Current Series: “I AM: changes who I am”Title: Week 3 – “The Resurrection and Life”
Main Thought: Jesus’ resurrection reveals hope eternally and in everyday pain. Scripture: John 11:17-24, John 11:25-33, 28-35, 41-44.
Message explanation: Up to this point in the book of John we have seen Jesus walk on water, heal the blind, heal the cripple, feed the 5,000 and more. Jesus has performed many miracles and now He is about to set up the pinnacle miracle! We are going to look at a family that Jesus loved.
I. The Death of Lazarus (vv. 1-16)
Jesus waits. Although Jesus cares for Lazarus, Jesus waits and doesn’t make it in time to heal him. Why doesn’t Jesus do what we expect and hope for Him to do?
II. Jesus meets Martha – Read John 11:17-27
John 11:17-24 “When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days.
Bethany was only a few miles down the road from Jerusalem, and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.” “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
In a hopeless situation, Martha runs towards Jesus. She had learned to be dependent upon Him. Weeping at His feet, she looks at Him in brokenness.
John 11:25-27, Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”
III. Jesus meets with Mary – Read John 11:27-35
Then she returned to Mary. She called Mary aside from the mourners and told her, “The Teacher is here and wants to see you.” So Mary immediately went to him. Jesus had stayed outside the village, at the place where Martha met him. When the people who were at the house consoling Mary saw her leave so hastily, they assumed she was going to Lazarus’s grave to weep. So they followed her there. When Mary arrived and saw Jesus, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him,[f] and he was deeply troubled. “Where have you put him?” he asked them. They told him, “Lord, come and see.” Then Jesus wept."
Jesus is 100% God and 100% man - Jesus Wept. In John 11:33 it says Jesus was, “deeply moved. (anger, outrage, emotional indignation). It means in the Greek to silently bursting into tears in contrast to a loud cry. Jesus was not broken over the death of Lazarus, but the cause of sin is death. Jesus was broken over the effects of sin. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. It also says in Isaiah 53:3 says Jesus was a, “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Sin brings death.
IV. Lazarus and Jesus – John 11:41-44.
Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in grave clothes, his face wrapped in a head cloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”
Jesus has come and death has lost its grip. Jesus never attended a funeral. Jesus and death are in opposition, and Jesus always wins!
"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Grieve toward God. Embrace the pain so God can heal you. Stop running and listen to God’s heart. Many find relief in working, school, drinking, depression, or just giving up. Our culture tells us to push away pain. Instead of moving towards the healing of God, we are drifting backwards away from healing. May and Martha were grieving towards God.
Testing our faith through pain:
- Bitterness (I can’t believe you allowed this God).
- Bargaining (Ok God…If you heal my friend/family I will…).
- Brokenness (Hitting your knees before God in surrender to His Will. It is resting our inability to handle the situation. In brokenness, God does not cast us out but carries us with His strength. Never measure God’s love for you based upon your health, circumstances or comfort. His love is constant and unending.
Connect in community.God never intended for us to walk through life alone. Community is about being present. Jesus’ words to Martha “I AM the resurrection and the lift’ changed everything! On this statement stands the entire foundation of the faith in Christ.
Forget the grave clothes. A relationship with Jesus offers life instead of death. Jesus, THE resurrection and the life conquered death completely for all time on the cross!
Have you found life in Jesus? If so, are you living with hope towards life’s situation and pain? Lazarus took off the grave clothes. What are some of the “grave clothes” you still have on?
Element of Fun: We played a "minute to win it" game with the Middle school students called, "This Blows." It was a fun game!
Music: We Unite, Your Love Never Fails, How He Loves, Your Presence is Heaven to Me (closing).
Favorite Moment: Watching students worship and be teachable in big group time and breakout groups.
What’s Next: We continue the “I AM” series into John 14. We will discover the next statement of Jesus’ identity as the way, the truth and life!
Current Series: “I AM: changes who I am”
Title: Week 3 – “The Good Shepherd”
Main Thought: Security is found in a relationship with Jesus.
Scripture: John 10:11-18, 27-29, Psalm 23.
Message explanation: In England, shepherds were debating methods in how to protect their sheep. They created a cattle guard to protect them. Animals pass over it and can slip into it. Rarely does a sheep outsmart its shepherd. This time they did! One sheep approached the cattle guard and simply laid down and rolled across the bars. Stop, Drop and ROLL! In a matter of minutes all of the sheep, one by one rolled out of the fence. They wanted the greener pastures. As people, we are perfectly compared to sheep.
“We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”
What does Jesus mean when He says, “I AM the good shepherd”
1. Jesus lays down His life for his sheep.
- We must lay down our life for others to know Him. (John 10:12-18)
2. His followers know His voice and follow Him. (John 10:16-18)
How do we know God’s voice? If we are faithful to open up His Word and LISTEN.
We have eternal security in salvation. (John 10:27-29).
We are inundated with many voices calling out for our attention. We must learn to discover God’s voice through His Word.
- You are secure in Christ (no more fear, unshakable faith, God pursued you, He died for you, He is FOR you.) 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me…”
Listen to God’s Voice through T.A.G time. (Time Alone with God)
Have a specific time.
Have a specific place
Scripture Do not just skim it but meditate and think about each word of the verse(s).
Observe: Ask questions about the background of the scripture
Apply: How do you live out what the verse(s) in your personal life? Be specific. Memorize specific verses that stick out to you!
Pray: Write down specific prayer requests about your personal needs. Keep your prayer requests written down in a journal to go back to in the future. Prayer is aligning your heart with God’s heart.
The best question to ask at the end of your TAG time:
“How will I be different today because of what I have just read?”
Psalm 23 (David writes about the security He has in God)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
As followers of Christ, we can take comfort in knowing that we have a relationship with Jesus, who leads us and lays down his life for us.
Parable of the lost sheep: In the parable of the lost sheep, Jesus explained how much he cares for the sheep, when one sheep out of a 100 was lost he went and searched and searched for the sheep until he found it. He brought the sheep back and celebrated. Jesus says, “And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
At one point in your life perhaps you were lost yourself, and yet Jesus cared about you enough to come after you.
Do you know God’s voice? If not, you can respond to His calling to be His follower.
If you know His voice, how much are you listening and pursuing His Word?
Current Series: “I AM: changes who I am”Title: Week 3 – “The Resurrection and Life”
Main Thought: Jesus’ resurrection reveals hope eternally and in everyday pain.
Scripture: John 11:17-24, John 11:25-33, 28-35, 41-44.