Beyond the Grave

Everyone who is bound can be set free in community.

TEXTS: Acts 2:42-47, John 11:38-44, Acts 5:42, Romans 16:3-5, Colossians 4:15, Acts 20:20

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. —Acts 2:42-47 (KJV - King James Version)

38 Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.
40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?
41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.
43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. —John 11:38-44 (KJV - King James Version)

LAZARUS - CAN YOU SEE IT?

Lazarus is alive but not yet free.
He has new life, but he’s still carrying the remnants of death—grave clothes that must be removed.

1. There is a spiritual transformation that happens when we are born again of water and the Spirit (John 3:5).
   
   • We step into new life, raised from spiritual death, but many of us still carry the ‘grave clothes’ of our past—sins, habits, mindsets, and human nature that keep us bound.
   • Grave Clothes Restrict Movement and Vision:
   • Lazarus’ bindings limited his ability to walk, act, or see clearly.
   • Our spiritual grave clothes keep us from walking freely in our new identity in Christ.
   • You can be born again but still struggling with old habits…you may feel stuck, unable to fully embrace your new life.
   • Grave Clothes Are a Reminder of Death:
   • Lazarus’ bindings were remnants of his time in the grave, just as our spiritual grave clothes remind us of the old life we’ve left behind.
   • We need to shed those remnants to step fully into the abundant life Jesus promised (John 10:10).

Grave Clothes:

Freedom Is a Process:

• Just as Lazarus couldn’t remove his grave clothes alone, we often need others to walk with us in the process of spiritual freedom.
• Being born again is the beginning of the journey, not the end.
• Jesus brings us to life, but He calls others to help ‘loose us and let us go.
• “What if the freedom Jesus offers is only fully experienced when others help us remove what binds us?”

Jesus involves the community in Lazarus’ freedom. Healing, freedom, and restoration often happen in the context of relationships.

• Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
• James 5:16: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

Others Help Remove the Grave Clothes

Jesus could have unwrapped Lazarus Himself but chose to involve the community: “Loose him and let him go.”

• Small groups are the modern version of this community. They help us:
• Identify and remove what’s keeping us bound.
• Walk in accountability and healing.
• Experience freedom through relationships and prayer.

Freedom in Community:

• In a small group, you find people who will pray for you, encourage you, and remind you of your new life in Christ.

• They help unwrap the grave clothes, piece by piece.

• Small groups help us remove our bindings.

• Community helps us find freedom.

Being born again is just the beginning:

• You’ve stepped out of the grave, but now it’s time to shed the bindings of your old life.
• Jesus has brought you to life, and small groups are where others will help set you free, so you can live the abundant life He promised.

This was the process of the early church!

THE JOHARI WINDOW

THE FIRST PANE OF THE JOHARI WINDOW, OFTEN CALLED THE ARENA, REFLECTS THE KNOWLEDGE WE ALL KNOW.

This is the public “you,” the one others see in your day-to-day life. It can be tempting to cultivate your image a certain way, and with social media, this temptation is greater than ever. Sure, you want others to know about your latest accomplishment or next great vacation. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to share the most positive, publicly laudable aspects of who you are; the problem is when this surface version is the only dimension of you people ever know.

THE SECOND PANE OF THE WINDOW IS WHAT WE KNOW, BUT OTHERS DON’T.

This quadrant reveals the tension between the way others see us (and the way we think they see us) and how we see ourselves. We all wear masks, often becoming who we think those around us want or need us to be. Other times, we put on masks that we think will help us get what we want from others. The problem with masks, though, is that when we wear them long enough, we forget who we really are beneath them. Masks help us cling to denial and pretend that everything’s okay, when deep inside we know it’s not. We all have secrets, but you’re in trouble if you’re the only one who knows them. Again, you will always be as sick as your secrets. One of the most destructive lies the enemy whispers to our hearts is that we must not let others see who we really are. So, we build walls and create elaborate defense systems to appear the way we think we should be and hide the real person we are on the inside. But living in this kind of solitary confinement is not only lonely; it kills our hearts. We all long to be seen and known by others. If we want deeper, life-changing relationships with others, then transparency and honesty are essential.

