John 11:17, 21-27, 38-44 (ESV)

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. … 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” … 38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Intro: What is the impact of someone’s death for everyone who survives?

THE CONVERSATION
Why do we believe that words matter?

THE PROBLEM
Why is death universal - and infuriating?

THE MIRACLE
What did no one see coming?

YOU CAN PRAY WITH US …
1 - Worship the LORD, the Great I AM for how He is the source of all life and the victor over death. Praise God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for His power and ability to call life out of death and turn tragedy into joy.

2 - How have you denied the stench of death and spiritual decay in your own life? Confess your unbelief, guilt and wreckage to Jesus, asking Him to rescue you as He did Lazarus.

3 - Give thanks to Jesus for both His Word and His work. Thank Him for His explanations and promises (giving us meaning) and His work to save us (atoning for our sin by His death; conquering sin, death, Satan and hell by His resurrection).

4 - Who do you know that struggles with the impact of death and the corruption of the human heart? Pray for them, asking the Lord to help them to see Jesus’ victory as the Resurrection and the Life.

5 - Ask the Holy Spirit to bear in you the fruit of joy. Pray for His work in your life to help you learn Jesus’ Word more, and empower you to live in the joy of Jesus’ Resurrection and Life.