What will you leave at the Cross? - Lent - Lucado

Sunday Afternoon Worship at Gainsborough Corps
Palm Sunday 2008

Welcome, Notices, Offering

Chorus 109/To thy cross I come, Lord
We are singing this chorus to introduce the afternoon. At the end of our session we will sing it again to see if our understanding of these words has altered in any way.

Prayer

Ice-breaker-talk as a group about the absurdities and ironies of life
Bible Reading - Mark 15:22-41
What absurdities or ironies surround the scene of Jesus' death?

Songs of Fellowship 1015/Thank you for saving me

PowerPoint: Grass burrs (thorn, sticker, splinter)
To take into account: Do you usually try to sort yourself out first?
Why are we reluctant to seek help when hurt or injured?

Bible verse - 1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.
Max Lucado asks: What confession do you need to leave at Calvary?

Video Transcript 12 on page 233 where he talks about God's forgiveness and removal of our sins. He describes it as leaving them at the foot of the cross. Max Lucado asks:Why don't you spend a minute or two thinking about what you would like to leave at the cross today?

What are the implications concerning our admission of wrongdoing to God/others?

Listen to music...CD He Chose the Nails Max Lucado track 17 These Hands Jeff Deyo

Bible verse - 1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you. Max Lucado asks: What do you need to leave at the cross in order to benefit from the promise of this verse?

I ask: Maybe for you it is something else-whatever it is-how easy is it going to be to leave it there? Quote from Mere Christianity by CS Lewis about the Christian way being hard and easy at the same time

Video Transcript 13 on page 233 where Max Lucado talks about his own father's last words
Jesus' last dying words...Father, into your hands I commend My spirit - Luke 23:46
What does Jesus, according to this verse, leave at the cross? What does he leave there for us?

• He finished his work triumphantly an entrusted his spirit to God his Father
• His scarred hands offered forgiveness
• Through torn skin he offered acceptance

Video Transcript 14 where Max Lucado concludes the series where he encourages us not only to leave something at the cross but to also move on from there with a deeper commitment to trust and obey the Lord.

Chorus 109/To thy cross I come, Lord

Songs of Fellowship 742 Great is the darkness (Come, Lord Jesus)

Benediction

God Bless You Richly this Holy Week

Palm Sunday- Worship programme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough

Pre-Meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

King from Portrait of Christ 53 by Henry Gariepy
Zechariah 9:9 This prophecy is inseparably linked with the Triumphal Entry. Hundreds of years before this event had been prophesied and the gospel writer confirms this in Matthew 21:4-5 when he says that it was a direct fulfillment of it. This short verse tells us a lot of things. Rejoice greatly... Jesus would usher in a kingdom of joy. Didn't Jesus say in John 10:10 I am come that they may have life, and have it to the full. The verse continues to talk about the justice, deliverance and peace he would bring. In this our first song we shall sing praises to the King of Kings.

Song 160 (TB 42/Rimington)
Jesus shall reign where'er the sun

Palm Sunday Prayer-Prayer Collection page 330
Reading: They Missed Him! from A Bucket of Surprises page 93

Songs of Fellowship 357
Lord Jesus Christ

Theme: Palm Sunday 2008
Palm Sunday is the last Sunday in Lent and the beginning of Holy Week! The last days of Jesus' life which we remember during Holy Week, and which end with the resurrection of Jesus at Easter, are events that begin with the arrival of Jesus at Jerusalem. Although, with hindsight, the day is tinged with sadness because Jesus died on a cross less than a week after he had entered Jerusalem. Today we nevertheless celebrate his triumphal entry into the town as he came to celebrate with everyone else the Jewish feast of Passover. The Bible describes the excitement on that particular day as great crowds of people lined the streets waving palm branches to welcome him hence the name Palm Sunday. It tells us that people not only spread branches on the road but even their clothing as they shouted Hosanna which means Save us now.

