Tag: Good Friday Service

Creative Good Friday Service (2025)

This is a basic plan for the Good Friday service we’re doing at Celebration Church in New Orleans. I hope you find it useful for your church.

Items Needed 

  • Blank piece of paper (¼ sheet) for every congregation member
  • One large cross 
  • Three large nails (approximately nine inches long)
  • One oversized hammer (short, miniature sledgehammer is acceptable)
  • 1-4 regular-sized hammers for leaders to nail sins to the cross
  • Smaller nails for nailing paper to cross

Order of Worship:

  • Welcome
  • Short Giving Talk and Offering Prayer 
    • Say something brief like this – “Our ushers are preparing now to receive the offering. We’re thankful for all of those who give, whether online or here in person. Your giving makes a difference. It’s Good Friday, the day we remember what Jesus did for us on the cross. He gave His life for us not because we’ve earned or deserved it but because He loves us. The Lord gave so freely to us that it’s easy to give back to Him and that’s what we’re doing now before we continue with the rest of the service. You can give using the offering envelopes or online at celebrationchurch.org. Let’s pray and then we’ll receive the offering.”
  • The Two Gardens Video – (During the Video, offering is taken and the cross is placed center stage.)

Good Friday Sermon

  • Spoken transition – Say something like, “Jesus said, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” His sacrifice on the cross was unprecedented in its selflessness, embodying a love that transcends human understanding by willingly taking on the sins of all humanity. This profound act of grace offered redemption and hope, transforming the narrative of sin and separation from God into one of reconciliation and eternal life. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus redefined the concept of sacrifice, establishing a new covenant that continues to inspire and change lives across generations. Simply put, He died so that we might live. This week, we’ve followed Jesus on a journey from His triumphal entry to His cleansing of the temple. From His disagreements with the Pharisees to His anointing at Bethany. We’ve reflected on how He washed the feet of His disciples only to have one of them betray Him. He was arrested, tried, and condemned to death. Tonight, we’re going to reflect on His crucifixion and the bloody price He paid for us. 
  • THE MOCKING – The Bible says, “The soldiers took Jesus into the courtyard of the governor’s headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They dressed Him in a purple robe, and they wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on His head. Then they saluted Him and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they struck Him on the head with a reed stick, spit on Him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.” (Mark 15:16-19)
  • Beyond the physical pain of the crown of thorns and their blows, further humiliation was heaped on Jesus as the soldiers dropped to their knees in “mock worship.” 
  • Psalm 95:6 says, “Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker.” This is not what the soldiers were doing. Instead, they were mocking the Lord and the worship of Him. Worship is serious business to God, and He doesn’t like it when people take it lightly or make fun of it.
  • Before we judge the soldiers too harshly, let’s take a minute and consider when we’ve come before the Lord with a lack of sincerity in our hearts. Have we possibly grown so accustomed to approaching His throne with boldness that we now approach it with apathy? 
  • Before we move on, take a moment and ask the Lord to forgive you for when you’ve been guilty of your own form of mock worship.
  • THE CROSS (Have volunteers stand the cross up or lift it up where people can see it. You may have to lean it against the wall or the stage.)
  • “When they were finally tired of mocking Him, they took off the purple robe and put His own clothes on Him again. Then they led Him away to be crucified. A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they brought Jesus to a place called Golgotha, which means ‘place of the skull.’” (Mark 15:19-22) 
  • The Cross Was Large and Heavy – After His terrible beating, the weight of the cross must have been too much for Jesus because Simon of Cyrene had to help Him. It’s believed that the cross probably weighed around 165 lbs and was most likely eight to twelve feet high with a cross beam about six feet wide. Little is known about what type of tree Jesus was crucified on. Some legends say it was the dogwood tree, but this is doubtful. The fact is, it doesn’t really matter what type of tree the cross was made from. What matters is what happened on that cross. (Expound if needed)
  • We Don’t Worship the Cross. It was simply the instrument of death where Jesus was crucified. But we do worship the One who hung on that cross. The One who gave His life for us on the cross has transformed a symbol of death into a symbol of Divine Love. 
  • THE NAILS  – Then, the unthinkable happened. We read in the Bible “The soldiers nailed Him to the cross…” (Mark 15:24)
  • (Take the three nails and drive them into the cross where His hands and feet would have been – The point is to make noise with the hammer and nails. You can combine the hammering with the sharing of the next part if you want.)
  • The Nails Were Painful – The soldiers actually took each of His hands and physically nailed them to the cross, maybe through His wrists so He wouldn’t pull away. Then, they did the same thing to each of His feet. The pain of the nails going through His body and the blood pouring from these wounds were amplified by the weight of His body pulling against the nails. (Expound if necessary)
  • The Nails are Symbols of both Sin and Redemption – They represent the gravity of our sins, serving as a stark reminder of the pain and suffering caused by our disobedience. Yet, they also symbolize redemption, as Jesus willingly endured this torment to atone for our transgressions. We should all just take a minute and say, “Thank you, Jesus.”
  • Activity –(Have the people reflect on their own sins for which Jesus was crucified. Then, have them write them out on the pieces of paper they were given in their bulletin shells upon entering.) – Note: Have the people hold on to their papers after writing. We will use them again later in the service.
  • Pray and thank the Lord for the pain and suffering He endured for our redemption
  • HIS DEATH – The Bible continues, “It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified Him… At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. Then, Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. When the Roman officer who stood facing Him saw how He had died, he exclaimed, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:25, 33-39)
  • In the same moment when the Jewish leaders were rejoicing in the death of Jesus, this Roman centurion proclaimed with reverence the glory of Jesus. He proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God, which drives home the words of Jesus to Nicodemus earlier in His ministry. He said, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
  • What This Means For Us – “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
  • Through Jesus, we have redemption as we release our sins to Him.
  • Share a Personal or Shared Testimony/Gospel Presentation
  • Ask the following Question: What sins do you need to release to Jesus tonight?
  • Decision Response Activity – (Have the people bring their papers on which they wrote their sins and bring them forward to leaders to nail them to the cross while also picking up their bread and juice for communion)
  • Lead the people through Communion
  • Closing

