Passion Sunday

 

Opening Prayer

Jesus

What priceless gift can I give you?

How can I show my devotion?

Let me surrender to you,

Let me be emptied,

Then I can be filled with YOU

AMEN!

 

Journal/Reflection Questions

Isaiah 50:4-7

• What are your first thoughts in the morning when you wake up? Are they of God or something else?  How do your first thoughts drive your day?
• Do you pray for those who have hurt you? How does this scripture speak to how you should view others who have caused you hurt?

 Philippians 2:6-11

• What tells you that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit loves you?
• How do you most relate to Jesus? How would you imagine Jesus most relates to you?

 Mark 14:1—15:47

• Jesus stands up for a woman showing him kindness. Share a time when you have done the same.  If there is not a time, think of a time when you could have done the same.
• When have you been extravagant with God? Be specific.

 

General Questions for Journaling

• When have you recently spoken up for an unfair or unjust situation? What was the situation and what was the outcome?
• Is there something going on in the world which you feel strongly about? What do you do to impact this?
• How has God impacted your day? Your week?  Be specific.
• How do you know God speaks to you? What indication do you have that it is God speaking?
• Would you say you are obedient to God? What does it mean to be obedient to God?
• How have your seen God help someone in your community? Share the story.
• Have you ever had a friend turn on you? How did you feel?  Was there good reason?  Did you become friends again?
• Describe what it means to be emptied of oneself. Is this a hard or easy thing to do?
• For what purpose would one choose to be emptied?
• How does your posture during prayer speak to God?
• Do you think God prefers formal or informal prayer?
• How is being human like being a slave? To what would a human be a slave to?
• Have others ever been upset with you because you did something nice for another person? Do you have regrets?
• How does it make you feel that Jesus already knows all you have done and all you will do, both good and bad? Be specific.

 

Closing Prayer

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

 ALL:  let me be your voice!

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

ALL:  let me be your heart!

Leader: Lord, you hold nothing back

 ALL:  let me be your Spirit!

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

ALL:  let me be your servant!

 

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

ALL:  let me be your love!

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

ALL:  let me be your hands!

Leader:  Lord, you hold nothing back

ALL:  let me be your beloved!

 

Challenge for the Week:  Next week is Holy Week.  What do you do to prepare for this celebration?  The week starts with Palm Sunday and ends with Easter Sunday but what do you on the day’s in-between?  Do you spend these days as any other?  What can you differently this year that you have not done to prepare yourself so you can fully enter into the week?  Create a plan, set aside extra time for prayer, take advantage of the special services at church to help you enter in more deeply to the week.  Holy Week is not just your ordinary week, nor is it something that you have to endure before Easter.  Each day is an opportunity for you to grow in faith, to learn more about God’s infinite love, mercy and forgiveness.  What will you do on this Holy Week?