JESUS IS STILL IN CONTROL

MEETING AGENDA

  1. OPENING PRAYER – Ask one person to open the meeting in prayer.
  2. GROWTH QUESTIONS – Ask everyone the Growth Questions.
  3. ATTENDANCE – Take attendance through the DG Attendance System.
  4. TODAY’S LESSON – Go over this week’s DG lesson.
  5. GIVING – Encourage everyone to give on the App.
  6. CLOSING PRAYER – Ask for prayer requests and pray.

GROWTH QUESTION #1

Who would like to share a highlight, praise report, or testimony from this week?

GROWTH QUESTION #2

What did you learn from this week’s sermon?

GROWTH QUESTION #3

What was your most important accomplishment this week?

TODAY’S PASSAGE:


John 19:1–11 (NLT)
19 Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. 2 The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. 3 “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. 4 Pilate went outside again and said to the people, “I am going to bring him out to you now, but understand clearly that I find him not guilty.” 5 Then Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, “Look, here is the man!”6 When they saw him, the leading priests and Temple guards began shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”“Take him yourselves and crucify him,” Pilate said. “I find him not guilty.” 7 The Jewish leaders replied, “By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God.” 8 When Pilate heard this, he was more frightened than ever. He took Jesus back into the headquarters[a] again and asked him, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave no answer. 10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” 11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. So the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

What did you learn from what we just read?

TRUTH #1

JESUS SUFFERED TO PAY THE PRICE FOR US

(v. 1-3)

Jesus was mocked, beaten, and crowned with thorns. This brutal moment fulfilled prophecy and revealed how deeply He was willing to suffer for us.

  • The soldiers mocked His kingship, but in reality, He was the King willingly submitting to pain for our salvation.

  • Even in pain, Jesus was not a victim. He was a willing sacrifice.

Isaiah 53:5 (NLT) – “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.“

DEFINITION – Mock (Gk. empaizó): to ridicule, make fun of, or treat with contempt.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

How does knowing that Jesus willingly endured suffering for you change the way you view your hardships?

TRUTH #2

FEAR OF PEOPLE LEADS TO COMPROMISE

(v. 4–8)

Pilate found no guilt in Jesus, yet still gave in to the crowd. His fear of people outweighed his
pursuit of truth.

  • The crowd manipulated Pilate with threats: “Anyone who claims to be a king is a rebel against Caesar.”

  • Pilate let fear decide instead of standing for what was right.

Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) – “Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.”

Let’s be people who follow conviction, not crowd pressure.

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Have you ever been pressured into something because you feared what others might think?
How did that turn out?

TRUTH #3

JESUS IS IN CONTROL EVEN WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE HE’S NOT

(v. 9–11)

Pilate thought he had authority, but Jesus reminded him that all power comes from God.

  • Jesus was not intimidated by Pilate. He was calm and confident because He knew God still in control.
  • Even when it looked like Jesus was losing, He was actually fulfilling His mission

Romans 8:28 (NLT) – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God…”

  • No matter how things look, Jesus is still Lord, and God is still in control. 

INTERACTIVE QUESTIONS

Can you think of a time when things looked bad, but God turned it for good?

CLOSING QUESTION

What is one thing from today’s lesson that you will apply this week?

GIVING

Never trust in the riches of this life, rather, demonstrate trust in God by doing good, being generous to those in need and always being willing to share with others. Doing this enables us to experience true life both now and in eternity.

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)
17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Encourage everyone to give their tithes and offerings.

PRAY

QUESTION #1

Who are you praying for to be saved?

QUESTION #2

Who can you invite to the next meeting?

QUESTION #3

What are your prayer requests?

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