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 book of Matthew.
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? :: Skeptic to Believer
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’re diving into Matthew 27:50-54 to see what the Roman centurion’s encounter with Jesus reveals about the cross and humanity. This passage highlights five key truths that break through doubt and skepticism—just as they did for the centurion, who could no longer dismiss this crucifixion like the countless others he had witnessed.
To begin, let’s reflect on this question(s):
Can you think of a moment in your life when you encountered something so powerful that it completely changed the way you saw things? What happened?
SCRIPTURE
Have someone read Matthew 27:50-54 aloud. As this person reads, listen for words or phrases that stand out to you.
—Matthew 27:50-54 (ESV)
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
The Cross Reveals
The Cross Reveals God’s Power Beyond Human Understanding.
The Roman centurion had seen many crucifixions, but Jesus’ death was different. Marked by supernatural events—darkness, an earthquake, and the temple curtain tearing—it shattered his perspective. While some dismiss the darkness as a mere eclipse, the timing and magnitude suggest otherwise.
If you had been there, how do you think you would have reacted?
If God’s power is beyond human understanding, how do we balance seeking knowledge with accepting mystery in faith?
How has encountering Jesus—whether personally or through others—changed your perspective on life or faith?
The Cross Confronts
The Cross Confronts Humanity’s Guilt and Our Involvement in the Death of Jesus.
The crowd mocked Jesus, daring Him to come down—but He remained, not from weakness, but by choice. The centurion, numb to countless executions, saw something entirely different than the crowd: Jesus willingly surrendered His life. This moment shook him, moving him from bystander to believer. Today, many see the crucifixion as history, but the cross demands more—it compels us to confront our guilt and need for redemption.
Have you ever been confronted with something that unexpectedly shook your perspective? How did you respond?
Why do you think it’s so hard for people to accept personal responsibility for sin?
If the cross reveals that Jesus willingly died for us, how should that change the way we live and treat others?
The Cross Convicts
The Cross Convicts Us to a Response of Reverence and Awe.
How would you have reacted at the crucifixion? The centurion began as a skeptic, indifferent to everything happening around him. But as he witnessed Jesus’ final moments—the surrender of His spirit, the darkness, the earthquake—something shifted. The cross didn’t just challenge his beliefs. It convicted his soul. In that moment, he moved from doubt to worship, declaring, “Truly, this was the Son of God.”
How does witnessing injustice—whether personal or global—stir a response in you? How does the cross reveal God’s response to injustice?
How does conviction differ from guilt? What role does conviction play in leading someone to a deeper understanding of Jesus?
What does it mean to respond to Jesus with reverence and awe in everyday life? What might that look like practically?
The Cross Bridges
The Cross Bridges God’s Pursuit of ALL People.
Jesus’ death was for all, not just one group. As He breathed His last, the temple curtain tore, signifying open access to God. Among the first to recognize this was an unlikely figure—a Roman centurion, a Gentile outsider. He wasn’t seeking Jesus, but witnessing His final moments transformed everything—the cross bridging Him into the kingdom.
What barriers—cultural, personal, or religious—do you think keep people from believing that God is accessible to them?
If Jesus’ death truly bridges the gap between God and humanity, what should our response be—whether we consider ourselves insiders or outsiders to faith?
What implications does this have for how we live, who we love, and how we share our faith?
The Cross Calls
The Cross Calls Us to Live Out the Transformation It Brings.
Just as eclipse glasses are essential to view the sun without harm one’s eyes, the cross of Jesus safely is the lens through which we truly see and know God. Without it, our understanding of His holiness, grace, and our need for redemption is distorted or incomplete. The cross reveals God’s love, the depth of His sacrifice, and His call to transform us through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Do you see faith as something personal, communal, or both? How does the cross influence that perspective?
Why does Jesus’ call to follow Him includes both personal transformation and a mission to share with others?
If the cross calls us to action, what does answering that call look like in daily life?
CLOSING THOUGHT
As we conclude, the cross is more than an event—it’s the defining moment that reveals God’s power, confronts our guilt, convicts us to respond, bridges the gap between God and humanity, and calls us to transformation. Like the Roman centurion, we are all invited to move from bystanders to believers, from skeptics to worshipers. The cross demands more than passive observation. It compels us to respond. How will you answer?
Let’s close in prayer: asking the Holy Spirit move us beyond passive belief into daily surrender, carrying our cross as true followers of Jesus. Pray for one another to have the courage to embrace the messiness of transformation, the humility to confront our need for redemption, and the faith to trust in Your salvation. Where we live, work, and play, may God bless lives to reflect the wonder of the centurion’s revelation—that truly, Jesus is the Son of God.
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.
