At the Cross
Lent Sermon Series | February 22 – April 5
During Lent, we will focus on the cross of Jesus Christ and the hope it gives us and the whole world in our suffering.
In the coming sermon series, we will gather at the foot of the cross to listen to the final seven statements of Jesus—words that serve as the "centre of the centre" of the Christian faith. While our culture often views suffering as something to be escaped at any cost, the passion of Christ reminds us that we come to know Jesus most deeply through the trials he endured and his presence with us in our trials. The root meaning of that word “passion” is suffering. These last sayings of Jesus are keys to understanding a God who is both perfectly just and lavishly merciful.
Through this study, we will explore the "splendid theatre" of the cross, where the incomparable goodness of God is set before the whole world. We witness a power that is made perfect in weakness, overturning our human assumptions about leadership and success. Instead of a God who uses force to prevail, we find a Saviour who lays down his life to persuade us of the power of sacrificial love. This series examines how the cross functions as the ultimate act of atonement, bridging the gap between a holy God and a broken humanity to restore a relationship that was fractured by sin.
As we reflect on these final utterances, we are invited into a new reality where the work of redemption is declared complete. We move from the religion of striving without ceasing to the Gospel of receiving what has already been finished. This series calls us to live in the tension of the "already/not yet," recognizing that while Christ has won the ultimate victory, we are sent out into a world that is “not yet” restored, but is still being renewed by his love.
This journey requires us to confront the wrenching reality of the crucifixion, recognizing that the cross is not just something that happened to Jesus, but is central to who he is and what he has done for us. In our own moments of adversity, whether we face financial pressure, health challenges, broken relationships, or the sting of betrayal, we may be discouraged even to the point of despair. By looking to these seven statements, we see a Saviour who remained in constant communion with the Father. When we suffer, he is with us and says: abide in my love.
We are sent out from the cross and commissioned to be part of a new, true family. Contrary to our culture’s devotion to autonomy and individualism, Scripture reminds us that the church is formed not by natural kinship or common interests, but by the blood of Christ. This commitment calls us to move beyond superficial authenticity to deeper, sacrificial relationships within the body of Christ. By standing in the darkness of the cross, we eventually emerge into the light of a renewed world, equipped to share a message of reconciliation and hope.
Worship Service Dates & Scripture
WED / FEB 18 — Ash Wednesday
SUN / FEB 22 — Father forgive them — Luke 23:26-34
SUN / MAR 8 — Today you will be with me in paradise — Luke 23:32-43
SUN / MAR 15 — Behold your son: behold your mother — John 19:23-27
SUN / MAR 22 — I thirst, It is finished — John 19:28-37
SUN / MAR 29 — Palm Sunday
THU / APR 2 — Maundy Thursday
FRI / APR 3 — Good Friday — Father, into your hands I commit my spirit — Luke 23:44-49
SUN / APR 5 — Easter Sunday