* Photo courtesy of Alicia Quan

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2023 Good Friday Service Outline

Each year on Good Friday at Celebration Church in New Orleans, we do a more interactive type of service with various dramatic elements. I typically share the outline on my blog after the service happens for reference by others. I hope you find it helpful, or at least interesting.

2023 Good Friday Service Outline

Welcome

UPFRONT WORSHIP MUSIC SECTION

Prayer 

PASSOVER TO LAST SUPPER SECTION 

1200 Years Video (Video produced by Celebration Church New Orleans – the link is to the left, Script below)

At least 1200 years before Jesus was born

The people of Israel cried out to the Lord

They had been in bondage for 400 years….

400 years.

God heard their cries 

And intervened

He delivered them by the leadership of Moses through a series of plagues:

Water turning to blood, 

Frogs, lice, flies,

Livestock pestilence, boils, 

Hail, locusts, and darkness

Nasty stuff… Harsh plagues… But then… 

The final plague  

An angel of death came to every home unless the family had sacrificed a lamb

And splattered its blood on their doorposts and side beams. 

If that had been done, the death angel Passed Over them. 

And they were safe.

The message of Passover was clear 

To be delivered from judgment, a death was required.

But the death of a substitute was acceptable

From then on in Israel 

Every single sacrifice served as a reminder 

That our God can deliver us from judgment 

through the death of a substitute. 

However, no animal sacrifice was sufficient for eternal forgiveness

So a sacrificial system was begun. 

Over the centuries, the sacrifices continued by the millions 

They continued while the Jews 

While the whole world

Waited for the perfect sacrifice 

Over 1200 years later, that sacrifice was made 

It happened on a Friday, 

What we call Good Friday, 

When Jesus, 

the Son of God, 

the Lamb of God

Was offered as a sacrifice for us all on the cross

To be delivered from judgment, a death was required

For the wages of sin is death

But the sacrifice of the innocent substitute’s blood was eternally acceptable.

