Read: John 11
Q1: Are you afraid of death, why or why not? Does having faith that will triumph over death keep you from fear of the dying process or of losing those you love? How does a sure faith change how we think about and approach death as compared to those who do not know Christ?
Q2: What are your perceptions of life after death? What does Scripture tell us about this life? (Hint: not much, other than it is beyond our current capacity to imagine.)
Q3: Does it surprise you that Jesus had his “favorites?” Even among his disciples he gave special attention to Peter, James, and John. What does this tell you about Jesus? When you think of Jesus do you tend to think of him as a “real” person? Not that you doubt that he is real, but how we think about him in our minds shapes how we approach him in our lives. What could you do to intentionally shape your thinking so that Jesus is more “real” to you than he currently is? (Hint: You could consider how he would deal with everyday situations in your life. You could ask him to give you wisdom and help with the normal tasks of your life, not just the “big” problems but the small, normal stuff. )
Q4: Verse 5 says that “Now” Jesus loved them. Verse 6 says “So” he delayed. This is not mere semantics. The flow of the passage teaches that Jesus has larger things in mind than what the people around him did. They wanted Lazarus to be healed. Jesus wanted Lazarus to be a part of God being glorified. “Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds” James wrote. When have you been able to rejoice in hard times because you saw (or believed you would see) the glory of God in your suffering? If you are currently suffering is it hard for you to see the larger picture? What could help you do so more consistently?
Q5: In John 11:25, 26 Jesus speaks of the “Already, not yet” reality of eternal life. We will someday have resurrected bodies after physical death. We already have eternal life in Christ that does not end. How does this “already, not yet” tension that we find throughout the New Testament help make sense out of the promises of God? If our experience of salvation was completely “already” how would we make sense out of suffering and our failure to fully live like Christ? If our experience of salvation was completely “not yet” how would we make sense out of the promises of God that are present tense not future tense?
Q6: Jesus wept. There are many possibilities of what exactly Jesus felt that made him weep, no one knows exactly why he did. What we do know is that Jesus is God became man. We know that God in human flesh, wept. How does this or should this shape your ideas about God? How does this help you deal with evil and suffering in the world and questions of God’s goodness? How might this help you personally when you are suffering and don’t understand why God doesn’t do something? Don’t forget, he always can do something, he sometimes chooses not to.
Q7: Last week we looked at the assurance of our acceptance in Christ. No one can take us from his hand. This assurance is the settled fact that we have been justified in Christ and we will someday be glorified and made fully like him. This assurance is essential for joyful and productive Christian living. At the same time, we must nurture a healthy discontent with our “of our current state” of sanctification. Sanctification is the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. This is a joint collaboration of the Spirit’s power and the human will. If we act in line with our beliefs we will make choices that reflect what Christ has done and what Christ wants for us. That was a long set up, but now for the discussion. Are you saving your life or seeking to more joyfully and fully give it away? Are you making choices internally and externally that reflect belief in Jesus as Lord? What can your group do to help you move “forward” in belief?
Q8: What disciplines can you either add or give more attention to that will help you nurture your faith in the Lord Jesus? Perhaps you already have spiritual disciplines in place but what can you do to add more intentionality to those disciplines? Perhaps you already read your Bible every day, do you ask God to speak to you as you do? Do you take time during the day to reflect on what you read? Do you look for God to move in your life during the day as he did during the time Scripture was being written? Perhaps you could add a discipline that is currently missing. You could fast a meal or more and ask God to help you rely on him and to help you not just focus on the physical world. You could memorize and meditate on key scriptures as you move through your day. What do you want? Do you want to grow in faith? You can, but as in any area of your life, to go farther than you currently are, you must do more than you currently are.