Good Friday Service

Good Friday is not meant to be rushed. It’s meant to be felt, because before there was an empty tomb there was a suffering Savior. I shared with my congregation that before we could celebrate on Sunday the empty tomb, we truly need to walk through HOLY WEEK, to understand it completely and rejoice fully. LIONS FAN IMPOSTER story.

Isaiah 53 shows us exactly what that looked like- Read Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53

“Isaiah tells us…

He was pierced for our rebellion… crushed for our sins…’

And if we’re not careful…

we can hear those words… but not feel them.

Because it feels distant… ancient… almost too big to grasp.”

(Pause)

“But sometimes…

God allows us to see love like this…

up close.”

Your Story

“I didn’t find this out until I was 25 years old…

But when my mom was pregnant with me…

she had brain cancer.

And she was faced with a decision.

She already had two boys— one was 4… one was 8…

And the doctors told her:

She could treat the cancer… and save her life…

Or…

she could let the cancer grow for 9 months so that I could live.”

“She chose…my life… over hers.”

“She carried me…

knowing what it would cost her.

And when I was just 3 months old…

she went in for surgery…

and she never came out.”

(Pause)

“A 27-year-old woman…

who loved the Lord…

who had a husband… two little boys…

chose to give her life… for mine.”

“And when you hear that…

you feel it.

There’s something in you that says—

‘That’s love.’

Costly love. Sacrificial love.”

(Pause)

“But as powerful as that is…

it’s only a glimpse…

of what happened on the cross.”

The Cross (Isaiah 53 Fulfilled)

“Because my mom was a sinner…

just like me…

But Jesus—

the sinless One the spotless Lamb the King of Heaven

chose…

my life… over His.”

2 Corinthians 5

“And Scripture says:

He died for everyone… so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves… but for Him who died for them.’”

Personal Turn

“So yes…

my mom gave her life for me…

But Jesus…

chose me knew me saw every failure, every sin

And still said—

‘I’ll take her place.’”

Why “Good” Friday?

“So why do we call this… Good Friday?

Because this was the only way.

The only way for sin to be paid The only way for us to be forgiven The only way for us to be brought back to the Father”

Expand the Love

“We have a good, good Father…

who didn’t leave us in our sin…

He made a way.

He did it for me…

and He did it for you…

and every person you pass by…

every face on the news…

every driver that cuts you off…

yes… He did it for them too.”

Final Personal Close (Purpose)

“When I found out…

that my mom gave her life for mine…

something shifted in me.

I can’t waste my life. I have to make it count.”

(Pause)

“But tonight…

this is bigger than my story…”

Final Call

“Because our salvation…

came at a far greater cost—the life of Jesus.

So if that’s true…

If He really took our place…

If He really paid our debt…”

(Pause)

What are we going to do with it?

“Don’t waste your life…when it was bought with His.”

Let us pray

“Jesus…Tonight we remember the cross…

and the cost.

Thank You for taking our place… for carrying our sin… for giving Your life for ours.

(Pause)

Lord, we surrender again…

Everything we are— we lay at Your feet.

Teach us to live for You…

and not waste what You paid for.

In Jesus’ name… Amen.”