And the gift of God was eternal life 

Through that perfect, sinless, beautiful, sacrificial Lamb,

Who shed His blood for You and for me.

For our eternal forgiveness.

While we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us

At the cross 

And there to our hearts was His blood applied

Glory to His name.

Song – Thank You, Jesus, For the Blood Applied (First verse and chorus)

COMMUNION SECTION

(Music continues behind speaker) 

Communion Introduction: How many of you are thankful that the Lord has made a way that we could be brought out of darkness into glorious light? When John the Baptist saw Jesus, he cried, “Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) We’re about to observe a special time of worship where we remember how Jesus, as the Lamb of God, paid the price for our sin on the cross. Some people call this observance communion. Some people call it the Lord’s Supper. Some people call it the Lord’s Table. Whatever you call it, one thing is certain. It’s about Him. It’s His communion. It’s His Supper. It’s His communion. He instituted it at the Last Supper while He was observing Passover with His disciples the night before He was betrayed. 

The Bible says that “When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, ‘I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins” (Luke 22:14-15) 

Jesus had been with His disciples for three years so He must have celebrated Passover with them before. But this time, Jesus took it further. Instead of a sacrificed animal being the focus of remembrance, He was the focus of remembrance. 

The Bible says, “He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’” (Luke 22:14-15)

(Lead the people to take the bread)

After supper he took another cup of wine and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant between God and his people – an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out for you.” Do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19-20)

(Lead the people to take the juice – give them instructions about their cups)

Pray (Thanking God for His body and His blood)

Song Continues – Thank You, Jesus, For the Blood Applied (Song continues through tag)

GARDEN SECTION

Speaker: The Bible teaches us that “Accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. There He told them, ‘Pray that you will not give in to temptation.’ He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.’ Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. He prayed more fervently, and He was in such agony of spirit that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. (Luke 22:39-44)

Is it possible for someone to sweat blood? It’s very rare, but it is possible. The condition is called hematidrosis. It happens when extreme physical or emotional stress causes blood vessels that surround the sweat glands to rupture and blood is lost through the sweat glands. That’s the type of anguish Jesus was going through. 

Can you imagine the type of anguish Jesus was going through? He knew what was about to happen if everything continued. He knew He was the sinless Lamb of God. He knew He was about to be betrayed and denied by His closest friends. He knew He was about to be wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. If it would have been us, we would have run away. But He didn’t. Instead, He submitted to His Father’s will. 

GARDEN TO THE CROSS SECTION

What happened next must have seemed like a hurricane of activity:

(Read through the next section, only expounding when necessary)

  • While Jesus was in agony, His disciples were asleep.
  • Except for Judas, who appeared with a mob and betrayed Jesus with a kiss
  • Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s house where Peter, the Rock, denied Him three times before the rooster crowed.
  • Then Jesus was blindfolded and was mocked and beaten by the guards who cried out, “Prophesy! Who hit you?”
  • He was given a mockery of a trial before Pilate who said, “I find no basis for your charges against Him.
  • But when given the choice to release Him, the crowd shouted “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
  • He was whipped, He was beaten 
  • A Crown of Thorns was shoved on His head.
  • He was forced to carry the very cross on which He was to be crucified.

CROSS SECTION

The Bible says that, “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.” (Luke 23:32)

Crucifixion often meant binding or nailing someone to a cross and letting them die slowly. This is what they did with Jesus. They took three nails (hold the nails out), possibly like this, and nailed Him to the cross. 

  • They drove a nail through one hand into the cross (hit the nails together three times)
  • They drove another nail through his other hand into the cross (hit the nails together three times)
  • Finally, they drove a final nail through his feet into the cross (hit the nails together three times)

The cross was raised and Jesus hung there for the world to see. 

