Living Life Under the Cross
Student Guide
Introduction
Life can be hard. Anyone can see that. All you have to do is look at life going on around you or look at your own life. You will see varying degrees of struggles and problems, pain and suffering. Christians are no different than anyone else when it comes to having problems. Christians, however, see things differently. Christians not only see their problems, they can see what is hiding in those problems. Just as we can see God’s love “hiding” in the suffering of Jesus on the cross, so we can see things of God “hiding” in our own suffering. Martin Luther called this the “Theology of the Cross.” Or we can talk about it in terms of … Living Life Under the Cross.
A Necessary Beginning
Hebrews 11:1 is an important place to start. What does it take to see the things of God hiding in the horribleness of the cross and in the horrible situations life sometimes sends our way?
Seeing the Hidden Things of God in the Cross
Looking at the cross of Jesus, others might see a battered and beaten man, blood and pain, and a disgusting and bitterly shameful way to die. But the Christian sees things differently, way differently!
Read 1 John 4:9-10.
What are some of the things of God seen in the cross according to these verses? Fill in the blank with as many of these things as you can.
We see God’s … _________________________________________________________________.
Seeing the Hidden Things of God in Life under the Cross
Looking at various forms of human suffering-e.g., Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, a terminal illness, a chronic debilitating condition-others might see uselessness, hopelessness, or purposelessness. But the Christian sees things differently, way differently! What are some of the things of God seen in our life under the cross according to the following verses?
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-9.
Here we see how God can __________________________ us in our suffering.
Read John 9:1-3.
Here we see how God can be __________________________ in our suffering.
Read 1 Peter 1:7.
Here we see that God strengthens __________________________ through suffering.
Read Hebrews 12:5-7.
Here we see that through suffering God sometimes ______________________ us.
Read Romans 5:3-5.
Here we see that through suffering God can train us for ______________________.
Read Hebrews 12:10. Here we see that through suffering God can train us for __________________.
Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Here we see that through suffering God can train us to _______________.
How We Live Life Under the Cross
Because Christians can see the above through eyes of faith, it can make a difference in how we live our lives in the face of suffering. It is not our circumstances but God’s promises that we focus upon. Read Romans 12:12 and discuss the three ways of living life under the cross that Paul mentions there.
1. “Joyful in hope” (See also Romans 8:31-32.) One of the reasons people despair when they are suffering is that they see no hope, no purpose in it all. We hear a lot of talk these days about the “quality of life.” More and more it seems medical decisions are being made based on the quality of life rather than upon the value of life.
What promise do we have for those whose suffering has robbed them of their joy and hope and makes them feel less valuable?
What is it that gives value to human life? (see Isaiah 43:1-2)
2. “Patient in affliction” (See also Romans 8:28.) It is easy for those who are suffering, especially the elderly, to feel like they are alone and not loved or that they are a burden. One of the reasons given for those choosing physician-assisted suicide in Oregon was that people did not want to be a burden on their families. It doesn’t help when we have people like the former governor of Colorado saying that elderly “have a duty to die and get out of the way.” Derek Humphrey, founder of the pro-death Compassion and Choices, says that the elderly are “greedy geezers” who are putting a strain on our health care system.
What is the promise we have to help people be “patient in affliction”?
What can we do to help people be patient in suffering? (Galatians 6:2)
3. “Faithful in prayer” (see also Romans 8:26-27) Sometimes being faithful in prayer is difficult as we live life under the cross. We do not know what to pray, or we just can’t seem to pray.
What promises do we have that assure us that God hears our prayers?
Discussion
Life can be hard. Anyone can see that. But Christians see things differently when it comes to dealing with the difficulties of life. As time permits, discuss some of the following based on the study above. What does the Christian “see” in these situations?
A teen in your congregation’s youth group becomes pregnant. What does the Christian see?
In a small-group Bible study, a woman tearfully admits that she had an abortion when she was younger. What does the Christian see?
A fellow member of your congregation remarks that he cannot see anything wrong with using stem cells from human embryos. After all, they have the potential to cure so many diseases. What does the Christian see?
A friend asks for your advice. Her mother is in a nursing home. She is responsive some of the time but most of the time is in a coma-like state. The doctors have suggested removing her feeding tube and allowing her to die. What does the Christian see?