Good Friday is a solemn and sacred day in the Christian calendar, a time when we reflect on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus. For progressive pastors, this day presents an opportunity to explore the depth of Christ’s love, the call to justice, and the hope that still lingers in the shadow of the cross. Here are four creative yet theologically rich sermon ideas for Good Friday, complete with suggested scriptures and hymns.

1. "The Last Words and the Least of These"

Scripture: Luke 23:32-43; Matthew 25:31-46
Hymns: "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross," "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded"

This sermon explores Jesus’ last words on the cross alongside his teachings about caring for "the least of these." As Jesus offers forgiveness, welcomes the thief into paradise, and entrusts his mother to his disciple, we see a Savior whose final moments were spent in acts of radical compassion. By connecting this to Matthew 25, we challenge the congregation to see Christ in those who suffer today—the imprisoned, the sick, the poor, and the forgotten. The cross is not just about personal salvation but about a love that reaches outward to heal the world.

2. "The Silence of God: When the Heavens Don’t Answer"

Scripture: Psalm 22; Mark 15:33-37
Hymns: "Were You There?", "Ah, Holy Jesus"

Jesus’ cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" resonates with all who have felt abandoned by God in our suffering. This sermon can explore the theme of divine silence, acknowledging the pain of unanswered prayers and the reality of grief. By drawing on Psalm 22, which moves from despair to trust, we remind the congregation that even in silence, God is present. This is a Good Friday message for those who need permission to lament, to question, and to sit in the unresolved tension of suffering.

3. "The Tree of Life and the Cross of Death"

Scripture: Genesis 2:8-9, Revelation 22:1-2, John 19:16-30
Hymns: "Beneath the Cross of Jesus," "Lift High the Cross"

From the tree in the Garden of Eden to the tree of life in Revelation, scripture tells a story of how God transforms pain into redemption. The cross, often seen as a tree of death, paradoxically becomes the tree of life. This sermon invites the congregation to reflect on the ways God brings renewal from despair, healing from wounds, and hope from tragedy. By weaving together these biblical themes, we can help worshippers see Good Friday not just as an ending, but as part of a much larger story of restoration and grace.

4. "Breaking the Cycle: The Cross as Resistance"

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3-7; Colossians 2:13-15
Hymns: "What Wondrous Love Is This," "There Is a Balm in Gilead"

The crucifixion of Jesus was not just an execution—it was the world’s attempt to silence love, justice, and truth. Yet, in his refusal to retaliate, Jesus broke the cycle of violence. This sermon can explore the cross as an act of divine resistance, a refusal to play by the world’s rules of power and domination. Instead, Jesus absorbs violence without returning it, offering a path of nonviolent love. This message is particularly powerful in our world today, where cycles of injustice persist, but the way of Christ offers a radical alternative.

Each of these sermons invites the congregation to encounter the cross in a fresh way—one that speaks to our faith, our struggles, and our call to embody Christ’s love in the world. May your Good Friday service be a space where grief and grace meet, where the darkness is honored, but where hope is never lost.