Popular culture teaches that good people, people that we love, and people we admire all go to heaven when they die – the philanthropist, the movie star, and Grandma all get a free pass. Meanwhile, the hypocrites, the people from that “other” political party, those who have hurt us, criminals, and our national enemies will all be unquestioningly kept out. What the Bible teaches is disturbingly quite the opposite. As we continue in our series, What About the Cross?, we discover that the cross is a revolutionary accessibility game-changer. Find out how with “The Equal Access Elevator.”
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MESSAGE STUDY NOTES (also as PDF download above)
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WARM UP
Where do you remember riding an elevator for the first time?
READ
Ephesians 2:11-18
TAKEAWAY
We were: foreigners, ignorant leaderless, hopeless
What does the cross do today?
1. The cross grants access to God for the irreligious
2. The cross grants access to God for the religious
3. The cross creates oneness
How do you know you are self-righteous?
A. You lack empathy
B. You are overly critical
C. You can’t take criticism
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
1. Describe in your own words the difference between religion and what Jesus advocated?
2. The cross has been described as “the great equalizer.” Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not?
APPLICATION
If the cross provides equal access to the Father for the religious and the irreligious, what should that look like within the Church?
FOR MENTORING
What element of self-righteousness do you struggle with most? How can focusing on the cross help you overcome that struggle?
