7 Sayings of Jesus: Night of Prayer & Worship
The Power of the Cross: Forgiveness, Commitment, and Completion
In Jesus’ final moments, His words spoke volumes about His heart, His mission, and His love for humanity. Throughout the crucifixion, He exemplified radical forgiveness—praying for those who crucified Him, offering salvation to the repentant thief, and ensuring His mother was cared for. Even as He suffered, He was concerned for others.
This past week, our youth reflected on the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice through hands-on activities, scripture readings, and prayer. We wrote down names of those we need to forgive, symbolizing God’s boundless grace. We hammered nails into a cross, remembering that our sins were paid in full. We highlighted words of hope, revealing how Jesus’ love shines even in darkness.
When Jesus declared, “It is finished,” He wasn’t just speaking about His suffering—He was proclaiming victory. The work of salvation was complete. There is nothing left to prove, no burden of guilt to carry, and no sin too great for His mercy.
This message challenges us today: Who do we need to forgive? How can we commit more fully to God? Do we truly trust that Jesus’ sacrifice was enough?
May we walk in the freedom of forgiveness, the strength of commitment, and the hope of His finished work.
Keep up with all that’s going on at Amplify Youth, including dates, times, sign-ups, and forms, on our main page.
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🍽 Night 1: Forgiveness & Grace
📖 Verse to Read: Luke 23:34 – "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."💬 Discussion Questions:
1️⃣ Have you ever had a hard time forgiving someone? What made it difficult?
2️⃣ Why do you think Jesus was able to forgive even while He was suffering?
3️⃣ How does receiving God’s forgiveness help us forgive others?🎯 Family Challenge:
Each person shares one person they need to forgive or ask forgiveness from. This week, take action—send a text, have a conversation, or pray about it.🍽 Night 2: Jesus’ Sacrifice & Our Response
📖 Verse to Read: John 19:30 – "It is finished."💬 Discussion Questions:
1️⃣ What do you think Jesus meant when He said, "It is finished"?
2️⃣ How would your life be different if you fully trusted that Jesus paid for all your sins?
3️⃣ What’s one way we can live in response to Jesus’ sacrifice?🎯 Family Challenge:
Write down one worry, mistake, or regret on a piece of paper. As a family, pray over them, then tear up the papers to symbolize that Jesus has already taken care of them!🍽 Night 3: Commitment to God
📖 Verse to Read: Luke 23:46 – “Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit.”💬 Discussion Questions:
1️⃣ What does the word "commitment" mean to you?
2️⃣ What are some things in life that you are committed to? (Sports, school, friendships, etc.)
3️⃣ What do you think it means to commit your life to God?🎯 Family Challenge:
As a family, come up with one way you can grow in your commitment to God together (prayer, reading Scripture, serving others, etc.). Set a goal and check in next week!Enjoy these faith-filled conversations! 🙌💬
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The Power of the Cross: 7 Key Points
Forgiveness – Jesus forgave those who crucified Him, showing boundless grace (Luke 23:34).
Salvation – The repentant thief received assurance of paradise, demonstrating God’s mercy (Luke 23:43).
Compassion – Even in His suffering, Jesus cared for His mother’s well-being (John 19:26-27).
Abandonment – Jesus’ cry, “Why have You forsaken Me?” reflected His deep suffering (Mark 15:34).
Sacrifice – Our sins were nailed to the cross, fulfilling God’s redemption plan (Colossians 2:14).
Completion – Jesus’ final words, “It is finished,” confirmed the work of salvation was done (John 19:30).
Commitment – Jesus entrusted His spirit to the Father, calling us to fully commit to Him (Luke 23:46).
This message challenges us to embrace God’s forgiveness, trust in His sacrifice, and live with unwavering commitment to Him.
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Luke 23:1-5, 13-23, 32-34 (NIV)
1 Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Messiah, a king.” 3 So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “You have said so,” Jesus replied. 4 Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.” 5 But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.” - 13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people,14 and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. 15 Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. 16 Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.” 18 But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” 19 (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) 20 Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. 21 But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” 22 For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” 23 But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. 24 So Pilate decided to grant their demand.25 He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will. - 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Luke 23:35-43 (NIV)
35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the King of the Jews. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Colossians 2:14 (NIV)
“He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Romans 5:8 (NIV)
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 19:25-27 (NIV)
25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
Mark 15:33-34 (MSG)
At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
PSALM 22:1-8 (NIV)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises. 4 In you our ancestors put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5 To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7 All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”
John 19:-28-30 (NIV)
28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30 (NIV)
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Luke 23:44-46 (NIV)
44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
