WARM-UP
Can you think of a time when God didn’t operate in your life the way that you wanted? Or work on the timeline that you thought was best? How did this affect the way that you related to God? What was difficult about this season or event?
WORD
BIG IDEA
READ
Can you think of a time when God didn’t operate in your life the way that you wanted? Or work on the timeline that you thought was best? How did this affect the way that you related to God? What was difficult about this season or event?
WORD
BIG IDEA
- The Kingdom of God is bigger than heaven.
- The resurrection of Christ points us to something bigger than we can imagine. Not only does it give evidence of our salvation, but it also provides power to the day that we are living in at that very moment.
- It is of the utmost importance that we embrace both the cross and the resurrection of Christ.
- The resurrection changes our primary identity.
READ
John 11: 20-27
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
WATCH/LISTEN
OLD SELF
NEW SELF
Read verse 25 again. While Martha is experiencing sorrow and confusion around the death of Lazarus, Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life.
When you change the goal of life from (1) trying not to sin too bad before you get to heaven TO (2) having intimacy with Jesus and identifying as a son or daughter of God:
WORLD
Pay attention this week to your immediate disposition in the face of failure or sin. Remind yourself of your new identity in the resurrection of Christ as a Son or Daughter and tell yourself how this changes that circumstance.
- Is your primary identity that of a sinner OR that of a son/daughter of God?
- When you evaluate yourself, do you see your heart as dirty, broken, and wicked, OR do you see yourself as indwelt with the Holy Spirit? Are there any particular times or circumstances that change the way you view yourself?
NEW SELF
Read verse 25 again. While Martha is experiencing sorrow and confusion around the death of Lazarus, Jesus tells her that he is the resurrection and the life.
When you change the goal of life from (1) trying not to sin too bad before you get to heaven TO (2) having intimacy with Jesus and identifying as a son or daughter of God:
- How does this change the way that we perceive failure?
- How does this change the way that we perceive sin in our lives?
- How does this change how we can be patient with God to act when times or circumstances get confusing?
WORLD
Pay attention this week to your immediate disposition in the face of failure or sin. Remind yourself of your new identity in the resurrection of Christ as a Son or Daughter and tell yourself how this changes that circumstance.
Posted in Groups Discipleship Tools