Before the Session
Facilitator: In advance of the session
- Have the Bible Background Video ready to view.
- Review today’s scripture text and the session activities to help better facilitate the discussion.
- Encourage your group to listen to the Faithelement podcast ahead of the next session (Share the link via email or social media)
- In this session we’ll hear the entire story twice, and it’s quite a long passage. Think about how it might be read aloud in a way that’s not too distracting for the hearers, or tiring for the reader. A recorded reading might be a way to hear the story twice in a new and consistent way. (see below)
Context (From the Mind Session Page)
Say something like:
The death of Jesus is a powerful story for each of us – we’ve heard and seen the story so many times, that most of us likely have clear memories of the different events. And yet, each of us experiences it in different ways. As we begin, take a few moments to consider the following question:
- Imagine you were telling about the Cross to someone who hasn’t heard it before. If you took the theological or “churchy” language out your description (words like redemption, atonement, sin, etc.), how would you describe what happened and why it’s important to you?
Give the group as much time as they need to answer this before moving forward, encouraging everyone to ask whatever clarifying questions they may wish to introduce, but discouraging statements that may be critical of divergent views – This can be a very personal and emotional conversation!
Content (From the Mind Session Page)
Begin by watching the Bible Background Video:
Read together Luke 23:1-12 and ask:
- What did Jesus represent to each of the characters he encountered in this passage, and what (if anything) did they want from him?
- How did Jesus respond to each one?
- How might he have responded differently, and what does his chosen response tell us?
Read Luke 23:13-25, followed by Luke 23:26-49, repeating those questions for each passage, then ask:
- Which of the things that the characters in these passages wanted from Jesus do we still want?
- What does this story – filled with clashing expectations and responses – show us about ourselves?
- With which character do you identify most closely and why?
Closure (from the Media Session page)
Play the Never Alone movie clip and ask:
- In what ways does the act of Jesus’s death on the cross remind you that you are never alone?
- What can you do this Holy Week to more actively embrace the example of God’s love?
- What will you do this Holy Week to remind yourself about the sacrifice that God made for humanity?
- In what ways can the observance of Holy Week help people understand that they are valuable in God’s sight?
- How might we invite others, who do not share our faith and experiences, come to understand the personal significance of the events of Holy Week?
Close in prayer