Discussion Guide for Good Friday

You'll notice that, as with Maundy Thursday, this lesson is a little shorter than the others - I generally encourage families, particularly those with younger children, to experience Good Friday primarily through crafts and activities that come from traditions around the world.  This is obviously a challenging day, but if you're prepared to discuss, set aside 10-15 minutes and grab a Bible, whether that's looking at the biblical text with older kids, or at the Spark Story Bible that we use for younger kids.  

Opening Your Time Together:
 
  • Opening Prayer - God, on this difficult and somber day and night, we come remembering how much you loved us - a love that was so deep that you were willing to go to the cross for us.  Help us to know and trust in that love, even when it doesn't feel present with us.  Help us to think about the sacrifice that you made, and help inspire us to put the needs of others before ourselves.  Amen.
 
  • Opening Hymn - What Wondrous Love Is This - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBwO82ZgaVU - the link is to an organ instrumental of this song.  It's a quiet version, but the hymn itself is quiet and contemplative.  
    • ​Verse 1 - What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!  What wondrous love is this, O my soul!  What wondrous love is this, That caused the Lord of bliss, To bear the dreadful curse, For my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
    • Verse 2 - To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing!  To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing!  To God and to the Lamb, Who is the great "I AM,"  While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing! While millions join the theme, I will sing.
    • Verse 3 - And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, I'll sing on!  And when from death I'm free, I'll sing on, And when from death I'm free, I'll sing and joyful be, And through eternity, I'll sing on, I'll sing on, And through eternity, I'll sing on.
 
Reading the Bible:

  • Open up to the passage, whether in the Bible or the Spark Bible.  Ask your kids if they are familiar with this passage and, if so, what they remember.  
  • Read the passage together.  Bible - Luke 23:1-56, ​Spark Bible - pages 474 to 481
  • (Optional) You can also practice something called lectio divina, which basically means you read through the passage once, asking kids to listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at them.  After reading, everyone shares their answers and then you read the passage again, listening for new insights!

Discussing the Passage:

  • For Younger Kids 
  • ​Today is a very sad day in our church year because we remember Jesus dying on the cross many years ago.  Are there other things that are making you sad today?  How can we share those things with one another and with God so that we don't feel like we're alone?
  • Who are some people who you want to make sure that we pray for today?
 
  • For Older Kids 
  • Reading Luke's account of Good Friday, what happened to Jesus doesn't seem fair or just.  What would you have said or done if you were Pontius Pilate?  Or what would you have done if you were one of the disciples?
  • How do you think Jesus felt during all of this?  Betrayed?  Disappointed?  Resigned?  
 ​
Closing Your Time Together:

  • Closing Prayer - God, there are no words that can thank you enough for the depth of your love for us.  Through Jesus, you know what it means to hurt, to grieve, and to feel loss.  We pray for ourselves and all of the places and ways we are feeling that hurt and loss right now.  We pray for our family and friends.  And we pray for our entire world, O Holy God, and all of the ways in which things feel broken and uncertain.  We pray all of this, trusting that your love is at work - that the hope of the Easter morning that will come in a few days is a precursor to new hope being born in this world.  We lift that prayer up to you, Lord.  Amen.
 
  • Closing Hymn - Were You There? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRaFdFkOVyY - a hauntingly beautiful song that walks through Jesus' burial from the eyes of those who loved him most.
    • Verse 1 - Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Were you there when they crucified my Lord?  Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they crucified my Lord? 
    • Verse 2 -  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?  Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they nailed him to the tree? 
    • Verse 3 - Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?  Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?  Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when they laid him in the tomb?
    • Verse 4 - Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?  Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?  Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble.  Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?