Week 20: April 9 - April 15, 2017

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Good Friday, April 14, 2017

  • 1 This Week's Theme
  • 2 Preparing Our Hearts
  • 3 Praising Our God
  • 4 Listening to His Voice
  • 5 Responding in Faith
  • 6 Departing to Serve
  • 7 For Your Weekly Journey
  • "Behold Your King!

    John 18.1-19.42

    The events surrounding the Passion of Christ reveal many things – betrayal, mock trials, deep hatred and suspicion by the Jewish leaders plotting for his death, fear and the panic of the disciples, to name a few. One of the most powerful scenes of the Passion is the exchange between the Lord and Pontius Pilate. An opportunist, a political representative of Rome, and an unwilling participant in Jesus’ death, Pilate moves from one compromise to another. Though he wanted to free Jesus, because of a suspected disloyalty to Caesar, he surrenders to the will of the leaders and the mob. Washing his hands symbolically of Jesus’ death did not wash away either his guiltiness or shame.

    It is observed by John that after the soldiers had both flogged and scourged Jesus, he was mocked by the soldiers with a ghoulish crown of thorns on his head, and arrayed with a purple robe. They jested, yelling at him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and struck him with their hands. After displaying him before the crowds, Pilate would shout, “Behold, the man!” After seeking to release Jesus, but painted into a corner by the leaders who testified, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend,” he finally brought Jesus out and sat down at the judg­ment seat. It was then that Pilate exclaimed, “Behold your King!” only to be answered by the crowd, “Away with him, crucify him.” Pilate’s statement is deeply ironic. Jesus will die as the true King of his people, as the Messiah of God. Pilate adds to the injury with a final statement: “Shall I crucify your King?” to which the people finally reply, “We have no king but Caesar.” And with this, the Son of God was handed over to be crucified.

  • Invocation: Our Prayer of Acclamation

    O Blessed Saviour, draw us; draw us by the cords of Thy love; draw us by the sense of Thy goodness; draw us by Thyself; draw us by the unspotted purity and beauty of Thy example; draw us by the merit of Thy precious death and by the power of Thy Holy Spirit; draw us, good Lord, and we shall run after Thee; for Thy Name’s sake. Amen.

    ~ Isaac Barrow, A.D. 1630 (Fox, p. 223)

    Call to Worship  

    Blessed are you, O God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And blessed is your Kingdom, both now and forever, Amen.

  • Te Deum Laudamus

    You are God: we praise you; you are the Lord; we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.

    The glorious company of apostles praise you. The noble fellowship of prophets praise you. The white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you; Father, of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son, worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.

    You, Christ, are the king of glory, the eternal Son of the Father. When you became man to set us free you did not shun the Virgin’s womb. You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You are seated at God’s right hand in glory. We believe that you will come and be our judge. Come then, Lord, and help your people, bought with the price of your own blood, and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting.

    Praise and Thanksgiving (songs and prayers)

    Gloria Patri

    Glory be to the Father, And to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, Is now, and ever shall be, World without end. Amen, amen. 

  • Chronological Reading for the Day

    Good Friday: Matt. 27.1-61; Mark 15.1-47; Luke 22.66-23.56a; John 18.28-19.42

    * Our chronological Bible reading schedule fills 52 weeks; the current Church Year has 53 weeks. Therefore, we will focus on the Holy Week reading of the Gospels this week and return to the chronological Bible readings next week.


    Lectionary Readings

    Psalm: Psalm 22

    OT: Isa. 52.13-53.12

    Gospel: John 18.1-19.42

    NT: Heb. 4.14-16;5.7-9

    (Click here for all readings)

  • The Apostles' Creed

    I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he arose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
    I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic* church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

    *In the Apostles’ and Nicene Creeds, the term catholic refers to the Church’s universality, through all ages and times, of all languages and peoples. It refers to no particular tradition or denominational expression (e.g., as in Roman Catholic).

    Prayers of Confession
    Let us now confess our sins to God and receive mercy and grace to help in our time of need.

    Assurance of Pardon
    Having faithfully confessed and renounced your sin, Christ also has been faithful to forgive your sins and to purify you from all unrighteousness. It is certain, that there is One who has spoken to the Father in your defense, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One who is the atoning sacrifice for our sins and for the sins of the whole world. His grace and peace are with you now. Amen.

    Petitions and Supplications, Ending with The Lord's Prayer
    Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

    --Matthew 6.9-13 (KJV)

    Doxology (and/or closing song)
    Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
    Praise Him all creatures here below;
    Praise Him above ye heavenly host;
    Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

  • Benediction  
    Lord Jesus, suffering servant of God, for our sake and for our salvation, you were unjustly condemned to death, mocked, scourged and crowned with thorns, pierced with nails and scorned by unbelievers. By your holy and glorious wounds, shelter us under the shadow of your cross while we await in sure and certain hope for your victory over sin and death and hell. You live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

    ~Storey, p. 131

    Affirmation from the Psalms
    My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? [2] O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. [3] Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. [4] In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. [5] To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. [6] But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. [7] All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; [8] “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

    ~ Psalm 22.1-8

    Pray without Ceasing - Flash Prayer for the Day
    Thank you Lord Jesus, true King of Israel, for the sacrifice you made on the Cross for your people, and the people of the world.

  • Let God Arise! Seasonal Focus

    But If It Dies

    John 12.20-36


    Book Reading

    Bilezikian, Doriani, Women in Ministry