Week 2 - The Way of Jesus Changes Everything
Luke 23:39–43; 24:1–6 (ESV):
“One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him… saying, ‘We indeed justly… but this man has done nothing wrong.’ And he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’
…Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”
Group Discussion
Every person is looking for change. We feel it in our lives, our relationships, our struggles, and our desires. We try to find that change in better habits, better circumstances, or better control—but the truth is, the greatest change humanity needs is the exact thing God offers us in Jesus.
In Luke 23–24, we don’t just hear about this change—we see it.
A criminal, guilty and condemned, encounters Jesus at the edge of death. In a moment, everything shifts:
He owns his sin
He recognizes Jesus
He trusts Him
And Jesus responds not with a process, but with a promise:
“Today you will be with me in paradise.”
At the cross, death becomes a doorway into life.
Then in Luke 24, the women come to the tomb expecting death—but instead encounter life. Jesus is not there. He is risen. Fear turns to faith. Mourning turns to mission.
Throughout the text, one truth becomes clear:
No one encounters Jesus and stays the same.
This confronts us with two defining realities:
What kind of change do we actually need?
And where are we looking to find it?
Jesus did not come to slightly improve our lives—He came to bring us from death to life, from sin to salvation, and from separation to fellowship with God.
Questions
The thief on the cross owned his sin, recognized Jesus, and trusted Him.
Which of these steps do people most often avoid today? Why?The criminal received life not by works, but by faith in Jesus.
Why is it difficult for people to believe that salvation is truly that simple?The women came to the tomb expecting death but encountered life.
Where in your life might you be expecting “death” (hopelessness, stagnation), instead of believing Jesus can bring life?The statement “No one encounters Jesus and stays the same” is central to this passage.
How have you seen that change happen in your own life—or where do you still need it?In what ways do we try to find “life” in things other than Jesus (success, relationships, comfort, control)?
How have those things fallen short?What would it look like this week for you to intentionally pursue an encounter with Jesus—not just information about Him, but real transformation?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Jesus to bring us from death to life. We confess that we often look for change in the wrong places and settle for things that cannot truly give us life. Help us to see clearly—that our greatest need is freedom from sin and fellowship with You. Give us hearts like the thief on the cross: honest about our sin, aware of who You are, and fully trusting in You. Lead us to encounter You in a real and transforming way, and change us as we follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Week 1 - Jesus is Hosanna
Matthew 21:8–9 (ESV):
“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”
Group Discussion
As Jesus Christ enters Jerusalem, the crowds cry out “Hosanna”—a word that is both a proclamation (“Savior!”) and a plea (“Save us now!”). On the surface, everything looks right. The words are right. The energy is right. The expectation of a Savior is right.
But their understanding is off.
They want liberation from Rome…
But Jesus has come to bring liberation from sin.
They want a King who will change their circumstances…
But Jesus comes as a Savior who will change their hearts.
This creates a tension we still live in today. We often come to Jesus with real needs and real burdens—but we can misunderstand what He is most committed to doing in us.
In this passage, we are confronted with two defining questions:
What has Jesus come to save us from?
What has Jesus come to save us for?
As we wrestle with these questions, we begin to see that Jesus is not just a Savior who improves life—He is the Savior who transforms it at its core.
Questions
The crowd cried “Hosanna,” meaning “Save now.”
In what ways do we come to Jesus wanting Him to fix our circumstances rather than our sin?Why is it important to understand that sin—not our situation—is our greatest problem?
Jesus came not just to free us from sin, but to restore us to God.
How does that reshape the way you think about salvation?What are some areas in your life where you may be misdiagnosing the problem—looking at external issues instead of internal sin?
How would your relationships (family, work, church) change if your primary pursuit was putting sin to death and walking closely with God?
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Jesus as our true Savior. Forgive us for the ways we misunderstand what we need most and for the times we focus more on our circumstances than our sin. Help us to see clearly—that our greatest problem is sin, and our greatest need is restoration to You. Teach us to make Your priority our priority: to put sin to death and to walk in right relationship with You through Christ, by Your Spirit. Transform our hearts, our relationships, and our lives as we follow You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.