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

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

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)