~Open in prayer~

Icebreakers
● What is your favorite snack/treat?
● Do you have a team you are rooting for in the NBA Playoffs?
● Have you already started your spring cleaning?

MESSAGE REVIEW
Many ask, “Why is Christianity such a bloody faith?”, “Why the cross?”, or “Why so violent?” When God created man, He gave Adam His glory, allowing whatever Adam said on earth to be backed by the authority of God. Once Adam rebelled, everything that would come after him would be born into sin and trapped in a world where nothing responds to his authority. The parameter set by God is that man has dominion over this earth, so through God’s grace, He sent His only son to reclaim the authority lost by sin. Jesus (100% God and 100% man) came to earth and showed His glory through words during the three years leading up to the cross. On the cross, Jesus became our sin, suffered and died to free us of that which God hates. The life of a thing is in the blood and through the blood of Jesus we have been adopted into a new bloodline. Do you believe you are no longer bound by sin because of Jesus’ sacrifice?

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

•Read Matthew 28:1-8; 16-20 and Genesis 1: 26-28 Genesis Part 1 recaps the beautiful story of creation. In it we learn that God created the “heavens and the earth”, meaning God created the visible (physical) and invisible (spiritual) realms. Verses 26-28 speak to the creation of man. Man was created in God’s kind (God’s Image); therefore, God created a physical replica of himself on earth in Adam. God gave Adam dominion over earth with the intent that earth would operate as Heaven does. Heaven is operated through words, so Adam was given dominion of the earth through his words. God has given us power through our words. Think about how you typically use your words. Does what you say indicate making the earth a better place or not? How can you improve in this area?

•Psalms 8:3-6 “When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor. You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority— the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the ocean currents.”

•Often times we look at the many details surrounding how sin entered the world casting blame. The truth is Adam sinned by choosing to rebel against God and because of that choice we are all born into sin. Jesus in His grace came to reclaim the authority lost and restore God’s people back to Him. Adam was made; Jesus was begotten; We are adopted.

John 1:12-14 “But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. So, the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”

1 Corinthians 15:45-48 “The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man.”

Luke 3:38 “Kenan was the son of Enosh. Enosh was the son of Seth. Seth was the son of Adam. Adam was the son of God.”

•Read Hebrews 2:10 Jesus became sin and tasted death for all of us. It is because of His sacrifice that we are brought back into the glory God intended when Adam was created. Jesus paid it all on the cross just for you! Discuss with your group what it means to you knowing that Jesus got on the cross just for YOU to be saved?

PRAYER FOCUS & REQUESTS
Ask your members if they have any prayer requests or praise reports. John 11:25-26 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? Ask the question to yourself “Do you believe this?” and how can you share the gospel with people who don’t know Jesus?