Most – The Bridge

Main Point of Discussion: Easter reminds us of the time when God the Father made the greatest sacrifice in the universe by sending His son to die for our salvation.

The Video Clip: Most (The Bridge)

Most (Czech for ‘The Bridge’) is a beautiful Oscar-nominated movie and winner of many prestigious film festivals. It tells the story of the close relationship between a bridge operator and his young son and the fateful day when both try off an impending rail disaster. A steam train full of hundreds of passengers is unaware of the danger as it heads towards an open drawbridge. Most is both a heart-wrenching and glorious story that portrays the greatest measure of love, sacrifice, hope and forgiveness known to man. (www.wingclips.com)

Introducing the Clip:
Since Easter happens every year, it’s very easy for the incredible story of Christ’s sacrifice to start to sound familiar. Tonight we’re going to take a look at a scene from a film called ‘Most’ (Czech for ‘The Bridge’) that is an amazing picture of how Easter must have felt from God the Father’s perspective..

Let’s take a look.

(This clip is available from WingClips.com)

Transitional Statement:
This clip illustrates in a powerful way how the sacrifice of Jesus must have completely broken the heart of God the Father- and how Easter should also include a time of expressing our gratitude not only to Jesus, but to the Father as well.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we begin, let’s talk about some of our favorite Easter memories (egg hunts, family time, does the Easter bunny freak you out, etc.).
2. AROUND THE CIRCLE: What do most people think Easter is about?
3. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How did the death and resurrection of Christ get thrown in with bunnies and eggs?
4. ASK A FEW: Does the bunny/egg thing distract people from the important message of Easter? Why or why not?
5. ASK A FEW: What are your responses to the clip?
6. ASK A FEW: Does this clip bring out the message of Easter? Why or why not?

Read the following passage:


Romans 5:6-8 NLT
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


7. ASK A FEW: How does this verse relate to the video clip?
8. ASK A FEW: How are we like the people on the train? (i.e. we’re unaware of the approaching doom, we naively trust that everything will always be alright, etc.)
9. ASK A FEW: How does the video clip illustrate what happened at Easter?
10. ASK A FEW: Why did the father in the clip decide to let his son be sacrificed for people he didn’t even know?
11. ASK A FEW: How does this clip impact your view of Easter?
12. ASK A FEW: How does this clip impact your view of God the Father?
13. ASK A FEW: Does the fact that Jesus died for us while we were sinners help you understand the amazing message of Easter? Why or why not?
14. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How does God continue to ‘demonstrate’ His love to us?
15. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How would your life be different if you truly let the message of Easter sink in to your life?

Wrap Up:
The amazing thing about that video clip is that it is based on a true story. Let me read to you the actual account-

There is an old story about a man by the name of John Griffith, who lived in Oklahoma in 1929. He had lost all he had in the stock market crash. He moved to Mississippi where he took a job as bridge operator for a railroad trestle. In 1937 he was involved in a horrible accident. One day his 8 year-old son, Greg, spent the day with his Dad at work. The boy poked around the office and asked dozens of questions – just like little boys do. The bridge was over a river and whenever a ship came John had to open the bridge to allow the ships to pass. The day the boy was there with his father a ship was coming so John opened up the draw bridge. After a moment or two he realized his son wasn’t in the office and as he looked around, to his horror, John saw his son climbing around on the gears of the draw bridge. He hurried outside to rescue his son but just then he heard a fast approaching passenger train, the Memphis Express, filled with 400 people. He yelled to his son, but the noise of the now clearing ship and the oncoming train made it impossible for the boy to hear him. All of a sudden John Griffith realized his horrible dilemma. If he took the time to rescue his son the train would crash killing all aboard, but if he closed the bridge, the boy we be crushed in the gears. John would sacrifice his son. He made the horrible decision, pulled the lever and closed the bridge. It is said, as the train went by John could see the faces of the passengers, some reading, some even waving, all of them oblivious to the sacrifice that had just been made for them.

(Source: http://www.sermoncentral.com/print_friendly.asp?ContributorID=&sermonID=113823)

Ask the students to bow their heads and close their eyes. Give them a few minutes to silently reflect on the amazing sacrifice God the Father made when He sent His son to die for us while we were on the train headed for eternal destruction. Present the gospel and give the students a chance to respond.

Close in Prayer – (give invitation)

Written by Lane Palmer