A. SERMON SLIDES

Slide 1:
Darkness Over The Whole Land
Mark 15:33-39

Slide 2:
3 Questions about Darkness
1) What is the darkness in the presence of humanity?
2) What is the darkness in the presence of God?
3) How can Jesus save us in/through the darkness?

Slide 3:
Luke 22:53 (ESV)
“But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

Slide 4:
Human darkness:
Anything that doesn’t align with the design and reality of Eden before the Fall.

Slide 5:
Joel 1:15 (ESV)
Alas for the day!
For the day of the LORD is near,
and as destruction from the Almighty it comes.

Slide 6:
Joel 2:10 (ESV)
The earth quakes before them;
the heavens tremble.
The sun and the moon are darkened,
and the stars withdraw their shining.

Slide 7:
Amos 5:20 (ESV)
Is not the day of the LORD darkness, and not light,
and gloom with no brightness in it?

Slide 8:
Amos 8:9–10 (ESV)
“And on that day,” declares the Lord GOD,
“I will make the sun go down at noon
and darken the earth in broad daylight.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentation;
I will bring sackcloth on every waist
and baldness on every head;
I will make it like the mourning for an only son
and the end of it like a bitter day.”

Slide 9:
Luke 23:48 (ESV)
And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.

Slide 10:
Luke 23:47 (ESV)
Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”

Slide 11:
We will never suffer for the reasons Jesus suffered

B. GROUP DISCUSSION

1) Read Mark 15:33-39. What stands out to you? Why do you think the Roman Centurion is convinced of who Jesus is in this dark moment?

2) What is your story with “darkness?” How has it come into your life through your own choices or through the lives of others, or through circumstances?

3) The “Day of the Lord” comes in full force upon Jesus at the cross. He has become the sin of humanity and therefore faces the full wrath of God.
a) What does that fact do for you? Have you processed that truth?
b) Why do you think Jesus is calling out the forsakenness of God?

4) Read Psalm 22 as a group. How many places can you find the experience of Christ on the cross?

5) Prayer and praise