Good Friday is one of the most important days in the liturgical calendar.

Many churches around the world are preparing a service for that day to solemnly observe the death of our Messiah on Good Friday. And with all of the other Lent and Holy Week preparations, this can be a challenge.

Here are seven sermon ideas to help you out, each with relevant scripture and an illustration, along with some helpful tips for creating an impactful Good Friday sermon:

The Seven Last Words of Christ

What to cover in this sermon:

• "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." - Jesus, while on the cross, expresses forgiveness for those who crucified Him, displaying profound mercy even in His suffering
• "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise." - Jesus speaks to one of the criminals crucified with Him, assuring him of salvation and the promise of being in paradise
• "Woman, behold your son!... Behold your mother!" - Concerned for His mother's well-being, Jesus entrusts her care to John, establishing a spiritual family among believers
• "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Jesus, quoting Psalm 22, experiences a sense of abandonment on the cross, highlighting the weight of bearing humanity's sins and fulfilling the atonement
• "I thirst." - In His humanity, Jesus expresses physical need, emphasizing the real and complete nature of His suffering
• "It is finished." - Jesus declares the completion of His redemptive work on the cross, signifying the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation
• "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." - Moments before His death, Jesus entrusts His spirit into the hands of the Father, demonstrating absolute surrender and trust in God's plan

Example Illustration:

Your Easter Friday sermon should focus on the crucifixion of Jesus. Focusing on Jesus' time on the cross and everything He said in His final moments is the perfect way to begin Easter weekend for your members.

Explore each of Jesus' final statements on the cross, reflecting on the profound meaning and significance of His words. Help your members understand the weight of what was accomplished on the cross.

The Agony in the Garden

What to cover in this sermon:

• Agony and Distress: Describe Jesus' deep emotional distress and agony as He anticipates the upcoming events of His crucifixion
• Human Weakness and Divine Strength: Highlight the tension between the weakness of human flesh ("the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak") and the need for God's strength
• Prayer as a Source of Strength: Point to Jesus' reliance on prayer as a source of strength. If even Jesus turned to prayer during His trials, how much more so should we?
• Submission to God's Will: Emphasize Jesus' submission to God's will, even in the face of deep suffering, setting an example for us
• Disciples' Failures: Highlight the disciples' inability to stay awake and support Jesus during His crucial hour, illustrating our frailty
• Jesus' Final Acceptance: The progression of Jesus' prayer, from requesting the cup to pass from Him to ultimately accepting God's will, demonstrates His obedience to the Father

Example Illustration:

What was the most distressing and fearful experience you have ever had? Is there someone in your church who has dealt with anxiety or been through a really stressful experience? Share that with your congregation, pointing to how prayer and relying on God for strength is what got you through it.

Spend time conveying the intense emotional struggle Jesus faced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Relate this to the times when we, too, feel overwhelmed and find strength in surrendering to God's will.

The Via Dolorosa: Walking the Path of Suffering

What to cover in this sermon:

• Mockery and Humiliation: Jesus suffered intense humiliation during His trial
• Scourging and Physical Abuse: The punishment before his crucifixion was as awful as His execution
• Sarcastic Homage: This passage records the soldiers' sarcastic gestures of bowing down to Jesus and hailing Him as the "King of the Jews," further highlighting the mockery and disdain added to His suffering
• Simon of Cyrene: A man named Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus' cross, symbolizing the shared burden of discipleship and the unexpected ways God involves others in His redemptive plan
• Daughters of Jerusalem: In Luke 23, Jesus addresses the women who mourn for Him, foretelling the coming judgment on Jerusalem. This interaction reflects Jesus' compassion amid His own suffering and His concern for the spiritual state of the people
• The Two Thieves: One thief mocks Jesus, the other defends Him and begs Jesus to remember him. Jesus assures the latter that he will be with Him in paradise. Assure your members that it's never too late to be saved

Example Illustration:

None of us have felt such pain and humiliation as Jesus did on Good Friday. For this sermon, visualize how painful Jesus' wounds, both physical and emotional, would have been. It was by these wounds you have been healed!

Draw parallels to the challenges believers face and encourage them to always turn to God for strength during those challenges.

The Torn Veil

What to cover in this sermon:

• The Temple Veil Torn: The focal point of the verse is the tearing of the temple veil. This tearing symbolizes the removal of the barrier between use and God through Jesus' death on the cross
• Significance of the Holy of Holies: The tearing of the veil grants access to the Holy of Holies, the most sacred space in the temple where the presence of God dwelt. This symbolizes our access to God for all through Christ's sacrifice
• Resurrection Connection: The following verses (Matthew 27:52-53) mention the resurrection of some saints, underscoring the power of Jesus' death and foreshadowing His own resurrection
• Witness to God's Power: The tearing of the veil serves as a powerful sign of God's intervention and acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice

Example Illustration:

Though today is a dark day in human history, Jesus' death on the cross ended the separation between us and God, making the Holy of Holies accessible to all.

