucifixion, what parts would you rather leave out? What parts embarrass you as a Christian? Is that a weird question? Be honest.

9 — How can a community, a church, be Christians that make the cross central to their theology and to their worship experience? 

Text of the Day:  They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews. (Luke 23:37-38)

Reflection Questions:

1 — What is the worst thing you have said that came back to bite you? 

2 —What tools do you have in place to keep you from diving in when people are talking about someone else?

3 —Do you think Jesus was tempted to come off the cross and give them what they deserved? Would you have?

Want to get in touch with a pastor?

Crosswalk Redlands: [email protected] (Mike Rhynus)

Crosswalk Chattanooga: [email protected]