Based on the sermon summary and transcript, the primary Bible passage is John 11:33-44. This passage was the central text for the sermon, detailing the raising of Lazarus.
Bible ReadingJohn 11:33-44 (NIV)When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
Jesus wept.
Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”
But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. “Take away the stone,” he said.
“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
Observation questions- In the story of Lazarus, what three specific emotional responses did Jesus have when he arrived at the tomb and saw the people weeping? [40:21]
- What was Martha’s initial reaction when Jesus told them to take away the stone from the tomb? [42:22]
- What was the physical condition of Lazarus when he came out of the tomb, and what was Jesus’s subsequent instruction? [44:50]
- According to the sermon, why did Jesus wait before going to see Lazarus, and what was the purpose he stated for this delay? [35:13]
Interpretation questions- Jesus was described as being deeply moved, troubled, and weeping. How do these emotions, seen in the context of sin’s destruction rather than just personal grief, change our understanding of his character and his mission? [41:22]
- Martha had just acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, yet she immediately doubted when he asked to open the tomb. What does this tension between belief and practical doubt reveal about the nature of faith, especially in the middle of a difficult situation?
- Lazarus came out of the tomb alive but still bound in his grave clothes. In what ways does this image serve as a metaphor for the beginning of a new life with Christ? [45:18]
- Jesus prayed aloud before calling Lazarus out, specifically stating it was for the benefit of the onlookers. What does this tell us about the connection between God’s miraculous work and the purpose of building belief in those who witness it? [43:59]
Application questions- Transformation happens one step at a time through small, repeated efforts. [30:15] What is one small, practical “yes” you can say to Jesus this week to allow for incremental change in a specific area of your craft or character?
- Jesus weeps over the destruction that sin causes in our lives and in our world. [40:21] How can a right understanding of his grief over sin’s ruin motivate you to show more urgent and compassionate care for someone in your life who is currently bound by its effects?
- Resurrection power breaks the finality of death. [43:59] When you are facing a situation that feels like a firm “no” or an ending, how can you actively choose to trust in God’s power to open an impossible future? What would that trust look like in a tangible action or a shift in perspective this week?
- New life in Christ often begins imperfectly and requires a patient “unwrapping” of old habits and ways of thinking. [44:50] What is one “grave cloth” from your old life that you feel God is gently asking you to let him unwrap? Who is one person in your community you could be honest with about this process?
- The church exists to transform communities by welcoming newcomers and removing practical barriers. [46:48] What is one tangible, practical barrier—whether it’s something like parking, hospitality, or an inaccessible program—that you could help address in your church or small group to make more room for people to encounter Jesus?
- The final charge was to move beyond knowledge into compassion and find one person to show Jesus’ love to in the week ahead. [01:03:55] Who is that one person for you right now, and what is one specific, compassionate action you can take to show them the love of Christ?