This event already contains a powerful visual for you to work with. The veil tore from top to bottom, removing a physical barrier that signified a spiritual distance that Jesus now bridges.

Explore the symbolic significance of the temple veil tearing at the moment of Christ's death. Emphasize the access to God made available through Jesus and the profound impact on our relationship with Him.

The Centurion's Confession

What to cover in this sermon:

• Recognition of Jesus' Identity: "Truly this man was God’s Son" The centurion's acknowledgment of Jesus as the Son of God reflects the same confession we must make
• Astonishment and Fear: The reaction of the centurion and those with him is characterized by astonishment and fear
• The Divine Nature of Jesus' Death: The centurion's confession underscores the divine nature of Jesus' death and the profound spiritual significance of the crucifixion in God's redemptive plan
• Conversion or Spiritual Awakening: The centurion's confession suggests a moment of spiritual awakening or conversion. Witnessing the events surrounding Jesus' death leads to a recognition of Jesus as the Son of God
• Symbol of Gentile Inclusion: The centurion, likely a Gentile, confessing Jesus as the Son of God symbolizes the inclusion of the entire world in God's salvation plan, foreshadowing the broader impact of Christ's sacrifice

Example Illustration:

In the middle of Good Friday is this moment of acknowledgment by a Roman soldier that Jesus is the Son of God. Your Good Friday homily needs to press upon your members that we are like the centurion in this story - Gentiles who must also confess that Jesus is God's Son.

Reflect on the transformation of the Roman centurion who witnessed Christ's crucifixion during your Good Friday message.

The Darkness at Noon

What to cover in this sermon:

• Darkness Over the Land: This darkness is a significant event, symbolizing the gravity of the moment and the weight of our sin
• Symbolic Darkness: The darkness in this moment represents the spiritual darkness and separation from God that Jesus experiences as He bears our sin
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: The darkness fulfills the prophecy in Amos 8:9, indicating the alignment of Jesus' crucifixion with Old Testament prophecies
• Separation from God: The darkness is a tangible expression of the separation between Jesus and God as He takes on the sins of the world
• Intensity of Jesus' Suffering: The darkness emphasizes the intensity of Jesus' suffering on the cross,, underscoring the depth of His sacrifice
• Connection with Jesus' Cry: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" follows immediately in the next verse. Jesus was abandoned by His Father, taking our place in that separation

Example Illustration:

We call it Good Friday because, though the worst crime ever was committed that day, the darkness did not last forever. Jesus took our place so that we could be free!

This verse already gives you a visceral image to bring to your members. Explore the darkness that covered the land during Jesus' crucifixion. Connect this eerie event to the spiritual darkness humanity faces apart from Christ's sacrifice.

The Empty Tomb: Easter Hope for Dark Times

What to cover in this sermon:

• Empty Tomb: The passage begins with the discovery of the empty tomb by the women. The empty tomb is a sign of the reality of Jesus' resurrection
• Angelic Announcement: An angel appears at the tomb, announcing the resurrection to the women, revealing the triumph of life over death, and directing the women to share the news with the disciples, making them the first evangelists
• Jesus' Appearance to the Women: Jesus appears to the women, proving His resurrection. He instructs them to go and tell the disciples about His resurrection
• Commission to Share the Good News: Both the angel and Jesus commission the women to share the news of the resurrection. Emphasize to your members the importance of spreading the gospel
• Disciples' Response: The disciples, upon encountering the resurrected Jesus, worship Him. That should be our response, too

Example Illustration:

Though we haven't arrived at Easter yet, the whole point of Good Friday is to get us to Resurrection Sunday. Your Good Friday preaching must focus on the prize ahead to give your people the hope they need to make it to the end of Holy Week.

While traditionally associated with Easter, tie in the empty tomb to emphasize the hope that emerges from Good Friday. Explore the transformative power of Christ's resurrection in our lives.

Helpful Tips for Crafting a Powerful Good Friday Sermon

1. Emphasize the Cross: Keep the cross central to your message, exploring its meaning and significance
2. Connect with Emotion: Good Friday is a somber occasion; let your delivery and tone reflect the gravity of the day
3. Use Music: Check out our article on the Top 20 Good Friday Songs and Hymns for Worship for ideas
4. Encourage Reflection: Provide moments of silence or reflection in your sermon to allow the congregation to personally connect with the message
5. End with Hope: Even in the darkness of Good Friday, conclude your sermon with a glimpse of the hope of the resurrection

Use These Ready-to-Preach Good Friday Sermon Ideas

Remember, the goal is to lead your congregation to a deeper understanding of the significance of Good Friday and the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice.

May these Good Friday sermons encourage your members and give them a taste of the resurrection to come!

Matt Church Engagement