THE THIRD PANE OF THE WINDOW IS WHAT OTHERS KNOW THAT WE DON’T KNOW ABOUT OURSELVES.

To overcome your own limitations and weaknesses, you need trustworthy people willing to tell you what they see that you cannot see. We all have blind spots. It’s like having body odor or spinach in your teeth—everyone knows it but you! You see this lack of self-awareness in many different forms, including the entertainment world. Think about all those people who audition for shows like American Idol who literally can’t carry a note in a bucket, as my granddaddy used to say. They sound terrible but apparently don’t realize it themselves. They think they’re the next big pop superstar. When the judges burst their bubble by telling them the truth, it’s painful, to say the least. They realize not only that they cannot sing, but also that they don’t have any real friends. Because if they did, those friends wouldn’t have let them audition on national TV! The same is true for you and me. We can’t see our own blind spots. That’s why we can’t be the only set of eyes we rely on for perspective. In fact, when we’re going through a tough time, our view may be so skewed by circumstances that we can’t see clearly or objectively. In such situations, we’re the last person whose judgment we should trust! After all, the Bible tells us, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). The truth is, we often can’t see things as they really are; we see things as we are. We need loving eyes to inform us of what we’re missing. All the more reason to make sure we receive information about our blind spots from people we love and trust. Scripture reminds us, “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6). Give some trusted individuals permission to speak into your life where you have blind spots. Be that kind of friend to them in return.

THE FOURTH PANE OF THE WINDOW IS WHAT NEITHER WE NOR OTHER PEOPLE KNOW.

There are things I don’t know and you don’t know—only God knows. Consequently, we bond by discovering together what God wants to reveal to us as we step out in faith and grow into the future. God designed intimacy to be experiential and not just based on shared knowledge. Each of us contributes uniquely to our growth together within the body of Christ. “He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT). The Johari Window provides us with a concise, effective way of evaluating our relationships with others. There’s nothing special or supernatural about it. Simply using it as a tool, though, can remind us of some important truths about the ways we relate to others. Foremost, we need to dig beyond the surface. This means we will need to share what often feels too scary to let anyone else know. We need to listen to trusted individuals who see what we can’t see in ourselves. And we need to be open to learning together to maximize the power of honesty in our lives. You’ll never know what your full potential is until you connect with others at a deep, honest level. You cannot connect without being intimate. We is always better than me.

Thoughts about the Window:

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and preaching the good news of Jesus as the Christ. —Acts 5:42 (NASB - New American Standard Bible)

Small Groups Set People Free

Small Groups are places where burdens are lifted, and real freedom is found.

• Freedom Requires Community: Just as Lazarus needed others to remove his grave clothes, we need others to walk with us through our struggles.
• Small Groups Provide Safety: They offer a safe space for authenticity, vulnerability, and growth.
• Small Groups Are Jesus’ Plan: Jesus could have removed the grave clothes Himself, but He chose to involve others, showing us the power of relationships in the process of freedom.
• Freedom and transformation aren’t confined to Sunday services—it happens in the daily, relational life of small groups.
• Small groups are not programs but they are opportunities to live out the biblical model of the early church.

“What if the very thing you’re hesitant about could be the key to deeper faith, stronger relationships, and the community you’ve been longing for?”

This year, let’s resolve to stop doing life alone. Let’s do life together, as the early church did, and experience the transformation God designed for us.

We need to step into 2025 with a commitment to be part of a community that meets regularly to grow in faith and love.

1. Romans 16:3-5
- Priscilla and Aquila hosted a church in their home. This illustrates the role of homes as places of worship and community building.
2. Colossians 4:15
- Paul greets the church meeting in Nympha’s house, showing how small groups were integral to early Christian worship.

3. Acts 20:20
- Paul’s words to the Ephesian elders:

18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know,  from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,
19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me  by the plotting of the Jews;
20 how  I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, —Acts 20:18-20 (NKJV - New King James Version)

Beyond the Grave: Breaking Free in Community

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