The Bible says, “It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When He had said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 22:44-46 ESV)

Jesus was dead. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world was sacrificed there for you and for me. He lived a totally sinless life and was a sacrifice worthy of eternal forgiveness. So, come to the cross and behold the Lamb.

The Cross Video (Video created by Passion City Church – linked to the left)

(When the video ends, the decision Song Behold the Lamb begins.

DECISION TIME

From the time of the first Passover, the Israelites understood God can deliver us from judgment for our sin through the sacrifice of a substitute, even though no animal sacrifice was sufficient for eternal forgiveness. Over 1200 years later, John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice on the Cross so we could be forgiven of our sins and live with Him forever. We all have a need to come to the cross and behold the Lamb.

  • We all have a need for Him – “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” (Romans 3:23)
  • We all deserve punishment for our sin, but God has made a way for us – “For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
  • He gave His Son for us because He loves us – “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8)
  • Admit to God that you are a sinner – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
  • We must confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts – “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him for the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)
  • We must surrender ourselves to the Lord, making Him Lord of our lives – “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24) 

Salvation Prayer

Surrender/Decision Section 

(Band continues playing/singing Behold the Lamb)

Jesus surrendered Himself for you. What will you surrender of yourself for Him? 

  • Will you give your life to Him as Savior and Lord?
  • Will you finally surrender those sinful habits to Him?
  • Will you start tithing or giving to the Lord?
  • Will you be willing to serve Him however He might ask?
  • Will you honor Him with your relationships?
  • Will you surrender to Him by finally sharing His love with your family?
  • Will you be honest at work, or with your taxes, or with your spouse?
  • Will you surrender yourself to vocational Christian service?

Is there something else you are willing to surrender to the Lord today? While the music plays, take time to pray, thanking the Lord for His sacrifice and asking Him what you should give to Him. Then, if you’re willing, write it out on your special Good Friday Communication Card you received when you entered tonight. 

(End by singing the chorus of Behold the Lamb)

Prayer (closing out decision song and praying for offering)  

Offering is taken during Closing Remarks 

Celebrative Closing Song –

* Image courtesy of Dylan McLeod

** Special Thanks to the Pastors and Congregation of Celebration Church

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Good Friday 2019 Service Script – Full Outline

good-friday-copy

Here’s a copy of our 2019 Good Friday Service Script. You may find this helpful for Good Friday services, Communion Services, or any service that focuses on the cross.

Opening Worship Set

Suggested Song – Grateful

Suggested Song – Death Was Arrested

Suggested Song – Living Hope

Transition

Turn and Greet/Bumper

Welcome/Explanation of Service/Communication Cards

  • Thank you for coming this evening. Tonight’s service is totally focused on the cross of Jesus and all He did for us. We’re going to look back in time and then reflect on our own lives before we share in communion together at the end of the service. Before we begin our journey, we’re asking everyone to complete their communication cards. We’ll collect them at the end of tonight’s service. But first, before we begin, we’re going to receive our offering. Some people here have already given online and some are preparing to give right now. However you are giving, thanks so much. Let’s pray and then we’ll continue on with tonight’s service.

Offering Prayer

Transition Video (adapted from Andy Stanley’s book “Irresistible.)

 

Construction on the Roman Colosseum began in AD 72 during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and was completed in AD 80 by his son Titus. It held over 50,000 people. That’s roughly 79% of of the New Orleans Mercedes Benz Superdome. That’s a pretty big arena for first century technology.

Nearby is the site where Nero’s circus once stood. This was the place where the first state-sponsored persecution of Christians took place. In the summer of AD 64, the city of Rome burned for six days and seven nights, consuming almost 75% of the city. Many Roman citizens blamed Emperor Nero, claiming he set fire to the city for his own amusement. Nero denied this accusation and claimed the fire had been started by the Christians who did not worship the Roman gods yet instead followed a King named Jesus. He set out to persecute the Christians and torture them in Nero’s Circus. It was there that the Christians were first dressed as animals and fed to the lions.

