Buckhead Church Good Friday Closer
Let me first start off by saying that I work with the most creative team on the planet.
Their imagination is inspiring and uplifting.
This year it was our goal to have our attendees feel the weight of the cross. I think we accomplished our goal.
As people walked in the lobby the team were taking close up Polaroids of people and having them sign the bottom with a sharpie. The team explained to them that we were going to use these photos in the service at some point. Little did we realize how close to peoples mugs we would have to get the camera in order for it to fill the frame.
They then rushed the photos back stage to begin their work.
In the middle of the stage we had a 15 foot high canvas made of 3 sheets of drywall.
Emily Matthews preceded to draw the face of Jesus on a 12 foot ladder for 40 minutes of the service.
She used charcoal on the entire piece and began with Christ’s eyes.
Once the eyes were complete the room was captivated.
Emily Matthews is probably not an inch taller than 5′5″ so the drawing dwarfed her.
Definitely added to the grandness of the face of Christ.
So we continued the entire service to tell the story of Good Friday by starting at creation and taking a journey all the way to Calvary.
We did so using live scripture readings, sermonettes, spoken word and music.
That night we concluded the service with the song “True Love” by Phil Wickham, along with 5 drummers on stage.
However, do to copyright restrictions you will just have to use your imagination.
Here is the Good Friday closer.
Needless to say, it was unexpected.
Keep creating…
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
INCREDIBLE!!! Blown away by the power in the poet….that final image is ridiculous how it stirs emotion. Your team rocked it.
Thanks Trevor. How are things back in your world after the tour?
Crazy but good…Kyle is going back to college this summer and we have him into transitional housing starting in late May to early June. Right now he is staying with our video guy that was with us on tour. As far as our campus goes…for our first easter it rocked. We had 260 in attendance and saw lots of non christian peeps in the house. Glad you are well bro. It was great hanging with you in ATL. For sure lets grab a dinner when you are in Dallas.
Wow, man. Got tears in my eyes. That's what I'm talking about! Thank you for pushing the envelope and making 'thinking outside the box' no longer a cliche.
Always trying to push and allow people to experience Him first hand.
Wow.
I get it now.
Wasn't sure how you put it all together.
Simply.Awesome. Loved that spoken word!
His name is Jon Goode. Youtube him. He's amazing.
Wow… blown away.. Great Job guys!
Thanks man.
I can appreciate that the drawing of Christ is moving. But these kinds of things always make me wonder about the second commandment, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."
Mattew Henry says, "The second commandment refers to the worship we are to render to the Lord our God. It is forbidden to make any image or picture of the Deity, in any form, or for any purpose; or to worship any creature, image, or picture. But the spiritual import of this command extends much further. All kinds of superstition are here forbidden, and the using of mere human inventions in the worship of God."
John Calvin writes, "The purport of the commandment, therefore, is, that he will not have his legitimate worship profaned by superstitious rites. Wherefore, in general, he calls us entirely away from the carnal frivolous observances which our stupid minds are wont to devise after forming some gross idea of the divine nature, while, at the same time, he instructs us in the worship which is legitimate, namely, spiritual worship of his own appointment…. We have already shown clearly enough that every visible shape of Deity which man devises is diametrically opposed to the divine nature; and, therefore, that the moment idols appear, true religion is corrupted and adulterated."
How do you reconcile an image of Christ during a worship service with this commandment?
Rob. Great thoughts!!!
I have thoughts on ALL of that but I know that I cannot convince you in a blog reply. Feel free to email me and I'll send you my number or we can skype and discuss it!
We were not worshipping the picture, we destroyed it, we were worshiping God.
Email me and we'll talk!!!
Los
Rob…here are some basic thoughts to think through
"The reason the Old Testament prohibited images of God was that no one had ever seen God. “The Lord spoke to you out of the midst of the fire; you heard the
sound of words, but saw no form; there was only a voice. (Deut 4:12) And, “No man looks on the face of God and lives.” (Ex 33:20). Moses only saw His back, while hiding under a cleft in the rock. (Ex. 33: 21-3)
With the Incarnation, everything is changed. PRAISE GOD!! There occurred a decisive and eternal change in the relationship between God and man—between God and all material creation. The Word became flesh—God robed Himself in the garment of humanity. Jesus Christ became “the image of the invisible God.” (Col 115) The Old Testament commandment against images is now revoked, as 1st John explains: God, Who has neither body nor form, was never represented in days of old. But now that He has come in the flesh and has lived among men, I (can) represent the appearance of God. So we now represent the appearance of God on earth. The Apostles were privileged in that they were able to see Christ with their own eyes. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Lord calls His own disciples blessed: Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. We also long to hear, and to see, what is possible for us. We still are able to hear the Lord’s words from listening to Scripture, and we are still able to see His image by gazing on Jesus."
I understand what you are saying but it is very dangerous for YOU to say one of the Ten Commandments is now revoked. I don't think you can make that call. Jesus didn't revoke it anywhere in the New Testament that I read.
It is production like this, that makes me think that Atlanta with North Point, Buckhead, and Brownsbridge is the cultural epicenter of American Christianity.
To many churches, what you all do down there is what the aspire to be.
That is quite an accomplishment.
Andy. I appreciate the words.
Dude, that was AWESOME!
Gratsi
No problem. Actually, this came in really handy for a blog entry I was working on about creativity at the church. http://justlivingthelife.com/?p=39 If you have any thoughts, I'd love to know. Peace.