Band

Songs of Fellowship 728
Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning
Testimonies: Who is this King of Kings, anyway?

Offering to be taken after this song

Bible Reading: John 12:12-19 NIV

Songs of Fellowship 400
My song is love unknown

Songsters

Bible Message: Jesus Riding into Jerusalem (John)

Prayer

Songs of Fellowship 478
Reign in me, sovereign Lord

Song 81 (TB 92/Hallelujah to the Lamb)
Hark the glad sound (with chorus of Song 57)

Benediction: Songsters

From Tragedy to Triumph! - Lent - Lucado

Here is a Lent time of worship, study and discussion and reflection...all in the space of an hour! We are currently following the course He Chose the Nails by Max Lucado, and this week we are exploring whether God can turn our tragedy into triumph, looking in particular at Jesus' burial clothing for any clues. Here follows how I led the group.

I Can Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph
God's Promise in the Burial Clothing

Welcome, Notices and Offering

The death of Christ has been called the greatest act of love ever. Why do you think that is?
Bible verse-Romans 5:8 (Discuss this verse with others in your group and think of an example where people are expected to be good before they are rewarded)

Prayers-Listen to In the stillness by The King's Singers: The Quiet Heart, Choral Essays Vol.1

Video or Transcript for week 11 where Max talks about some of the tragedies that we suffer and how they 'Clutter up our hearts with memories of bad times'. He explores Romans 8:28 (at times a controversial verse) and describes how one of the disciples of Jesus (John) hangs around faithfully during the tragic death of Jesus not realizing how much his own life would be changed as a result! (Page 231)

Quote from The Root of the Righteous by A.M.Tozer. This paragraph talks about the variety of feelings people had at the time about the crucifixion of Jesus and how they differed from Jesus' own feelings

Song 126 (TB 649/From that sacred hill)
On Calvary's tree the King of Glory languished

Bible Reading John 19:38-20:10
Factoids about the cloth. Discuss altogether what they did to the body of Jesus before burial, and what they consequently found at the empty tomb...if anything!

To reflect on your own...
Where does your focus need to be in uncertain or scary times?

• How quick are you to become despairing when all seems lost?
• What 'storm' in your life needs the touch of Jesus today?
• Who in your immediate circle of family and friends is at this very moment in the middle of a dark time? What can you do or say to help and encourage them?

Song 438 (TB 430/Blaernwern)
Love divine, all loves excelling

Final Prayer-Volunteers to read a verse each from Song 647
When shall I come unto the healing waters

Self-Denial Missionary Appeal 2008

This was the scene at the front of our hall on Sunday after everyone had brought their gift offering. It was our turn to bring a flower arrangement.

Experiencing Temptation/Resisiting Temptation - Worship Progamme

Morning Worship Meeting at Gainsborough Corps

Pre-Meeting Music: Band

Welcome and Announcements

Introduction and Theme
(Today we are having the altar service for the 2008 Missionary Appeal and the worship is based on experiencing and resisting temptation)

Experiencing Temptation

Song 17 (New arrangement) 'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven'

(notice second line of verse 3 'well our feeble frame he knows')

Prayer

Song 101(TB 112/Margaret)
'Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown'

Offering

First Bible Reading-Mark 1:9-13

Band

Missionary Appeal 2008-Altar Service: PowerPoint presentation, Prayer and Altar Service
Country featured: Zambia

Resisting Temptation

Second Bible Reading-Matthew 4:1-11

Songsters

Message-Temptation-John

Prayer and chorus 107
To be like Jesus

Magnify 13
Great is he who's the King of kings
Said Benediction from Women's World Day Of Prayer 2008 booklet page 17

Sung Benediction: Songsters

Experiencing Temptation/Resisting Temptation - Lent

In the Christian calendar we particularly think of temptation during Lent. The dictionary says that temptation is 'an attempt to persuade or entice to do something, specially morally wrong or unwise'. If I offered you this mouldy pasta and salad I can guarantee you would not be tempted to eat it!