But the larger site, where the persecution of Christians continued, was the Colosseum, which soon became the symbol of the strength of the Roman Empire and its king. Spectators entered and exited the Colosseum through 80 arched entrances. 76 of these gates were numbered and allowed the general public to exit within 10 minutes. The remaining four unnumbered entrances were the emperor’s gate, two VIP gates, and the gladiator gate. Guests today are ushered in through the emperor’s gate.

And every single person who enters the Colosseum walks directly toward an enormous wooden structure that Pope Benedict XIV had placed there in the eighteenth century. By that time, the Colosseum had fallen into disrepair. Everything of value had been stolen and vagrants lived in the lower levels. Town planners, for safety, decided to tear down the entire structure. But to keep this from happening, Pope Benedict declared the Colosseum as a sacred monument dedicated to the suffering of Christ. As a part of his declaration, he commissioned the construction of an enormous cross to be hung over the emperor’s gate to commemorate the Christian martyrs who had died in the Colosseum and in Nero’s Circus.

When you see the Cross of Jesus in the Roman Colosseum, you are faced with the reality that the gospel is the power of God. The contrast is staggering. Here are two symbols representing two kingdoms – the Roman kingdom and the kingdom of God. In the end, the kingdom of the Lord prevailed.

The Roman Empire is no more. The Colosseum, once marveled at by man as a sign of Roman strength is now a tourist destination where the central attraction is the Cross of Jesus. The symbol that once represented the most horrible kind of death represents eternal life. The cross, the symbol of our King’s plan for our salvation and His own victory over death, hell, and the grave.

Praise be to our King.

Sermon – THE KING

We are here today to celebrate our King.

King Jesus lived like no other king because He was a King like no other.

Before Jesus was born, wise men from Eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem asking:

“Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:2)

Expound on scripture:

  • “Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” – C.S. Lewis
  • Jesus was born in a place reserved for animals and was wrapped not in fine linen but in cheap strips of material. He was placed not in a prince’s cradle, but instead was lain in a manger, the feeding trough for the livestock. This wasn’t the typical birthplace for a king, but Jesus is no typical king.

Jesus Was Born Like No Other King

When Jesus entered the City of Jerusalem, He fulfilled prophecy by telling His disciples: “Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’” (Matthew 21:4-5)

Expound on scripture:

  • “I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master.” – John Newton
  • Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem on a white horse, showing himself off to the world. Instead, He purposefully rode on a young donkey, showing how humble He truly was. Kings aren’t typically known for their humility, but for their pride. Jesus personified humility in everything He did.
  • Jesus was God and deserved to stay in Heaven. Yet out of His great love for us, He chose to come to earth as a human. He even chose to obey God to the point of dying an embarrassing and painful death on the cross for our sins. Jesus is the perfect example of humility.

Jesus Was Humble Like No Other King

Jesus was arrested and brought before Pilate, the Roman Governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked Him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.” But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent. “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.”  (Matthew 27:11-14)

Even when Pilate tried to make a way to release Jesus, it didn’t go well. He had a custom where he would release one prisoner a year at Passover. He asked the people to choose between Jesus and a thief named Barabbas. They chose the thief.

Pilate asked them, “Then what should I do with this man you call the king of the Jews?” (Mark 15:12)

They shouted back, “Crucify Him!”

Expound on scripture:

  • Jesus is God. He is the Ultimate Judge. He lowered Himself to be judged by Pilate in order to carry out the will of His Father.

Jesus Had A Trial Like No Other King

Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified. Matthew 27:27-31

After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”  The leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders also mocked Jesus. “He saved others,” they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him! He trusted God, so let God rescue him now if he wants him! For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:32-44)

Expound on scripture:

  • In their mocking of Jesus, the Roman soldiers placed a crown of thorns on His head and a reed stick in His hand as a scepter. The crown and the reed certainly caused Jesus pain, but even more, it caused intense humiliation before the people. The scarlet robe drove the point home even more.
  • The jeering crowd caused even more humiliation for Jesus. They were jabbing at him, hoping to elicit some response that would ruin His claims about Himself. They received none.

