Wednesday April 16th

1. Start by reading the Creed together in your small group. Maybe have each person read a line aloud. Start each week of the series this way so we become more familiar with it and learn it.

The Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
born of the Virgin Mary.
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty.
From thence he shall come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen.

2. Paul started tonight with “and in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord.” This is the second part of the Trinity (three parts of God; God the Father, the Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit). John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Because God is a Mind, Body, and Spirit; in what ways can you see yourself being like God. Perhaps feelings, The pain Jesus would have felt on the cross?

3. Leaders read the question, have them respond and then read your answer.
Q. Why do you think it was so important that Mary was a Virgin and that she would give birth to Jesus?
A. Because if Joseph was the real father of Jesus it would mean that He wouldn’t be the Son of God, He would be just like you and me, born into a world of sin with a sinful nature.
4. The line that says, “He descended into Hell” describes Christ gaining dominion over ever area of life. Knowing that Christ had to go into Hell and be completely separated from God, how does that make you feel about what He did for us, to take away our sins? Ephesians 4:8-10; 8Therefore it says,
"(P)WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE (Q)LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9(Now this expression, "He (R)ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into (S)the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended (T)far above all the heavens, so that He might (U)fill all things.)
5. Why is Jesus seated on the right hand of God? What does this show about Jesus? Mark 14:62
"I am," said Jesus. "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

6. 2 Timothy 4:1
In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge.

Q. How can God a person that is living and a person that is dead?
A. A living person is someone who will not die because they accepted Christ and believed in Him as the Son of God and a dead person is someone who rejected Christ and will spend eternity separated from God in Hell.