Introduction{

Lesson plan: Power of the Cross
Main point of lesson: Through Jesus we can expect freedom from our sin.
Main Passage: Acts 3

}end Introduction

Hook{
Go one around and share:

1) Describe who you are with 3 descriptive words.
2) Describe 2 things about you that need improvement.
3) Describe what you'll like to be like but have no hope of becoming with 1 word.

For example, "I am 1) Hardworking, 2) Meticulous, and 3) Frank. I need to 1) be more Dillgent and 2) be more Patient, and I would like to have a higher IQ.

}end Hook

Lesson Proper{

Read Acts 3:1-10.

(Warm up) If God were to heal someone today like he healed the crippled beggar in Acts 3 would you be surprised?

- Most of us would be...
- Imagine you are the beggar. Would you expected to be healed? No... Mostly you will expect to be ignored and hopefully to get some $.
- Why? We think we know "how things work around here". The world teaches us to believe only what we see. So often we subconsciously ignore God, and react with surprise when He does something.

Read Isaiah 53:5
Read Romans 8:32

What do these verses tell us about God? (Answer yourself)

Do you have a sin (or bad habit) that you seem to commit repeatedly?
- no need to share... just get them to acknowledge... at another time you may want to take it up.

OK, read the Acts 3:11-25.

Who killed Jesus?
- according to Peter, the onlookers killed Jesus (v14, 15, 17)
- in the same way, when you and I sin, it is as though we killed Jesus...
- and when we willfully sin, as though we are crucifying him again.
- If Jesus died for past, present, future sins, He died Because Of Our sin.
- like the onlookers we were ignorant - we weren't alive when he died but...
- like the onlookers we are still responsible.

(Study the questions below yourself, I will give you the key point)
What are the two things that Peter tells the onlookers (and us) that they must do?
- Faith
- Repentance

What does God promise us if we repent and believe in Jesus Christ?
- Sins wiped out
- times of refreshing from the Lord
- Jesus, the Christ

What is the end result?
- blessing
- turning from our wicked ways

Conclusion
Before we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we had no choice but to sin. We were slaves to sin. But because Jesus died to free us from our sins, we now have a choice in the matter. Sometimes or Often, we will lose the battle against sin. BUT because of the Cross, we know that we will win the war. Our bad habits may not disappear overnight but we have the blessed assurance that the work God has started He will bring to completion (Php 1:6). This is may be some thing we cannot even imagine... but there is no need to be surprised.... Nothing is impossible... God is at work.

} end Lesson Proper