Brad Hewitt, one of the Elders of The Alpine Chapel, helps us see our own response to suffering in Jesus’ prayer on the Cross.

Digging Deeper

1. What stood out to you in the message?

2. How did you learn to pray and how is your prayer life now?

3. In the message Brad talked about the “Great Paradox” as the belief in a loving God but a world filled with terrible suffering.  How do you deal with this?

4. Psalm 22 starts out with David feeling God forsaken, but then reminds himself of God’s past faithfulness.  What do you do when you feel God abandoned or forsaken?   

5. Psalm 22 goes through many kinds of suffering; abandonment, feeling worthless, fear, shame, pain, material loss and despair.  How does Hebrews 12 1-2  relate?  What joy was set before Jesus?  What joy is set before us?

6. In the middle of Psalm 22 it shifts from present tense to future tense.  Read Psalm 22: 24-29.  How does this part of the Psalm help us deal with suffering?

7. The Psalm ends with  “He has done it!”   Read  2 Cor. 4: 14-17  What stands out?