Notes based on 6:30 pm sermon series
1 I am the resurrection and the life

When was the last time you attended a funeral? What was it like?

Read Isaiah 43:1-2 or Mission Praise no 41 out loud and then have somebody else read Revelation 1:17-18. Pray short prayers thanking God for his greatness and for defeating death.

Read John 11:14-44

1. Mary and Martha believed that Lazarus would rise in the resurrection at the last day (John 11:24). Do you think that they understood that Jesus had power over death? Do you think their view of Jesus changed because of the miracle or did they still doubt like Thomas (verse 16). Why do you think that some of the Jews who witnessed the miracle did not put their faith in him and some did?

2. Who did Jesus give glory to and how did he avoid glorifying himself?

3. What do you learn about Jesus from the way he approached the tomb of Lazarus?

4. (Read John 5:21-30)
When did you last hear a sermon based on these verses? Why do you think they are hard to understand?

5. Thomas, Peter and Paul all had a personal meeting with the risen Christ. It transformed their lives and restored their confidence. How can we have a personal experience of the living Christ? Does not seeing Jesus in person but still believing, bring a special blessing? (John 20:29).

6. Read 1 Corinthians 15:12-26. Does what we preach draw its power from the truth of the resurrection or do we feel that our Christianity is a safe bet and very comforting anyway?

Pray for an increased concern for those for whom the resurrection has no meaning. Ask God to give you a desire to bring many people to Jesus and to know the power of his resurrection.