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WEEK 7 SERMON DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR GROUPS

March 17, 2024

The Last Seven Words of Christ: Father, into your hands  I commit my spirit.

Introduction:

Anyone’s last words are important, but Jesus’s last words obviously carry some unique significance. Just before He breathed His last breath, Jesus uttered the phrase “it is finished.” Jesus is indicating that His work, His fulfillment of the scripture, and His life are the ultimate payment for our sins. He has completed His work on earth and has fully offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice in our place for our sins.

Something To Talk About:

  1. My father in heaven loves me: The cross is the love of God. The resurrection is the power of God. But what if someone were to ask you what is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for you? According to the Apostle Paul, the greatest demonstration of God’s love for you and me is found at the Cross of Christ. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God’s love is a powerful force, wider than any chasm between enemies, waiting longer than you would ever run from it, going deeper than you would ever fall from it, lifting you higher than you could ever go without it. And the best news of all is that this love is knowable. 
  2. My father in heaven can be trusted: Trusting God is hard sometimes. We want to trust God, but sometimes, seasons are just hard. It can be hard to trust God and believe He is for us when everything feels like a fight. Some days, heaven is so silent that it feels like God doesn’t even care, let alone listen or fight for us. But even when we can’t see it, or feel it, God is still working. He still cares, and He is still trustworthy. And so in the midst of uncertainty and fear and disappointment, we need to trust Him. We should choose to trust Him because He is good, and He can be trusted to be faithful again and again. Because that is who He is.  Life troubles should cause us to refocus on God’s “size” – His might, power, and ability – and that we can cast our care in His direction, and trust Him to work out all things for our good.
  3. My father in heaven is taking care of things I can’t see: God loves me and will take care of me. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6). God has a plan and purpose for my life. He’s in control, even when I am not. “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Next time you are in what seems an uncontrollable situation, remember that God is in control and will take care of it. Have confidence in God and His ability to take care of things in a way that you never could.
  4. My father in heaven can handle anything I put in His hands: A popular line in movies is “You can’t handle the truth!” So many of us have adopted this line to be true and even use it towards God. But it’s not your place to decide what He can or cannot handle. The truth is that God can handle it. He doesn’t want just a part of you; God wants all of you. That means He can handle the good you, and He can handle the broken you. He can handle that financial situation, the suffering you’ve been experiencing both mentally and physically. He can handle that broken relationship, the abuse you suffered, no matter what it is. God can handle everything you’re going through, and His grace is enough. If He can handle the world’s creation, He can handle rebuilding yours. If He can handle being rejected by His creation, He can handle your rejected heart. Whatever it is, God can handle that.

Discussion Questions:

  1. When you want to know what God is like, where do your mind and heart “look”?
  2. What does Jesus mean when He says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Why does this saying comfort us so much?
  3. Did “Father in your hands I commit my spirit” mean something special?
  4. What did Jesus’ final words, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” mean for us today?
  5. How is Jesus’ death an act of love?
  6. Why do you think the world is much more comfortable thinking about love as a noun rather than a verb?
  7. What does it mean to trust God? What is the difference between passive trust and active trust?
  8. Give examples of when you have trusted God and how you decided to trust Him rather than lean on your understanding and strength.
  9. Why is it so difficult to trust God to take care of things? How does our level of trust testify to our relationship with Him?
  10. Is trust in God proactive? If so, how? 
  11. What was your main takeaway from this week’s message?

Take One Thing Home with You:

Does trusting God with your life seem impossible right now? Are you unsure of His trustworthiness? Then consider Jesus. He trusted the Father, not just in times of delight but even in His death. In his darkest moment, and when things made no sense, Jesus trusted God. Jesus knew that His Father was trustworthy. Even during incredible pain, suffering, darkness, and sorrow, God was worthy of Jesus’ trust.

The Father’s response to Jesus’ trust was resurrection. Of course, this was no surprise to Jesus. He knew full well that the Father had promised to raise Him back to life on the third day (Luke 9:22). His submission to crucifixion was an act of trust in the Father’s promise.

We, too, can trust God with our lives, knowing He is infinitely worthy. There may be people in your life that you should not trust, but you can always trust God. You can always take Him at His word because He always keeps His promises. Always.