Table of Contents
PRAYER
Let’s begin by inviting the Holy Spirit to guide our discussion, open our hearts, and bring clarity as we reflect on the truths revealed in the Synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Does anyone have prayer requests, or would anyone like to share a moment where you’ve recently felt God moving in your life?
THE CROSS
When Curiosity Meets Truth :: Crowd or Church? :: Bystander or Cross-Bearer?
THIS WEEK
We’re kicking off this year with a global series titled The Cross and What It Means for Humanity, joining over 700 Every Nation churches worldwide.
In this six-week journey, we’ll explore why the cross is foundational to everything we do as followers of Jesus, examining six powerful stories of lives transformed by it.
This week, we’ll focus on the Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—specifically Luke 23:26. In this passage, we witness how Simon of Cyrene’s life was interrupted by Jesus, transforming him from a mere bystander into a cross-bearer. This short yet powerful verse reveals deep truths about Simon, the cross, and Jesus, showing us how all humanity is called to relate to each in a life-changing way.
To begin, let’s reflect on this question(s):
Do you jump in with excitement when opportunities come your way, or do you find yourself holding back? What drives your response?
SCRIPTURE
Have someone read Luke 23:26, Mark 15:21, and Matthew 27:32 aloud. As this person reads, listen for words or phrases that stand out to you.
—Luke 23:26 (ESV)
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
—Mark 15:21 (ESV)
And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus.
—Matthew 27:32 (ESV)
As they went out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. They compelled this man to carry his cross.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
A Lesson About Justice
“Your story is the greatest legacy that you will leave to your friends. It’s the longest-lasting legacy you will leave to your heirs.” —Steve Saint
“If you’re going to live, let your story be HIStory. Make a mark for the Kingdom of God that the world can’t erase.” —Alvin Brown
Pontius Pilate and Simon of Cyrene are remembered for very different reasons—Pilate for how he unjustly treated Jesus, and Simon for how he was unjustly made to carry the cross, yet it became a just act unto Jesus.
Can you recall a moment, like Simon, when an interruption in your plans was an opportunity to do something meaningful? How did you respond, and how do you feel about it now?
What typically motivates or discourages you from stepping in when you see injustice happening—whether small or significant? How do you think others perceive these moments?
How can we learn from figures like Pilate and Simon of Cyrene to create a more just world?
In light of Pilate and Simon, what decisions in your own life do you think people might remember you for? Why?
A Lesson About Obedience
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” — Corrie ten Boom
“Obedience is the highest practical courage.” — Charles Spurgeon
Simon of Cyrene was unexpectedly called to carry Jesus’ cross. Reflecting on the idea that obedience is as much about our heart as our actions, imagine you were Simon in that moment.
What thoughts or emotions might arise when you’re asked to carry Jesus’ cross?
Why do you think Simon of Cyrene chose to carry the cross?
When faced with a task you feel ill-equipped for, how do you typically respond? What do you think helps people grow through those moments?
What’s a “cross” or burden in your life right now—something difficult but meaningful? How do you find the strength or motivation to carry it?
The Costs of Following Jesus
“Joy is not the absence of suffering but the presence of God.” —Janet Erskine Stuart
“God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Obedience flows from the fullness of joy in God.” — John Piper
Culture urges us to seek comfort and happiness, but what if, like Simon of Cyrene, you were unexpectedly called to carry Jesus’ cross? Simon’s obedience was more than a moment—it transformed his life and his family’s future. His story reminds us how unexpected acts of selflessness can create a lasting legacy.
How do you define happiness and joy in your own life? What’s the difference between joy and happiness?
Is it possible to find joy even amid pain or difficulty? Why or why not?
In what ways have you seen difficult moments lead to unexpected joy or growth in your life or the lives of those around you?
Why do you think acts of selflessness—like Simon’s—ripple across generations and create a lasting legacy?
What kind of legacy would you like your decisions to leave for God and others?
CLOSING THOUGHT
Take My Life, and Let It Be — Frances Ridley Havergal (1874)
Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
As we conclude, let’s reflect on the timeless words of Frances Ridley Havergal’s Take My Life, and Let It Be. May they inspire us to surrender fully, deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Jesus wherever He leads our life stories to reflect HIStory of grace and redemption.
Let’s close in prayer: asking the Holy Spirit to empower us to move from being passive bystanders to daily cross-bearers, as true followers of Jesus. Pray for God’s grace, peace, and wisdom to embrace the messiness of our lives and others’, trusting the cross of Christ Jesus to bring salvation and redemption where we live, work, and play.

Alvin Brown, the Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Fort Worth, brings over a decade of pastoral ministry experience and more than 20 years of operational and technical leadership expertise. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management from DeVry University and an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Mallary, and their three children and contributing as a writer to various media outlets.