AIM: Jesus is our forerunner of hope.

1. Risen (Luke 24.1-48): Jesus’s resurrection secured our future with God.
   1. What leads you to hope? Is it great circumstances, good deeds, kids who turned out to be great adults, professional accomplishments, the ability to pull off a perfectly enviable Christmas card?
   2. What leads you to believe that your future is secure? Know that Jesus is your forerunner of hope, most especially in hopeless circumstances.
2. Reigning (Luke 24.49-53): Jesus’s ascension unleashed the promised Holy Spirit.
   1. For what are you worshiping Your King?
   2. Where is He reigning in your life? Are you fully submitted to His reign over your sin?
3. Returning (Zechariah 14.1-21): Jesus’s feet will touch this earth again!
   1. When your story ends on earth, does it continue into eternity with Jesus as your Savior?
   2. What will happen to you when the story of this world ends when Jesus’s feet once again touch this earth?

Lecture Outline:

Aim: The Cross magnifies the sovereignty of God.

I. “Crucify!” (Luke 23.1-25) T1: God’s sovereignty is magnified as His plan of redemption was executed through the actions of evil men.

a. How does God’s sovereign control over everything that has ever happened comfort you in your present circumstances?

b. What is your reaction to the fact that Jesus’ suffering was sovereignly ordained by God?

II. Calvary (Luke 23.26-43) T2: God’s sovereignty is magnified in Christ’s suffering to purchase our eternal Sabbath rest.

a. Which detail about Christ’s suffering on the Cross impacts you most?

b. How might His suffering draw you closer to Him in repentance, prayer, and worship?

c. What will you do differently to become a Cross dwelling Christ-follower?

III. Completion (Luke 23.44-56) T3: God’s sovereignty is magnified as believers live with the glory of the Cross in view.

a. How does God’s sovereignty in the death of His Son change how you think about His judgment of your sin?

b. How might it move you to live with the glory of the Cross in view? Will you begin today to live as a Cross Dweller?

Bonus Blessings:Crucify Him, Shane & Shane; Near the Cross, Reawaken Hymns; God So Loved, We the Kingdom

Lecture Outline:

Aim: Christ endured immense suffering for us.

I. The Body & The Blood (Luke 22.1-20) T1: Christ’s immense suffering for us inspires a deeper covenant relationship with God.

a. How meaningful is your covenant relationship with God?
b. In what ways does it change how you live?

II. The Bickering & The Betrayals (Luke 22.21-62) T2: Christ’s immense suffering for us inspires our radical discipleship.

a. How radical are you as a disciple of Jesus Christ?

b. How passionately do you pursue personal holiness? How often do you stand on holy ground?

c. What evidence do you see in your life that you have whole-heartedly surrendered to God’s will?

III. The Beatings & The Blasphemy (Luke 22.63-71) T3: Christ’s immense suffering for us inspires face-planting worship.

a. What inspires your worship of Jesus Christ?

b. How genuine is your worship?

c. Is it a face-planting worship worthy of the King of kings who died in your place? Or are you just going through the motions?

Bonus Blessings:This is Holy Ground, Elias Dummer & Olivia Turco; He Loved My Heart to Death, Shane & Shane

Lecture Outline:

Aim: Only God can purify sin-stained people.

I. Purifying Blood (Zechariah 13.1-6) T1: Christ’s atoning blood purifies sinners to rightly worship God and apply His Word.

a. How does your life prove you have not only been saved but are also being sanctified by Christ’s blood?

b. What are the names of the idols that are still on your lips and in your life?

c. How is the Holy Spirit equipping you to recognize and refute false teaching?

II. Purifying Blaze (Zechariah 13.7-9) T2: Christ’s atoning blood purchased, purifies, and preserves His Church.

a. Which gospel truth do you need to preach to yourself today?

b. How do you see God’s purifying blaze at work in the Church?

c. How might the truth that God preserves His Church prepare, comfort, and/or sustain you amid fiery trials and persecution?

Bonus Blessings: Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed, Sovereign Grace Music; There Is A Fountain (Full of Love), Shane & Shane; Behold Him, The Worship Initiative

Lecture Outline:

Aim: Believers view the world through the lens of hope.

I. The Horrors (Luke 21.5-24) T1: The lens of hope helps believers remain focused on God amid the horrors of His just judgment.

a.   How do you respond to the horrors you see in this world?
b.   What fears do the signs that precede the end of the world stoke in you?

c.   How could you find comfort and peace through the lens of hope?

II. The Hope (Luke 21.25-38) T2: The lens of hope helps believers remain watchful, prayerful, and busy sharing the gospel!

a.   Which cares of this life are keeping you distracted from the hope that is yours in Christ?

b.   What will you do differently to keep viewing this world through the lens of hope?

Bonus Blessing:Living Hope, Phil Wickham; I Set My Hope, Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa

Aim: Christ’s victory gives believers an “I-know-so” hope.

I. Powerful Savior (Zechariah 12.1-9)) T1: “I-know-so” hope includes God’s power to endure.

a. What kind of hope do you possess? Is it a wishy-washy hope or an “I-know-so” hope that is rooted in the promises of Scripture?

b. How might you rely on God’s power to endure in your struggles against fear, anxiety, and/or temptations to sin?

II. Pierced Savior (Zechariah 12.10-14) T2: “I-know-so” hope springs from godly sorrow over sin that leads to genuine repentance.

a. How genuine is your sorrow over your sins?

b. How deeply and bitterly do you grieve over the sin that pierced your Savior, Jesus Christ? Does it lead you to regular and genuine repentance?

c. Or do you find yourself continually plagued by the same besetting sins because you have failed to truly turn away from them and toward Jesus with new, holy habits?

Bonus Blessing: Hallelujah, Christ Will Come Again, Shane & Shane

Lecture Outline:

Aim: The triumph of Jesus belongs to those who are His by faith.

I. Triumph & Tears (Luke 19.28-48) T1: God’s people triumph over worldly corruption by hanging on to God’s Word.

a. How thorough is your knowledge of God’s Word?

b. How clear is your picture of the prophecies that are still future to you?

c. What will you do to gain a fuller understanding of what God says will happen in the future? Are you ready to receive King Jesus when He returns in victory? 

II. Traps & Triumph (Luke 20.1-21.4) T2: God’s people triumph over death by Christ’s sacrificial gift of grace.

a. Have you, by grace through faith, been raised to new and eternal life in Christ?

b. How do you live differently in response to such an extravagant gift?

c. How are you attempting to do less and give less with silly, unbiblical arguments or justifications?

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Bonus Blessings: Crown Him with Many Crowns, Shane & Shane; Crown Him, Aaron Williams; Lead On, O King Eternal, Sara Groves

Lecture Outline:

Aim: Our wholehearted devotion belongs to the True Shepherd of our souls.

I. Messiah’s Redemption (Zechariah 10) 

T1: Wholehearted devotion to the True Shepherd keeps us from the sin of idolatry.

a. How wholehearted is your devotion to Jesus, the True Shepherd of your soul?

b. What idols are diluting your devotion to Him?

II. Messiah’s Rejection (Zechariah 11) 

T2: Wholehearted devotion to the True Shepherd keeps us in His care.

a. What specific steps will you take to increase your devotion to the True Shepherd, Jesus Christ?

b. In which areas of your life are you rejecting His tender care, perfect provision, and wise guidance?

c. Are you a sheep doomed to slaughter or destined for the Good Shepherd’s safekeeping?

Bonus Blessing:

Hast Thou Heard Him, Seen Him, Known Him, Indelible Grace