Experiencing Temptation
The problem with temptation as I see it is that it is subtle and usually seems harmless.It is always good to remember that temptation in itself is not a sin. It is, however, part of a crafty plan to attempt to separate us from God, inviting us to rebel and it feeds off our tendency to be self-sufficient.

Resisting Temptation
If I knew when I was going to be tempted, where, when and on what... I wonder what my daily life would be like? Would I be better prepared? I don't know, but I would probably be a nervous wreck! Knowing that Temptation can strike anywhere, anytime, specially when we are vulnerable or too sure of ourselves helps to resist. I have learned that temptation needs to be resisted immediately-when you engage with it you often give in and usually go down a harmful road. What about having a plan of your own ready to resist when temptation comes-after all you already have a sneaky feeling about what some of them are! and when they might come!

Feel the Nails - Lent - ToThinkabout

They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
That he paid that price a long, long time ago
When he gave his life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there's something else I want to know

Does he still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Can he hear the crowd cry "Crucify" again
Am I causing him pain
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought of hurting him.

It seems that I'm so good at breaking promises
And I treat his precious grace so carelessly
But each time he forgives
What if he re-lives
The agony He felt on that tree


Holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy Holy
Holy is the Lord

Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Have I crucified you Jesus with my sins
Oh I'm tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt you again

Holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy Holy
Holy is the Lord

(Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan)

Why is the Cross such a big deal for Christians? - Lent - Lucado

On Sunday afternoons during Lent we have been looking at what happened when Jesus was crucified and why it needed to happen. To help us with this we have been using a study by Max Lucado He Chose the Nails where Max investigates what God did to win our hearts. There's so much material in each chapter that we have had to be selective in our use of material, but it is enjoyable to lead people in a relaxed and interactive style.

Last Sunday people were particularly talkative so I had to leave some things out, but we still managed a well-rounded afternoon. Here is the full programme I had planned.

I Will Love You Forever
God's Promise in the Cross

Welcome, Notices and Weekly Offering

Introducing theme:
DVD clip from The West Wing (very end of Episode 14 Season 1 where President confesses)

Song 134 (TB 14/Calvary)
Was it for me, the nails, the spear...?

Prayer

Ice breaker: Brainstorm (write on a board) these Questions..
Any unusual surnames? Do you like your own name? Have you ever had a nickname?

Video or transcript for week 10 where Max talks about whether he should correct people when they mispronounce his surname, leading gradually into God's treatment of us.

Bible Verse - 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV and The Message.

Discuss in small groups:
Symbols of other faiths seem more upbeat, like the crescent moon of Islam or the lotus blossom of Buddhism, so why does Christianity use the cross - normally a symbol of torture - to embody a movement of hope? I don't suppose you would wear an electric chair on your necklace? How do you feel about the cross as a symbol?

Discuss all together:
What did the cross mean to the disciples of Jesus?
What does the cross of Jesus mean to us today?

Quote from Max Lucado:
The cross is the intersection.The cross is where God forgave his children without lowering his standard. God put our sin on his Son and punished it there.

Bible Verse - John 3:16

Songs of Fellowship 865
Jesus Christ, I think about Your sacrifice

Theological insights into:
Death on a Cross, The Shape of the Cross and the Significance of the Cross.

CD - He Chose the Nails: The Lamb That Was Slain - Max Lucado

Bible Reading - John 19:16-19 and 25-31

Listen to or read the words of Feel the nails by Ray Boltz and Steve Millikan

Quotation by Billy Graham from Unto the Hills: A Daily Devotional:
The author of Hebrews writes, Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV). Yes, consider Him. In our suffering and tribulations Jesus Himself must be our chief consideration. We must fix our eyes upon Him. He who suffered for us shows us how we are to bear our sufferings. Is this encouraging to you?

Song 115 (TB 272/Near the cross)
Jesus, keep me near the cross

Prayer