Lesson Plans for Adults

Theme: What love is this?

Before Class. Come to class equipped with a listing of the services that will be offered in your church this coming week, and to the extent possible, other services in other churches during the day in your community (if you are in a large enough city that people would not be able to get to your church on their lunch hour for noon-day services -- or even for Good Friday services.) You will need copies of the Bible, pieces of paper and pencils.

Beginning. Especially if you are meeting directly after the worship service, invite the group to be silent for a moment or two to collect themselves, honor the fact that we have before us a painfully difficult passage AND, unlike those who walked through it originally, we know the next chapter in the story.

Opening Prayer. But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord, I have said, "You are my God".
(Psalm 31:14)

The Scripture. Suggest the group take this passage in three groupings, stopping after each to unpack what we find. Be sure each person has access to a Bible, a piece of paper, and a pencil. Suggest that if a question -- or a response -- comes to them as they are hearing the reading, jot a note to themselves: the verse, for example, or a word that came to them.

Luke 23: 1 - 17.  Ask one person to read this passage, the rest following along and taking notes.

After a moment or two of silence, ask if anyone has a response -- or a question -- from this portion.
(A few items that may come up: the charges against Jesus clearly have no basis, they were looking for things that would catch the attention of the Roman authorities. Notice how neither Pilate, nor his immediate supervisor, Herod, wants to handle the case.)

Luke 23: 18 - 25. Invite a different person to read this passage, the rest following along and taking notes.

Again, after a moment or two of silence, invite responses -- or questions. (Note that it was the custom to release a prisoner at Passover as a token to the Hebrew people under occupation by Rome. How did Pilate think this would solve his problem?  How did the crowd foil him? (verse 18b)

Luke 23: 26 - 31. Invite another person to read this passage, the rest following along and taking notes.

A moment or two of silence may help people form a response. (Most of us have seen artists' renderings of Simon of Cyrene, carrying the massive cross. Notice that a "great number of people" followed. Executions always usually draw a crowd to this day. Jesus' response to the crowd appears only in Luke.)

Luke 23: 32 - 43. Invite a different person to read this passage while the rest follow along, taking notes.

Take a moment or two of silence. Notice these elements: Two thieves are crucified along with Jesus and Jesus' poignant, yet crystal clear response (verse 34); Lots cast to divide Jesus' clothing, fulfilling the psalm (22:17); The contrast between the two thieves, the one projecting his bitterness, the other owning his crime. Jesus, pastor to the end (verse 43)

Luke 23: 44 - 49. Invite one more person to read, the rest following along and taking notes.]

Again take a moment or two of silence. Some elements to notice: The darkness at noon yet the curtain in the temple torn in two: the distance between God and us now obliterated. Jesus last words (verse 46), the revelation of the Centurian, the crowd still animated, the few friends who had stayed, watching from a distance.

Getting Closure. Two options.
One, read the Philippians passage
appointed for today
(Philippians 2: 5 - 11)

or

Two, read this final verse of
Hymn 170
"They did not know, as we do now
though empires rise and fall,
your Kingdom shall not cease to grow til love embraces all."

Closing Prayer. For unimaginable love, thank you; For our potential to love, thank you. Amen.