Jesus Was Humiliated Like No Other King

At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”… Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:45-46, 50-54)

Expound on scripture:

  • “It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was His unqualified resolution, out of love for His Father, to do His Father’s will-and it was His love for sinners like me.” – D.A. Carson
  • “God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”

Jesus Died Like No Other King Because He Was, And Is, A King Like No Other

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When He appeared in human form, He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated Him to the place of highest honor and gave Him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)

Video – No Other King by Dan Stevers –  https://www.danstevers.com/store/no_other_king

Decision Time – This King Gave His Life For You On the Cross

Communion

  • Spoken Intro – You heard the story of King Jesus. This is who we are remembering tonight…
  • Communion Song – Mighty Cross  

Closing Announcements

Closing Song

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Full Good Friday Script

goodfridayphilippines

A few people from various churches have asked me about our Good Friday service, so I’ve listed it below in a simple listing.  Remember that we are a multi-site church so we create services and events that can take place in multiple places and they have freedom to make changes based on their environment and need.  I should also say this production was a collaborative effort and could not have been possible without input from Alex Moore, Stacey Barr, Beth Luca, Dwight Fitch, Victoria Acosta, Kristian Sanchez, Javier Acosta, Haylee Thacker and with feedback and input from our campus pastors and associate pastors.  Enjoy.

Good Friday – 2014

Pre-Service

3 Songs – 15 minutes

Song suggestions include:

– This Is Amazing Grace

– All Because of Jesus

– Sweetly Broken

– At The Cross

– This Is Our God

– Overcame – Jeremy Riddle

– Savior King – Hillsongs

– Your Great Name – Natalie Grant

– Lead Me To The Cross

– Stronger

Live Welcome with Just Like Jesus Bumper – 3

– Communication Card

– Kidztown and Club 56

Offering Introduction and Prayer Transition (with background music – keyboard pads) – 2

(Offering Collection begins as spoken word video plays)

Part One – FALLING PLATES VIDEO – (Spoken Word on video – recorded in a garden-like setting – Niko) – 3

Part Two – REJECTED – (Campus Pastor or Associate Pastor Sharing) – 5

2.A. Betrayed by Judas

Speaker:  On the night before Jesus was crucified, He was in anguishing prayer, knowing what was about to happen.  Then, He was betrayed with a kiss by one of his disciples, a friend, or at least a pretend friend named Judas Iscariot.  Judas had spent three years with Jesus.  Three years.  Jesus had commissioned him, fed him, loved him, taught him, cared for him, and invested in him, but Judas betrayed him for thirty pieces of silver.

(Speaker 1 holds up small biblical purse with 30 pieces of silver)

Speaker 1:  It sounds like a lot of money, but in reality, it was only enough money to buy a small field in that time period.

(Speaker 1 pours pieces of silver slowly into a metal bowl, creating a loud clanging sound with each quarter that falls)

2.B.  Denied by Peter

Speaker 1: After Jesus was arrested, Peter followed Him to the home of the high priest, but had to stay outside the gate until a woman opened it for him.  As he entered, the woman asked Peter, “You’re not one of that man’s disciples, are you?”

“No,” he said, “I am not.”

Because it was cold, the household servants and the guards made a fire. They stood around it, warming themselves, and Peter stood with them, warming himself.  Once again, someone asked Peter, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?”

He denied it once again, saying, “No, I am not.”

Soon after, one of the slaves of the high priest, asked, “Didn’t I see you out there in the olive grove with Jesus?”  And for the third time, Peter denied it.

(Play Audio of Rooster Crowing)

2.C.  Condemned by Pilate

Speaker 1:  Jesus was taken to Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked Him.

Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent, much to the governor’s surprise.

