The Lazarus Life: Courage and Compassion Require Danger & Despair

John 11:1-16

1. Ice Breaker: Helen Keller once said, “We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only
joy in the world.” She is considered an inspiration by many people. What does it take to be inspiring?
2. Read the Passage (John 11:1-16)
3. Textual Questions:
a. (v. 1-4) What did Mary and Martha have in mind when they sent word to Jesus about their sick
brother, Lazarus? What were they hoping Jesus would do? Jesus says that Lazarus’ illness will
serve to glorify both God and Him. How does sickness glorify God? Have you ever been sick,
injured, hurt badly? Was God shaping your character through that experience? Did it work?
b. (v. 5-6) Why would Jesus wait two extra days before heading out to help his dear friend Lazarus?
If you were one of Jesus’ disciples, what would you think about Jesus’ decision? If you were
Lazarus or his sisters, how would you feel? Would it make sense to you? Have you ever been
confused by what God was doing to or for you - share about that experience.
c. (v. 7-10) Besides Lazarus’ illness, what else must Jesus overcome to succeed in this story? Would
you visit a friend in the hospital if you knew your enemies were waiting there to kill you – or
would you just send flowers? What does Jesus mean when he says that there are twelve hours
in the day? What does your life look like when you walk in the light? What does it look like when
you walk in the darkness?
d. (v. 13-15) How will Lazarus’ death help the disciples believe? Which of Jesus’ miracles most
helps you believe and why?
e. (v. 16) Thomas doesn’t seem to doubt here… what is he prepared to do in order to follow Jesus?
Following Jesus can be a hazardous adventure… what has been the most frightening experience
you have had while following in His steps?

Concluding Questions and Charge: The story of Lazarus’ death has inspired generations of Christians
because of the courage and compassion of Jesus. But without danger, there is no courage. And without
heartache, there is no compassion. Have you avoided danger? What could happen if you confronted more
dangerous situations for the gospel? Have you become calloused to opportunities for compassion? What could
happen if you made extra effort to serve with compassion? Has the Holy Spirit prompted you in either of these
directions? Share your decision to be more inspiring for God with a spiritual friend.
 Waiting on the LORD
John 11:17-37

In life we have to wait for many things- from that dream vacation we are saving
up for to the arrival of a baby still inside it’s mother’s womb- we must wait….

Opening question- Introduce yourself & share your answer to the following
question:
“If you could eliminate the wait involved in one thing/ area in life,
what would it be & why?”

Read John 11:17-37

How long does Jesus wait to arrive in Bethany?

Why is this a significant part of the story?

What does this passage reveal about humanity & waiting on God?
Focus on 3 responses here:
Martha(Transformed)….

Mary(Turned away)…..

The Jews around Mary(Turned up their nose)….

What does it reveal about God’s purpose in waiting?

Knowing the rest of the story(Lazarus’ resurrection)…

How does waiting on God help reveal truth about God(vs.25)?
Knowing the rest of the story(Lazarus’ resurrection)…
What does Jesus’ response in Vs. 35 show about God’s heart toward us
as we struggle at times with life & faith?

What are some practicals we can learn here to ensure that waiting on
God transforms our faith rather than harming it?
 “Removing The Graveclothes”
2008 Fall Campaign Bible Talk
Icebreaker:
Have everyone take off their shoes when they arrive & put them in a pile in the middle of the room for everyone to see before
bible talk begins.

Circle everybody up around the shoes and pick the biggest “neat freak” to take the smelliest pair of shoes away from
everyone else and put them by the door. (in order for them to know which ones are the smelliest, they've got to smell them!)

Have everyone pick up the remaining shoes (but they've got to be someone else's), and put them by the door, then sit down.

Lesson: Quickly summarize Jn 11:1-37 to bring everyone up to speed...then read Jn 11:38-39

Q: How might Martha have felt when Jesus asked for the stone to be taken away? Embarrassed, grossed out, etc.

Q (the “neat freak”): How did you feel when you were asked to put the smelliest shoes by the door? Same way...

