Good Friday Communion Service Preparation

We're looking forward to celebrating Communion Friday evening. Here's some questions to contemplate as you prepare.

Read Luke 23:32-49

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”

48 When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away.

49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

1. Who best represented you at the cross?

   1. The crowds who just complacently stood and watched the crucifixion, and then just walked away feeling guilty

   2. The soldiers who didn’t really care about anything, so they mocked everything

   3. The Jewish establishment, who sneer & ridicule the gospel

   4. The criminal who sought to demolish those who proclaim the gospel
      

2. Take time to recognize and confess your sins and to pray that Jesus will remember you like the converted criminal did.
   

3. Do you recognize what the Holy Spirit used the most to convince you to believe? Practice articulating it so that you can share it with others.

   1. A specific Bible verse (did you read it on your own or hear it preached)?

   2. The more evidence I see like the centurion, the more I believe (what is some of the evidence you’re the most impressed with?)

   3. Like the women at the cross, I’ve known Jesus for as long as I can remember (but… see if you can discern which of the above ways the Spirit continues to convince you).
      

4. The centurion praised God by simply acknowledging the truth that Jesus was a righteous/innocent man. What are some ways you can praise God as you do your job?