Breaking Ground
Are you giving up anything for Lent this year? If so, what & why?
The Dig
This Sunday, we continued our series Jesus the Christ by exploring the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from death in the Gospel of John.
Begin by reading John 11:1-44.
What stands out to you the most about this story? How does each character respond to Jesus leading up to this miracle?
What doubts & misunderstandings appear within the characters in this story? What does this reveal about each one & their ability to trust Jesus?
How does Jesus respond to the events & various characters within this story? What does this reveal about him? How does Jesus ultimately turn upside-down everyone’s expectations?
Close by reflecting on your own struggles with doubt or despair in this season.
Identify an area of your life or world where you feel like death or evil is getting the last word (literally or figuratively). What’s going on? How is this making you feel?
What would new, resurrected life look like in this area of death? What would it entail? How would it go against your predictions & expectations?
How might this story offer you a new, more hopeful perspective concerning what you’ve identified? How would that new perspective produce greater health in both your internal & external worlds?
What is one small step that you could take to change your posture, attitudes, or interactions with this part of your life or world?
Getting Out of the Hole
In this series, take time each week to reflect upon the story from the story & how you can find yourself within it during this season of your life.
- Read John 11:1-44. First, break this story or teaching down into pieces. What is Jesus doing or saying? How are people responding to him? What changes by the end of the story?
- Next, close your eyes & reflect upon the story. Imagine yourself in it. Put yourself into the space of the various characters & imagine what it would be like to encounter Jesus in the story.
- What images, teachings, or ideas speak to you the most in this story? What intrigues or confuses you? What feelings arose as you thought about being in the story? How can this story impact your life & your relationship with Jesus in this next season?
Additional Resources*
TheBibleProject.com
Simply Jesus by NT Wright
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Coming Up This Week:*
Sunday, March 9th: Join us next Sunday as we continue our series Jesus the Christ! * Please see mye3.org for details.