It was Pilate’s custom each year during Passover to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted.  This year there was a notorious prisoner named Barabbas.

(Crowd sound effect begins and continues until next cue)

As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas or Jesus?”

Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death.

So Pilate asked the crowd, “Then what should I do with Jesus?”

(Sound effect of crowd shouting, “Crucify Him!” continues until Speaker 1 pours water below)

“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What has He done?”

Then Pilate sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.”

(Speaker 1 pours water into the basin and begins washing his hands)

So Pilate released Barabbas to the people. He ordered Jesus to be scourged, then turned him over to the Roman soldiers to be crucified.

Part Three – CRUCIFIED –5

3.1. – Scourged

Speaker 2:  Then the Bible says, “They took Him and had Him scourged.” Now, scourging was such that it often killed the victim.  But Jesus was a young and strong man in his early thirties. He was in good physical condition. That could be why He didn’t die from the scourging.  They stripped Jesus nearly naked, and shackled his hands over His head. Then soldiers stood on either side of Him and whipped Him brutally with what’s called a flagrum or a cat o’ nine tails.  It was a wooden handle that had long straps of leather protruding from it.  At the end of each strap was a ball of either metal or stone, and that would tenderize the human flesh.  Sometimes there were hooks at the end, usually made of metal.

(Sound effects of Roman whips begin and continue through the next sentence)

Speaker 2:  So the soldiers took turns doing their job, inflicting as much pain as possible on Jesus.  

(Whips sound effects stop)  

Speaker 2:  At this point, for Jesus, the process of death has begun.

3.2. Nailed to the Cross – Jesus was forced to carry His cross to the place of death. The cross was an enormous wooden beam that you would use to secure a roof in an ancient home.  This was recycled timber.  Other men had carried it to their own crucifixion.  It was covered with their tears and their blood, and their sweat.

On the way, Jesus was so exhausted that He collapsed under the weight of the cross.  Simon of Cyrene, a bystander, was commanded to help Him carry the cross to the place of crucifixion.  And then, this Carpenter who Himself had driven many nails, had the equivalent of railroad spikes driven through His hands and feet.

(Speaker 2 holds up a railroad spike as a sound effect of nails pounding plays.  There will be 3 sets of 3 pounds each.  After the nailing stops, stage hands raise cross in silence.)

(As soon as the cross is in place, lead instrument for song below begins playing)

Speaker 2:  Jesus’ cross was then lifted up and dropped into the ground, shaking His body violently.

3.3.  It Is Finished –

Speaker 2:  From the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  In that moment, something legal, something spiritual, something eternal happened. Jesus traded places with us.  2 Corinthians 5:21 says: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Adam and Eve, in the Garden, substituted themselves for God and introduced sin to mankind.  But here, in this place God substituted Himself for us, defeating the power of sin.

Then He cried out, “It is finished!”  His last words might have been hard to understand, but they were triumphant just the same.  Salvation through Him was available.  It was finished.

Song – Your Love, So High by Hillsong – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakjmEUkY6M – 5 –

(Worship Leader motions for everyone to be seated at the end of the song.  Falling Plates video plays as soon as most of the people are seated)

Falling Plates Video –https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08peJK0m510 – (Starting at 0:04 and ending at 3:55)

Part Four – ALIVE – 5

Campus Pastor –

–       Resurrection, Letting Go/Decision Time

Communion – 8 – with At The Cross https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOY0mjjmx8Y  or Worthy Is The Lamb https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz5F4ntVKvU orequivalent song

Closing Announcements – 2

Baptisms – (timing t.b.a.)

Short Closing Song – 1

59 Minutes plus baptisms

Props List:

1.  6 foot table with black cover

2.  Small container for 30 pieces of silver

3.  30 quarters ($7.50) or 30 silver dollars

4.  Large metallic bowl for 30 pieces of silver to land

5.  1 Large Railroad Spike

6.  Large Wooden Cross with stand

7.  Water pitcher filled with water

8.  Water basin

9.  1 small hand towel

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