A Road of Death! (Good Friday Sermon Audio)

This is the audio from the April 7, 2023 Good Friday sermon, “A Road of Death; A Time to DIE”, shared by Tom Lemler at the West Side Church of Christ.

Text: Luke 23:26-49

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”
John 12:24 (NIV)

As I had opportunity to preach at a Good Friday service, tonight I continued a sermon series with a focus on The Road to Resurrection. Each week of this series has considered a different glimpse of the life of Jesus during His final week leading up to His death, burial, and resurrection. As Jesus continued with a steadfast commitment to this road of resurrection, He approached the cross with an attitude that displayed an awareness that a road of death was a necessary part of reaching the road of life. As we gaze upon the cross, we find Jesus calling each one of us to take up our cross in this time to . . .

Decide: — Luke 23:26-35
- As we face the cross we are faced with a decision. Do we turn away and serve self or do we decide to take up the cross and die to self? .
Invest: — Luke 23:36-43
- As we face the cross we find a God who chose to invest in us. Our response to the cross ought to be a willingness to invest in people in a kingdom way.
Exclaim — Luke 23:44-49
- As we face the cross we find the exclamation of Jesus that He had finished His life and was committing His spirit to God. Our response ought to be a life that leads others to see Jesus in a way that they echo the centurion in declaring the righteousness of God.