WELCOME
On Good Friday, Christians around the world gather in local churches to remember the death of our Lord, Jesus the Messiah.
Tonight, we remind ourselves of the meaning of Christ’s death. In our readings, we remember who God is, who we are, who Jesus is, and what his death accomplished.
Our readings come from The New City Catechism, a booklet designed to teach children the faith. (Complimentary copies are available in the Welcome Center as our gift to you.) Scripture references are provided with each reading for further study.
We encourage you to set aside time tomorrow to review these readings and to study these Scriptures as you prepare to celebrate the resurrection on Sunday morning.
As our service concludes, we will depart in darkness and silence. We leave in this fashion not because we believe Jesus is dead—but as a stark reminder of the horror of his death and the necessity of his resurrection.
OUR GOD
From The New City Catechism, Questions/Answers #2, 3, 4
For further study see Psalm 86:8-10, 2 Corinthians 13:14; Genesis 1:27
What is God?
God is the creator and sustainer
of everyone and everything.
He is eternal, infinite, and unchangeable
in his power and perfection,
goodness and glory,
wisdom, justice, and truth.
How many persons are there in God?
There are three persons in the one God:
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
How and why did God create us?
God created us in his own image
to know him, love him,
live with him, and glorify him.
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
OUR SIN
From the New City Catechism, Questions/Answers #13, 18, 19
For further study see Romans 3:10-12; Ephesians 5:5-6; Isaiah 53:10-11
Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?
Since the fall, no mere human
has been able to keep the law of God perfectly,
but consistently breaks it
in thought, word, and deed.
Will God allow our disobedience and idolatry to go unpunished?
No, God is righteously angry with our sins
and will punish them both in this life,
and in the life to come.
Is there any way to escape punishment and be brought back into God’s favor?
Yes, to satisfy his justice, God himself, out of mere mercy,
reconciles us to himself and delivers us from sin
and from the punishment for sin,
by a Redeemer.
GETHSEMANE HYMN
OUR REDEEMER
From The New City Catechism, Questions/Answers #20, 22, 23.
For further study see 1 Timothy 2:5, Hebrews 2:17; Acts 2:24
Who is the Redeemer?
The only Redeemer is the Lord Jesus Christ,
the eternal Son of God,
in whom God became man
and bore the penalty of sin himself.
Why must the Redeemer be truly human?
That in human nature he might on our behalf
perfectly obey the whole law
and suffer the punishment for human sin.
Why must a Redeemer be truly God?
That because of his divine nature
his obedience and suffering
would be perfect and effective.
O SACRED HEAD NOW WOUNDED
OUR REDEMPTION
From the New City Catechism, Questions/Answers #24, 25, 29
For further study see Colossians 1:21-22; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-9
Why was it necessary for Christ, the Redeemer, to die?
Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us
from the power and penalty of sin
and bring us back to God.
Does Christ’s death mean all our sins can be forgiven?
Yes, because Christ’s death on the cross
fully paid the penalty of our sin,
God will remember our sins no more.
How can we be saved?
Only by faith in Jesus Christ
and in his substitutionary atoning death on the cross.
THERE IS A FOUNTAIN
PRAYER
SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 23:32-49
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
DEVOTION – Steve Vardeman
WHAT WONDROUS LOVE IS THIS
OUR HOPE
From The New City Catechism, Question/Answer #1
For further study see Romans 14:7-8.
What is our only hope in life and death?
That we are not our own but belong,
body and soul,
both in life and death,
to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Please depart in silence.
Join us on Sunday at 10:30 AM.