Q (everyone else): How did you feel knowing someone would be smelling your shoes? Embarrassed, offended, etc.

Read Jn 11:40-44 Jesus has the ability to transform lives.

Q: Who was transformed in this passage, and what was the transformation (from what to what)?
Lazarus – from death to life
Martha and onlookers – doubt to belief that Jesus is from the Father

Q: In what specific area of your life would you like spiritual transformation (from what to what)?
Help to draw people out by sharing vulnerably yourself 1st.
Let each person share that would like to & thank them for sharing.

Read Jn 11:40 Ask people sitting next to those who have shared...
Q: Do you believe God can transform them (the person sitting next to you who just shared)?

We all felt embarrassed/ashamed when our shoes were smelled, but it had to be done to get rid of the smelliest pair.

Martha probably felt embarrassed for Lazarus because of the stench, but the stone had to be taken away 1st before Jesus could
raise him from the dead.

Read James 5:13-16 We feel embarrassed when we talk about our weaknesses/sins (they stink), but others have to
smell it so Jesus can transform us.

Q: Are you willing to pray for the transformation of the person sitting next to you? (wait for each person to answer)

Because spiritual transformation is as much about OTHERS in our lives as it is about Jesus in our lives...

Q: What did Jesus want others to do for Lazarus to be raised and transformed?
1. Roll away the stone & smell his stench
2. Wanted someone else to believe he could be raised
3. Wanted others to help remove his graveclothes

Q: How did you feel when you picked up someone else's shoes and took them to the door?
Q: How do you think Lazarus' friends felt when they removed the smelly strips of linen wrapped around him?
But that's what Jesus wanted, he wanted us to be involved in each other's transformations

In order for Jesus to work in our lives and transform us like Lazarus, we need others to:
1. Roll away the stone and reveal the stench of our weaknesses and sins
2. Believe that God can change us. Practical Challenge: Pray for the transformation of the person next to you
3. Remove our graveclothes (get hands-on involved and help us to be transformed)
Bible Talk
Ice Breaker: Play a board game or some sort of game with lots of rules (it can be a game w/ time limits or word limitations).

Question: What would make the game that we played easier? Fewer rules, More freedom , No consequences for
breaking rules.

Question: How did you feel when you weren’t able to get the right answer because of the rules?
· The rules are stupid.
· Felt bound and competitive.
· Discouraged because my team would lose.

Turn your bible to John 11. Read vs. 44-57.

Question: How are Lazarus (coming out of the grave) and these Pharisees the same?
· Lazarus is bound by grave clothes.
· Religious leaders bound by their own opinions and feelings and traditions.

Question: What is the difference between Lazarus and these religious leaders?
· Lazarus is unbound after being given life.
· They are bound and headed for spiritual disaster.

Question: Why are these religious men bound?

· Self focused.
· Blinded by greed/desire to keep power.
Question: Why are they blind to these things?
Question: What did their being bound lead to?
· Ultimately their pursuit of Jesus to kill him.
o Get rid of him to “save the nation”.
· Limiting Jesus’ ability to help people.
o Kept out of the city

Question: In what ways can we become bound in life?

· Caught up in sin.
· Wrapped up in unimportant things in life.
· Keeping up w/ the Jones’.
Question: Why do we get bound by these things?
· Self
· Feels Good
· Comfortable
· Don’t know better

Question: What are some good types of bindings?

· Laws that protect. Social norms for our culture that prevent people from doing inappropriate things.
· Directions/ Instructions at work (Safety/ Operational)
· Biblical direction
Question: Why do these exist?
· To protect
· To provide safe boundaries
· To help guide our lives

Talk about the differences between the Good and Bad Bindings.
· How we can avoid those that are not healthy. Why we need to.
· How good types of bindings can help guide our lives so that we can be Godly men and women.

Conclusion: We all have something that is binding us in life, both physically and spiritually. We all need to examine ourselves and
figure out what has been/is binding us and keeping us from living the life God has planned for us.