Small Group Notes: Sunday 25th Feb 18

Theme & Passage(s)

John 11: 1-57 - Lazarus is raised from the dead

Welcome & Reflection on last Sunday

1. Reflect on last Sunday’s message from John 10 - what has remained with you throughout the week?

2. Place a toaster in the middle of the room & a loaf of bread. Each person has as long as it takes for the bread to toast to either: a. Share there testimony of how Jesus has raised them to life; or b. Share the gospel about Jesus. You could do this in pairs or choose a few people who’d be willing to have a go to the whole group. The bonus for those who do this is that they get a piece of toast at the end! The popping up of the toaster is also a light hearted way to remind us that we’ve been raised to life by Jesus.

Worship 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExuSCAWDLWI - Searching (worship song)

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMMQLcVBVV4 - Annimation of the story

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJtZaUHn_M0 - I am the resurrection and the life

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRzI_FbWTkg - The Creed (Hillsong worship)

Word/Read & Reflect

Begin in silence, welcoming the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Read the passage(s) and then be silent. Read again. Be silent once more, be attentive to the Spirit. Share out of this experience...

If time, consider some of the following questions...

1. Explore the pattern of John’s gospel - i.e. that it is “Tell & Show” - Chapter 1 is “The Tell”. There are then 7 signs that culminate in Chapter 11. The signs are:

a. Changing water into wine at Cana in John 2:1-11b. Healing the royal official's son in Capernaum in John 4:46-54c. Healing the paralytic at Bethesda in John 5:1-15d. Feeding the 5000 in John 6:5-14e. Jesus walking on water in John 6:16-24f. Healing the man blind from birth in John 9:1-7g. The raising of Lazarus in John 11:1-45

i. What do each of the signs point to?

2. There is a fair amount of confusion in the conversations in this Chapter, as in other stories in John’s gospel. Jesus is saying one thing but the disciples or hears (Mary & Martha in this case) can’t quite grasp it. Is this an experience we have when it comes to the gospels/Jesus and why might it be like this?

3. Jesus invites Lazarus and us from the Tomb. He invites us to resurrection. From what tomb(s) do you need to be invited? What needs resurrection? The Tomb of materialism, of ambition, of pride, of lost identity, of self-hatred? What kind of stench is being emmitted from your life at the moment?!

Working it out

● Work with a spiritual friend or mentor on some of the Tombs of your life. Identify them and then ask Jesus to invite you to come out.

● Who do you need to speak to this week about resurrection and life? Is there someone physically and spiritually dying to whom you need to minister? Make the effort to seek these people out.