Use the programme which can be found on the link ‘discipleship challenges’. The ‘worksheet’ will help you follow through anything you feel is right to take up. The following notes are for your interest and consideration.
Personal comment:
The extraordinary pathos of Jesus death is recorded side by side with God’s acts of power. Are we being taught by the Lord that death is never what it seems? Our forefathers certainly believed that death was an entry into a great glory and was to be celebrated as such; yet our generation and society never seems to escape the heavy sadness of death. I believe that the Christian disciple can be confident about death because of what happened to Jesus and also the amazing acts of power that accompanied it. We can and should testify to life after death before it happens; it is at the heart of our faith.
Ideas for discipleship programme
- Take some time to reflect on the death of Jesus, and read through the passage of scripture for today. You may well feel that you need to read through other related passages. Let the Lord God speak to you through these immensely important words.
- Pray for those facing death or who fear death. If you know of anyone who is getting elderly and may fear death, then speak with them about it. One of the greatest problems today is that some will not speak about death; yet death is the key to eternal life!
Lord God, speak into our hearts the truth of Jesus’ great work for us on the Cross, and where words are not enough, enlighten our spirits. Forgive us if we have misunderstood the mysteries of Salvation, and lead us into all truth as we read about the death of Jesus, AMEN
Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- What parts of the study today has God used to show you new things about the Good Friday story? Share this if in your group.
- Do you think that Jesus gave up His spirit voluntarily, or that His death was purely in the hands of the Father?
- Can you summarise your thoughts about the death of Jesus? Take a piece of paper and write on it the key themes that have affected you.