Story of Iva Toguri
Luke 23:32-33 NIV
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.
Luke 23:39 NIV
39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
There are several people who want God but only on their terms.
The Nones
Luke 23:40 NIV
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
Luke 23:41 NIV
41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Mark 7:20-23 NIV
20 He went on: “What comes out of a person is what defiles them. 21 For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”
At our core we are black-hearted sinners who are in desperate need of help.
Luke 23:42 NIV
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He asks Jesus to remember him- not for what he’s done, but despite what’s he’s done.
Luke 23:43 NIV
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
There is more mercy in Christ than there is sin in you
Sermon Based Questions
- What was encouraging, difficult or confusing about the talk on Sunday?
- Have you ever struggled to forgive yourself for something in your past?
- Share a time someone forgave you or believed in you when they didn’t have to. How did that affect the way you view yourself and your relationship with God?
- The criminal didn’t clean up his act or do anything “religious”—he just believed and asked. What things do you find yourself trying to fix or perform before you feel worthy of God’s love?
- Is there someone in your life that needs to hear the truth that God’s forgiveness is available to them? Spend some time praying for those people with your group.