Wow…
It was an amazing production. However, I didn't feel like I was participating. I felt like I was at a show. And no one–none of the the information service people, none of the regulars, none of the staff (I talked to five) invited me back for Easter.
Sorry you felt that way. We try and make sure we always invite. And the end of the service invited you unless you did not understand the last slide.
And Good Friday is intended not to be a participatory experience like a regular Sunday morning experience.
I invite you back!!! Come find me!!! I'll either be at the sound board or on stage singing!
Los
Wish I was there to experience it…
word.
NUTS.
that poem was soooo sick.
creativity up the ying yang
Jon Goode. He is a poet with mad skillz.
Wow. That was powerful at many levels.
wow. thanks for sharing. really brings out the message, hitting it to the heart. i was getting chills while watching the last part with the drums, lights, and tearing down the painting. love the poem too. i hope we'll see more of that.
OFF THE HOOK!! Loved it!! Thanks for leading a team to blow the norm out of the water.
Carlitos, I loved the Good Friday Service. Totally unexpected and powerful.
Melissa. Gracias amiga. I am a lame friend and have not emailed Colin back.
You are a great friend and text with my wife 43 times a day.
To add to the echo…
Wow! Thank you for sharing the creativity of your team with us.
Wow. That was truly amazing.
Powerful.
Awesome Awesome Awesome!
Ditto… (Amazing)
Loved it. But, dawg. Check it out: 7|22 had music. Why not this? Y'all need to do whatever you did for 7|22 (licensing, etc.) so you can show the world your other services in their full glory! There are other mega-churches out there that post their whole services online, but every time I watch them, I can't help but be reminded of how cheesy they look, compared to NPCC productions. You all should be leading the way!
722 licensing was not a NorthPoint licensing. And it was not licensed for archival. Only for a live stream.
We are working towards an online experience. It shall be grand.
But we always try to be a few steps to the right of the line and not in the grey.
THANK YOU for leading the way in this aspect of being the church online. Staying inbounds on copyright speaks more to creatives than creativity does. Respect for the artist is key. Thanks so much.
That would be awesome! (Like lifechurch.tv's online experience?) Keep up the good work, and thank for not forgetting about those of us scattered all over the country who want to see what great things you all are up to!
Two words – Powerful Jesus!!
Well done, Los. A girl from our church that goes to Georgia State was there, she told me that it blew her away.
Nothin' but love for ya…
I work with a team a lot smarter than I.
Carlos, that was AWESOME!!!!!
Gracias amiga.
Carlos, I'm so glad you posted this. I saw it live, but could watch it 100 times! Glad it is stirring things up in people and disturbing others! You've posted great responses to those with questions and I hope they reach out to you to talk further!! PEACE!
all weekend long, from good friday to yesterday, i've contemplated the cross and the grave as i've not done in years. and i was moved as i haven't been moved in years. but this morning after watching this, i realize i only scratched the surface. i shed not one tear this weekend, but today, just now, they came. thank you to you and your entire team for using your talents and your collective creativity to bring us to the cross… and all that it embodies. and thank you Jesus, for going there.
Dude! So strong. Thanks for sharing – and mad props to the team!
they rock
There's not much you can't do with the right people in place. I'd tell you to count your blessings, but I know you already do.
THAT was a breath of fresh air. I know that no church is perfect, but what I just saw there is the excellence that I feel should go into every church service everywhere. Our best for His.
God bless you Carlos & your whole team. Now that's some high praise to the Lord!
-Elgin
thanks man. My team rocks
Powerful!
Thank you Carlos for posting this… and thank you Buckhead production team and staff for allowing me to be a part of this phenomenal and challenging night. I feel very blessed!
Wow – that was pretty awesome. You guys have some great minds at work in your church planning team. Keep it up!
THat was really incredible… Seriously, a work of art… Thanks for sharing! I was inspired and motivated, and ashamed all in one sitting.
Wow. That messed me up. Amazing work.
Peace!!!
I miss Buckhead Church so much my heart hurts.
wow… enough said!
beautiful.
Wow, really creative stuff Carlos! You guys are an inspiration.
Unbelievable!!!
Man this was a wonderful project to work on. Josh gave me great direction in writing the poem and what he did with the imagery and footage was just amazing. I'm glad it touched and moved people.
Jon Goode
http://www.myspace.com/jongoode
Awesome! Very cool!! Saw Casey playing…….he is awesome. He played at our d-now in Conyers in March.
I was there and the video only begins to capture the power of the service. The eyes of Emily's piece were piercing and the music blew me away.
Los thanks to you, Jeff, Casey and the whole BC crew. You blew me, my wife and my very traditional church mother away by so graphically presenting the full weight of Christ's sacrifice that day. Please keep pushing the envelope and pushing us all.
rock.on.
The Good Friday service was phenomenal. I've tried to describe it to my friends but I think the closest I got was telling them to imagine their favorite TV show ending in a cliff hanger, but you knew how everything ended at the end of the story and even though you knew that you couldn't wait till you saw the ending. Cheesy description, I know, but it's the only thing I could think of that was close. I think the part that hit me the hardest was during/after communion when "This is our God" was playing. It was the first time I had heard that song and I thought I was about to lose it.
Bro. You are a freaking inspiration.
Sick, gave me chills…nice, very nice
Nice stuff man.
wish I was there
WOW! So powerful! Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us!
Yeah baby that's what I'm talking about.
Great Job Buckhead Church
Its cool to see God work!
wow!
Speechless…
Thanks for sharing, wish I could of witnessed it in entirety and in person.
I AM looking for jon goode’s easter video. Can you help me please.
Thank you
Steve